By Adrian Musolino
May 6th 2009 @ 12:45am
Related coverage
Big club friendlies a huge fillip for A-League
Celtic's Scott McDonald scores the winning goal during the UEFA Champions League Group D match at Celtic Park, Glasgow Wednesday Oct 3, 2007. Celtic won 2-1. AP Photo/ Andrew Milligan
With Mark Schwarzer and his Fulham side, Celtic and Wolves, all confirmed for pre-season matches against A-League teams, and rumours of a possible visit by the majestic Barcelona, local clubs need to take advantage of these possibilities as a powerful way to launch the season and draw in new fans.
With the A-League season now intruding even further into the AFL and NRL seasons, gaining much in the way media attention and traction, especially from an apathetic casual sporting fan, is going to be difficult.
Remember, too, that the FFA only has once every four years to use the springboard of the Socceroos and the World Cup to launch a season.
These friendlies against foreign opposition are the best way to spread the A-League gospel, encouraging fans to get out and support their teams early in the campaign with the added motivator of seeing clubs and players familiar to us on television.
It will certainly be more enticing to fans and the media than the rudimentary pre-season competition that has been done away with, or friendlies against state league opposition.
In terms of pure marketability and commercial potential, the benefits of big name friendlies far outweigh the other options.
It will also entice fans that follow the EPL but look down at the A-League to the friendlies and hopefully assist in bridging that gap by showcasing what the A-League has to offer.
Even if the attention is focused on Schwarzer and company, the tangible and intangible benefits for the A-League clubs are there, increasing brand awareness, generating publicity and giving fans extra reasons to get to games.
The pre-season tour is now an established part of many European sides’ schedule and takes them to the USA, where Chelsea, AC Milan and Inter will be heading in July, Africa, or, most commonly, Asia, a popular haunt for Manchester United.
Australia doesn’t yet have the economic pulling power of the USA and the like, but as the A-League grows and the economic strength of Australian football increases, it could become a genuine alternative.
You wouldn’t mind betting, either, that for players and officials, Sydney and Melbourne is a more enticing getaway than Arlington, Texas or Foxborough, Massachusetts, with its population of just over 16,000.
There is also the benefit of being exposed to the greats of the game. These tours are valuable for our football culture as well as its economy.
Hopefully a successful tour for the likes of Fulham will entice more European clubs in the future and we may see them become a common occurrence.
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Tom said | May 6th 2009 @ 8:07am | Report comment
I agree that friendlies by European clubs could and should be important PR exercises, Adrian.
Unfortunately I suspect they’ll be treated as cash cows, milking EPL fans with exorbitant ticket prices to watch second string versions of their teams.
Maybe this time round the clubs could offer tickets at regular season prices and try to generate some decent sized crowds. Particularly important for MV and Etihad Stadium. The place has a pretty average atmosphere when <20k rock up.
NUFCMVFC said | May 6th 2009 @ 8:59am | Report comment
I think they are good, the Juve match was a good exercise for Melbourne and the game here, even if it did end up being a bit of a reserve side, and the Galaxy?Beckham game was good for Sydney and got FTA coverage
I don’t mind it being something of a Cash Cow either for local clubs, they need the money, but they also need to generate money to ensure it is attractive to keep on bringing the teams out here, from what I recall Juve got $1million out of the game.
One problem for the A League is that while there is a big football community, there are also a fair amount of ‘EPL snobs’, so this is a good way of getting these people out to the Stadiums in the first place, getting a sense of what getting out to an A League game would involve.
Another problem is that it is an opportunity to get Football and A League teams on to FTA and circumnavigate, of course they have to bid and I’d accept Pay TV coverage over no coverage at all but Football was able to get on Prime Time television witth he Beckham game, and you’d expect there’d be reasonable TV audiences for games involving not only EPL or popular SPL teams, but also including Top Socceroo players
Midfielder said | May 6th 2009 @ 9:17am | Report comment
To me it is clever.. they will be played in those times of the year when football struggles to get media in the AFL / NRL seasons … always good to have a profile lifter at those times..
whiskeymac said | May 6th 2009 @ 9:19am | Report comment
in comparison some past fixtures, such as the Beckham- LA Galaxies game in Sydney – didnt do that much in the medium to long term to boost the sport. Even though the HAL numbers dropped for a myriad of reasons – and although any media attention is better than none- would it not be fair to say arent these events also only ever going to be short term gains? (even though in my example there is the argument that LA galaxy was more of a Beckhamania event and people went to see the celeb and not the game? – did the Juve game in melbourne have an lasting effects other than sourcing a goalie for Gold Coast?)
in saying that, and as posted on a similar blog across yonder, the excitement the smaller EPL clubs are generating, even if short term, is palpable to those that follow the game. Hopefully the games are televised and the media talks them up, because it would be a shame if the opportunity for this promotion is lost. the games need more than a few bloggers and back page stories buried in the media tofill the stadia for games involving Wolves and other lesser known teams.
Adrian do you know how much money this will this generate for the game? are the euro clubs asking for so much that all we get is the experience and exposure (at least that’s something). the privilege of playing would be nice if the HAl made some profit too.
Art Sapphire said | May 6th 2009 @ 9:30am | Report comment
Adrian you forgot to mention that Wolves will be using Perth as a base for their preparations.
This could be something that other EPL clubs might think about doing in the future.
From: http://sportal.com.au/Football-news-display/glory-to-play-epl-teams-69786
“Wolves, they’re going to be here for 10 days,” Mitchell said, saying the club will arrive in Australia on July 4.
“I know Mick personally and I said, ‘look it’s a great place to come, you don’t want to be flying all over the place, just base yourself here’.”
“It’s a wonderful city, we’ve got wonderful facilities that what we still can improve in the future, but it’s great for the city and great for the tourism of Perth.”
Mining magnate Sage has underwritten all the matches although he is hopeful the Western Australian government will lend some support as the fixtures will be a huge boost for WA tourism during winter.
“We’ve had 400 emails from Wolves fans in England that want to come out,” Sage said
Tom – Juventus came to Melbourne and got 43k at Etihad. They played a second string team because it was played at at the end of the European season, May. The wrong time to play a friendly. These upcoming friendlies are more meaningful and should feature pretty strong squads as it forms part of everyones pre-season program.
The Victory fans will turn up to watch the game and I expect a similar crowd to turn up for the Fulham game.
Finally, I am getting fed up with whinging EPL fans in Australia Get out and spend some money supporting A-League teams or don’t you want a strong vibrant competition in the country you live in.
Tom said | May 6th 2009 @ 9:46am | Report comment
Agree with all of that Art Sapphire.
I just have a bit of a concern that people who might go to these games will get turned off the high ticket prices they usually charge, particularly families with kids.
It becomes a problem if people start associating soccer = rip off.
But I am in favour of these tours, and I am in favour of clubs using them to make some money. I just think there’s a balance to be struck in terms of pricing that usually gets ignored.
Art Sapphire said | May 6th 2009 @ 9:59am | Report comment
Tom – the EPL is a rip off. What do you think EPL clubs charge their own fans to see games?
Or don’t these EPL fans realise that when they watch the games on their telly from halfway across the world.
These friendly games will cost less to attend than an average EPL game.
Tom said | May 6th 2009 @ 10:20am | Report comment
Well, obviously football is at a different stage of development here than in the UK.
I would have thought that went without saying.
whiskeymac said | May 6th 2009 @ 10:58am | Report comment
Yes, even the fans in the UK are being out priced but there’s a difference in having regular, meaningful games costing , say 30pounds or 60bux, between two EPL teams and a friendly game which is essentially meaningless (and thats not to say I wont happily watch it and encourage others to do the same) with only one EPL team (or whoever the drawcard is). If the idea is to promote the game to the locals then the price should not be prohibitive. I am not sure Tony Sage can only bank on 400 wolve’s fans to underwrite his game.
Millster said | May 6th 2009 @ 11:02am | Report comment
I’m happy for you all to call me cash cow from now on. In fact I am already practising being on all fours and going moo. Such is my delight at the honour and privilege of seeing such class of talent on our shores, and playing our own domestic clubs. Bring it on, this is wonderful for our game.
I just hope that someone with brains makes sure that – even if its only for 15 minutes or so – the likes of Henry, Messi, Aussie Macca, Schwartz et al don’t just play under the floodlights but a few hours before have a short time to drop into some junior comp on a local or school park in some suburb, and really give those kids and all others who find out on TV and inte papers a bit of a dream come true.
Slippery Jim said | May 6th 2009 @ 11:05am | Report comment
Art Sapphire, I paid about AU$100 per match to watch Chelsea this season at Stamford Bridge. Worth every penny.
Albert Ross said | May 6th 2009 @ 11:05am | Report comment
There are some very exciting rumours flying around the latter day indigenous code heartland of western Sydney. It is expected that the Danish premiers, the Jutland Shinboners, will be playing at the Blacktown AFL Megastadium real soon now. Negotiations are also continuing with the Paris Cockerels.
Millster said | May 6th 2009 @ 11:06am | Report comment
I do agree though that these games should be seen as an investment in the promotion of the code not as a money making exercise. The grounds should be full at whatever price. If it were me I’d have $20 for A-res, $10 for the rest and LOTS of freebies for basically any registered junior or school kid in order to really give them something to remember.
Art Sapphire said | May 6th 2009 @ 11:24am | Report comment
SJ – the working class has been priced out of the EPL. The financial sacrifice a working man with a family needs to make to see these games is ridiculous. I am sure its worth every penny to see a super team like chelsea at the bridge, but paying at least 30 quid to see an average EPL game is not.
I would rather go the a Bundesliga game – 12 Euro to stand in the Kop at Dortmund. Thats what I call value for money.
keeper11 said | May 6th 2009 @ 11:27am | Report comment
Great idea imo…!!
…useful hitout for teams aginst strong opposition
good promo for A-league and builds awareness and excitment for upcoming season…
..but anything is better than the yawnfest preseasons until now….
8 A-league clubs playing each other …a gazillion times..
e.g if you’ve already had a couple of ‘F3 derbys’….then any wonder there is a lack of excitment or anticipation
for start of competiton proper..??
Slippery Jim said | May 6th 2009 @ 11:48am | Report comment
Art, I was lucky enough to get a free ticket to see AZ Alkmaar V Feyenoord in the Netherlands a six weeks ago, but the Dutch league charges from about 130 euros per ticket, if online ticket outlets are to be believed, so it’s not just the EPL it seems.
Pippinu said | May 6th 2009 @ 11:58am | Report comment
sj
is Ari still fronting AZ?
more importantly – did you get to see our favourite player??!!
Art Sapphire said | May 6th 2009 @ 12:07pm | Report comment
SJ – I would seriously doubt AZ’s season ticket is the same price as Chelsea’s.
130 euros for a ticket – how ridiculous – those online sites are a modern version of scalping.
Unless it was for a reserved seat next to Brett Holman
Finno said | May 6th 2009 @ 12:14pm | Report comment
of course they a meaningless games but they are great PR.
They will grab a headlines look at LA Galaxy and sydney 80,000 to watch a game that didnt matter.
jimbo said | May 6th 2009 @ 12:51pm | Report comment
Albert Ross,
great news. I’ve supported the Paris Cockerels since I was a pup.
The Galaxy ticket prices were reasonable and about the same price as A-League games and they used it to offer a special deal for SFC games.
FFA are using this as a promotional link to keep the fans warm between the World Cup and the start of the A-League comp, so I can’t see them ripping off any potential new fans.
On the contrary – the prices will be lower than the other codes and there will probably be some special A-League games promo deals offered to those that attend any of these overseas exhibition games.
This is Archie Fraser at work!
Slippery Jim said | May 6th 2009 @ 1:24pm | Report comment
Pippu, our favourite player started the game due to the regular dude being injured, but was subbed at about 60′. He had a reasonable game. Ari is indeed still playing for them. Mounir El Hamdaoui is more the in-form striker, however!
Another site lists their regulart tickets as only 20 euros – maybe they aren’t comparableto the EPL after all!
Michael C said | May 6th 2009 @ 1:57pm | Report comment
Remains to be seen -
Becksmania didn’t seem to do much good for SFC, and MVFC crowds again fell this year despite playing Juventus, having an ACL campaign and a successful pre-season.
Perhaps these matches might be a tad counter productive.
Anyway – - just remains to be seen. That’s all.
ALbert Ross -
not a bad idea really, the Aalborg Kangaroos Australian Football Club might be who you’re thinking of? Good to see you’re becoming a little more lateral in your thoughts……….(look, I realise you were dripping with sarcasm – so am I).
NUFCMVFC said | May 6th 2009 @ 2:55pm | Report comment
I don’t think think they’d be counter productive, it isn’t a bad thing if they are just short term anyway, if we make reasonable money out them and we attract people who normally wouldn’t have come it is not necassarily a bad thing, especially if it is generally an annual thing
Also, it doesen’t matter if people associate Soccer or EPL as a ripoff, because it notoriously is and it is a bit of an issue but people are still prepared to pay exorbitant prices, this would be the case in terms of the EPL’s game39 especially let alone a pre-season friendly
Pippinu said | May 6th 2009 @ 3:29pm | Report comment
sj
Mounir El Hamdaoui is our favourite player!!
heh, heh – only kidding – no flies on you!!
Redb said | May 6th 2009 @ 3:32pm | Report comment
Pip,
Only Fulham for us Vics eh, be better if it was Man U or Liverpool – would really blow the lid off Docklands.
Redb
Pippinu said | May 6th 2009 @ 3:48pm | Report comment
At least there is some interest in Fulham for the locals. There’s the Schwatter (who must just about be the form EPL keeper at the moment) – and I think Leijer must still be on their books (and will no doubt be rolled out in the way vanstrattan was when Juve played the Big V).
Greg Russell said | May 6th 2009 @ 3:49pm | Report comment
The key point is Art Sapphire’s about Australia being an attractive base for pre-season training. I mean, put yourself in the position of the players: where do you prefer to go, to China or Australia? I don’t mean this as a racist comment. Rather, I’m just saying that Australia gives European players the sort of world they are used to, and it gives a good climate.
Slippery Jim said | May 6th 2009 @ 4:12pm | Report comment
Pre-season training is usually used these days for PR and marketing purposes, hence the big clubs all go to asian countries or the US, to expand their shirt sales and overseas fan base. If they foolish ones want to come here to little old Australia, I’m not going to complain. An English ex-pat I know who is a died in the wool wolves fan and follows them religiously from afar, no matter which division they are in must be in heaven with this news – not only are the wolves in the EPL again, but they are coming to Oz!
Art Sapphire said | May 6th 2009 @ 4:24pm | Report comment
SJ – Clubs motivations for touring can be very different. Not every team is a Chelsea on Man U.
I doubt any of the big EPL teams who do their grand tours of Asia and the states actualy base themselves anywhere.
They are just peddling their wares from city to city.
Thats what you call a marketing excercise.
In Wolves’ case thay are basing themselves for 10 days in one place to get some serious prep for the EPL.
Slippery Jim said | May 6th 2009 @ 4:27pm | Report comment
Actually that’s a very good point, Art. I stand corrected.
Art Sapphire said | May 6th 2009 @ 4:32pm | Report comment
SJ – if you keep that up I might even support Chelsea tomorrow morning
Actually, if you do happen beat Barca, I will definitely be in the Blue corner for the final.
Slippery Jim said | May 6th 2009 @ 4:40pm | Report comment
Heh heh – just like kids will be extra good the night before xmas, I’m making a late attempt to hide my evil Chelsea-supporter obnoxious behaviour so that Karma doesn’t kick my arse tomorrow morning!
MVDave said | May 6th 2009 @ 4:52pm | Report comment
SJ
Now that ManU are in (the Red half of the Axis of Evil) why not the Chelski (Blue half of the Axis of Evil).
Fancy anyone implying that ManU and their fans are arrogant, obnoxious etc Hardly! Its not our fault we win everything 
Pippinu said | May 6th 2009 @ 4:58pm | Report comment
Hopefully they can put on a better show than their FA Cup effort from a couple of years ago.
Slippery Jim said | May 6th 2009 @ 5:05pm | Report comment
Stop bringing up the Sh*t on a st*ck Pippu! How quickly forgotton was the Liverpool match…
Pippinu said | May 6th 2009 @ 5:08pm | Report comment
Actually that’s Vicentin’s favourite expression!
MVDave said | May 6th 2009 @ 5:10pm | Report comment
OK OK Pip remember l was only joking…we dont actually win everything just most things
Our 5 appearances at the new Wembley have been poor and in 4 of those games we havent even scored v Chelski FA Cup 2007, Portsmouth Charity Shield 0-0, Spurs League Cup 0-0 and Everton FA Semi 0-0. From memory we drew 1-1 v Chelski in 2008 Charity Shield. Fortunately the new Wembley isnt staging the Champions League Final.
Slippery Jim said | May 6th 2009 @ 5:25pm | Report comment
Pippu, don’t worry, 0-0 in matches between Man Utd and Chelsea is a rarity.
Taking matches Chelsea have played against Man Utd at Old Trafford in the EPL between 1992 and 2008, there was only a single 0-0 match.
The most common scoreline was 1-1, followed by 3-0, 2-1 and 1-0. We averaged 2.68 goals every match. So Vicentin can stick his Sh*t on a St*ck sideways up his…I’d better not finish that sentance for Karma purposes
Pippinu said | May 6th 2009 @ 5:50pm | Report comment
I don’t want to put words in Vicentin’s mouth – but I’m sure his favourite expression has nothing to do with likely scorelines – and everything to do with an unwillingness and/or an incapacity of the two protaganists to take a few risks, try a few things, make the ball hum and really test each other (and before anyone says anything – I agree the Drogba goal two years ago was well crafted!!)
Eamonn said | May 6th 2009 @ 6:03pm | Report comment
EPL is expensive alright.
Anyone notice Arsenal fans could only afford the Semi-Final tickets this morning for 65 minutes or so…….
Midfielder said | May 6th 2009 @ 6:06pm | Report comment
Eamonn
That is cruel … and being a Man U lad from a very young age … please give us more
Mick said | May 6th 2009 @ 6:06pm | Report comment
People might realise that to go to an epl game then you pay at least 3 or more times what it costs to go to an a-league game but since they are friendlies they will be affordable.
I do not know why the mention on various things of afl & nrl seasons as I do not think any of these clubs think, hey lets go to australia in july to get some publicity of afl & nrl, more likely, jhey you aussies, july is our preseason do you lot want us to tour or not & these are the costs.
Although it does benefit the clubs for their sponsors’ global marketing
MVDave said | May 6th 2009 @ 6:16pm | Report comment
Talking of ticket prices…ManU have just released details of the UCL Final tickets…range fron about Aus$140 -$400 for the final in Rome. Just under 20,000 tickets for a club with over 60,000 STHs and ave crowds of over 75,000.
Millster said | May 6th 2009 @ 6:42pm | Report comment
Oh god this talk makes me wish for a Barca win tonight so I have someone I can really support in the final. Short of that it will be a choice of the “least worst” for me; I’ll watch and maybe give tepid support to one side or the other of the “axis of filth” based on who is fielding the most French players at the time….
For what its worth I looked up ticket prices in France for PSG games. 20 Euros for an exhibition/friendly/testimonial match, 30 Euros for a minor fixture in the league or domestic cup or early rounds of UEFA cup, 40 Euros for a major derby, major cup game or European game. Seems sensible to me. I paid 30 Euro for example to see them play FC Braga in UEFA Cup when I was last there in March. Not too expensive and the stadium was full (~50K), even though it was mid-week, raining and a relatively minor fixture.
Art Sapphire said | May 6th 2009 @ 6:43pm | Report comment
What are earth are you complaining about MVDave.
EPL clubs like Man U only get 25k for the FA cup final. Wembley is 20k bigger and its in their own country.
Barca who have more members than Barca will get the same deal (20k) if they make the final.
UEFA have given half the tickets to the 2 clubs for the final.
The other half go to the locals as is their right and UEFAs corporate guests.
With that sort of attitude MVDave, I am definetly supporting whoever plays against Man U in the final
Slippery Jim said | May 6th 2009 @ 6:45pm | Report comment
Midfielder, apparently when Arsenal decided to hand every fan a free red and white flag this morning, they forgot that they had red on them
Art Sapphire said | May 6th 2009 @ 6:45pm | Report comment
I meant Barca having more members than Man U.
Midfielder said | May 6th 2009 @ 6:56pm | Report comment
Milly
Least worst indeed …..
MVDave said | May 6th 2009 @ 7:16pm | Report comment
Ah come on Art/Mill/SJ etc after watching that display this morning you have to go for those Red Devils! If their 3rd goal wasnt 2nd best goal of the tournament (Ronnie’s in the last round was GOTT) then you will never appreciate top level football.
Art Barca have more members but ManU have higher attendances.
Art Sapphire said | May 6th 2009 @ 9:51pm | Report comment
MV Dave – Man U are averaging 75284 to Barca’s 74072 in their domestic games this season. Looks like the Catalans don’t turn up in numbers to watch Numancia or Recreativo.
Still, this does not change the fact that each team will get 20k tickets for the final.
By the way, I was in Athens in 2007 during the UCL final. Both teams AC and Liverpool were given the same allocation but that did not stop thousands of ticketless scousers turning up in Athens. The main square in Athens was filled with tens of thousands of scousers getting pissed before the game. It was quite a sight.
MVDave said | May 6th 2009 @ 10:01pm | Report comment
Art
Barca are averaging 66,000 for UCL games vs ManU 75,000. Anycase both massive clubs and Camp Nou (especially when redeveloped) is one of the grounds l have to see a game in before l head for that great football pitch in the sky.
Did you actually attend the final in 2007?
MVDave said | May 6th 2009 @ 10:04pm | Report comment
Congratulations to Newcastle Jets for a terrific come from behing victory tonight in the ACL v Beijing. A draw in the last game and they will be through. Two absolute crackers to equalise then win the game with the winner from ROONEY!!
Vicentin said | May 6th 2009 @ 10:17pm | Report comment
Come on SJ, karma, that was a godawful game. Pippu, I haven’t used that expression for at least a year!
My prediction is for Chelsea to go hell for leather for a goal in the first ten minutes – and if they get it, park the bus, drain the diesel out it, let the air out of the tires and throw away the keys.
…but I could be wrong. My other vision has Messi scoring four …that would be nice!
Midfielder said | May 6th 2009 @ 10:42pm | Report comment
Vicentin
Stunned is I .. yes stunned is I… what hope is there for the A-League ever to reach a standard if teams like Chelsea and Man U (playing in the final four of the Champions league) after they destroyed Arsenal are considered to not play with enough flare … where does this end .. BTW CR second goal that was a gem …
Vicentin said | May 6th 2009 @ 11:02pm | Report comment
You are being very selective Midfielder – I think ….if I’ve made the connections you are alluding too. Man, I got dragged in this by Pippu – don’t know why. Should have kept away for longer. Man U were definitely good for their win against Arsenal – no problems there and are a joy to watch when on song. They also know how to win ugly like they did in their games against Barca in last years CL semis. Flair and Chelsea at this point of a Champions League campaign are not words I’d use together too often. I assumed you watched last week’s game?
Not sure how you link this to the A-League – though of course I would like our teams emulate a Barca style of play rather than some other teams – who wouldn’t? ………and it seems that Han Berger is on the same page too. Cool!
Midfielder said | May 6th 2009 @ 11:51pm | Report comment
V
My post was somewhat tongue in cheek, we here constantly of the need to improve our skill level and play with more flare … we are now down to the top four clubs in Europe and we use the same arguments … so if Chelsea are not technically good enough then what chance has the A-League ever got of being accepted by some in the Australian media… just my thoughts in some in our media seem incapable of thinking our side the skill / flare / technical arguments … maybe Guus through we cannot beat these guys in open play but we can close them down and hit on a break … not new or unknown way of playing … a truly great side would work out how to crack the defense..