Lack of atmosphere stifles A-League games
Columnist
By Adrian Musolino, 22 Dec 2009 Adrian Musolino is a Roar Expert
- Tagged:
- A-League, Etihad Stadium, football, Fox Sports, Melbourne Victory
The Fox Sports effects microphone has become a fair barometer of an A-League match’s excitement level. When you can hear the players and coaches cussing, it’s a fair indicator that the crowd isn’t really into the match. Sadly, it’s a common occurrence.
Aside from the raucous at Etihad Stadium caused by Melbourne’s passionate and large supporter base, and to a lesser extent at Hindmarsh Stadium by the ‘Red Army’, too often the Fox Sports effect microphone is allowed to pick up the obscenities on the field, either due to the lack of a decent crowd or, in the case of Brisbane and Sydney, the noise the crowd makes is difficult to pick up due to the expansive nature of the stadiums they play in.
Australia’s sporting crowd culture doesn’t involve too much singing and chanting, certainly not to the extent that European and South American football fans create such a vibrant atmosphere through song.
There is little time in the AFL, for example, for breaks in the play or lull periods, so crowds sit transfixed to the action – hollering and howling to the umpire, the noise level dictated by how unjust they feel his decisions are.
Songs are left til before and after the game – for the winning team only in the latter case.
Football, the round ball one, on the other hand, needs the jeers, cheers, songs and chants from the crowd to help build an atmospheric spectacle to accompany and lift what’s happening on the pitch. The A-League, with its often-slow pace, needs a vociferous crowd to help compensate this.
The silence of the crowd, deafening in many a stadium across the A-League, and the constant pickup from the effects microphone, only perpetuates the stereotype of a disinterested crowd caused by a league that isn’t entertaining its fans. That may be the case, but undoubtedly the shifting landscape of football crowds in Australia from the NSL to the A-League has brought a wider base to football matches – fans who aren’t accustomed to breaking out into song at other sporting events.
Certainly the atmosphere in some quarters of the A-League is well short of the halcyon NSL days.
Les Murray has said previously that Melbourne Victory’s embracing of all cultural backgrounds is why they differ in terms of attendances and atmosphere from the rest of the league.
The main contributing factors are obviously the sheer numbers the Victory can pull to home games, in addition to the close quarters of Etihad Stadium – particularly when the retractable seating was put in place.
With the move to the new rectangular CBD stadium next season, that atmosphere should on multiply.
It’s one of the key contributing factors as to why Victory games tend to have that extra element of excitement, and lets hope as crowds grow with these clubs, and a football culture starts pervading, the Fox Sports effects microphone can pick up more than just cursing.
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itscalledfootballbro said | December 22nd 2009 @ 7:00am | Report comment
finally the penny drops. Why is no-one watching our game?
Sydney can barely pull a crowd of 10k in a city of 5 million. why?
MV Dave said | December 22nd 2009 @ 7:24am | Report comment
As has been stated many times on this site HAL competes first and foremost with the major Euro leagues in terms of football fan interest. Some will enjoy both and attend HAL games but many get their ‘football’ fix watching live games from the EPL, La Liga etc and dont want to watch what they believe to be an ‘inferior product’ ie Euro snobs. Whislt no one could argue about the difference in quality what the Euro snobs dont get is an involvement with the local product in terms of following a team, attending a live game, mixing with other football fans and over a period of time developing a sense of ownership/pride/belonging etc. HAL may not be the best but it is ours. As a 5th year MV member it has been exciting to watch the development of the club and the team as it has become an integral part of the Melbourne sporting scene…we have a new stadium, the finals and the ACL to look forward to in 2010 as well as the introduction of a local ‘classico’ ‘derby’ with Melbourne Heart. Bring it on.
Punter said | December 22nd 2009 @ 7:43am | Report comment
I could not agree more. Though I wouldn’t go as far as calling them Euro-snobs.
I have been a SFC member for 5 years & loved every momeent of it & some of times have been bad, but that is what it’s all about, being part of a local football team from the begining & seeng them on the world stage. Imagine when Dave Carney runs on to the field in the World cup & takes on Ballack, German superstar & I can say, he was ‘shite’ at Sydney, he wasn’t, but as a fan you can be critical & adoring as the same time.
I never followed an NSL side & I followed teams in Europe & for my local fix Rugby League, but I can now truly say that outside of teh Socceroos, no football side (of any code) fills me up with as much passion as Sydney FC.
I sit above the Cove & the atmosphere there is good enough for me. As time goes on & the A-League starts getting it’s own history & tradition, the A-League will grow.
Dan said | December 22nd 2009 @ 7:35pm | Report comment
Because while there are plenty of soccer fans about, most would rather watch the Premier League and other foreign products… Same problem the NBL has, but not quite as intensely.
MV Dave said | December 22nd 2009 @ 7:12am | Report comment
Just on the MV new rectangular stadium received the seating arrangement request paper work in the mail. It looks like it will be fantastic with 30,050 seats and 25,700 available to members/public (MV have over 4,000 for sponsors, corporates etc). With MHeart also starting up there will be a game at the ground each week. l have no doubt many general football fans will be drawn to watch games involving Heart partly because of the stadium and so their attendances may be better than first forecast.
To your article the same situation occured in both Japan and the USA where new football teams played in stadiums not siutable or too large. The MLS teams are currently involved in an incredible building phase where around 10 new stadiums for football have been built in the last 5 years or so with more under construction ie New York, Philladelphia, Dallas. These grounds have capacities ranging from 20-30,000 which is big enough for the regular season games. The fans and clubs have a sense of ‘home’ ground and ownership of the new facilities which also include training complexes etc.
The situation will improve in Oz with the new stadium in Melb for 2 teams, plus a smaller rectangular stadium for the new S Rovers. At this stage Brisbane may need to find a smaller ground also. It is clear that teams in the regional areas will struggle to get 10,000 if the team isnt performing well. Having said that the improved form of Newcastle and Brisbane will see an increase in their attendances. Also the run in to the finals should help to bring in a few more punters.
jimbo said | December 22nd 2009 @ 10:17am | Report comment
Yes, the trend will be siimilar and from an economic viewpoint clubs will hire smaller more atmospheric grounds in future and that will lead to another growth spurt.
There is a good chance that new smaller rectangular grounds will be built in the next few years, even if we don’t win a WC bid.
The Victorian government should be applauded for their support of football and Rugby League and thankfully they have more insight than Adolf Demetriou and the AFL – other state governments will follow.
Lu said | December 22nd 2009 @ 7:49am | Report comment
I think one reason why Victory have done well is that we started off in a small ground (olympic park) where we built a nice strong following and then moved to the bigger venue. The atmosphere at olympic park in the first season or two of the Aleague was awesome, and it was here where the supporter groups grew and gave it the base that victory atre today.
You have glimpses of this with other teams like Adelaide and Glory’s Shed. While others have just tried to drop a team into a 30-40K stadium and expected an atmosphere..
The atmosphere at Victory games were organically grown.. and the A-league needs to realise this..
Tom said | December 22nd 2009 @ 7:58am | Report comment
Yeah good call.
The Brisbane Roar, in particular, should learn from this.
Jeb said | December 23rd 2009 @ 5:26pm | Report comment
where else in brisbane were you/are you expecting the roar to play? I’ve seen sketches for new perry park grandstand but haven’t heard anything else.
with suncorp, as long as the team is reaching their break-even point (I think 15K) this goes close to filling the lower tier of the stadium and creates a good atmosphere.
Robbo said | December 24th 2009 @ 8:09am | Report comment
The breakeven point is 20,000 and the Roar are averaging 7,000.
Eamonn Flanagan said | December 22nd 2009 @ 8:26am | Report comment
That “extra element” at Victory you speak of Adrian may have something to do with Archie Thompson and Fred, and now Archie and Carlos Hernandez.
Cristiano at Adelaide, Jacob Burns at Perth, Matt Simon at the Mariners or even Labinot Haliti at the Jets..don’t do it for me,at least not in the same was as Archie and Carlos…crowd or no crowd.
Interesting Mr Allsopp isn’t missed isn’t it!
Killer_Tomatoes said | December 22nd 2009 @ 8:44am | Report comment
Think you’re looking back on the NSL ‘halcyon days’ with rose tinted glasses, there were plenty of grounds in the old days that generated as little atmosphere as the Brisbane Roar or Gold Coast and plenty of games with as dull atmosphere as Central Coast v Wellington at Bluetongue
Nick S said | December 22nd 2009 @ 8:44am | Report comment
Brisbane Roar will never get a crowd at Suncorp. I personally have gone to my last live game until they move or drastic changes are made a Suncorp.
The stadium is empty yet they do not allow the few paying fans to sit anywhere. How difficult is it to open up the entire bottom level and give a base rate entrance fee and then allow people to sit anywhere. No wonder it looks terrible on TV, it is because we are forced to sit in the corners. The security is also painful telling people to be quiet and to sit down… And heaven forbid if you’re standing on the terraces during the game… that’s a definate no no… And then you are not allowed to take off your shirt when they score or you are kicked out… Maybe the shirt thing is fair but I see other fans are allowed to do this… especially in NZ.
Roar should move to Ballymore, the Hill there would encourage atmosphere, plus its smaller more personal size would be perfect.
AndyRoo said | December 22nd 2009 @ 9:12am | Report comment
I agree with this Nick, the lower tier would hold I guess 20K to 25k
Last Wednesday With a crowd of only 11.5k the entire section of cheap seats was sold out with around 1k still lined up…..not sure if they all decided still to come anyway, I am sure some would have walked away as others had done because of the huge line up.
I think the stadium seating allocation is stupid beyond belief at Suncorp ….. membership packages have already gone out for next year and I haven’t heard of any changes for next year.
The club is run by muppets.
Chook said | December 22nd 2009 @ 10:21am | Report comment
I have to agree, I have seen guys get pulled up for sitting in the wrong place and had to move literally 20m from where they were originally sitting. Why would you bother when you just get hassled.
If its in the middle of the ground fair enough. But this was off to the right of the goal. May be just 2 areas instead of the six 4 aisles either side of the ground is more expensive and every where else.
I originally was against the Bally more move but Suncorp is killing the roar on the dollars and it doesnt help anyone locally except a large American company who own the leasing rights. Least if they move to Ballymore it could help Qld Rugby or local sporting clubs and keep the money in the State.
Allen said | December 22nd 2009 @ 9:24am | Report comment
Amongst other things, the FFA stifled active support (i.e. atmosphere) when they bought in compulsory reserved seating in supporter areas through ‘Home End Membership’. HEM has had the effect of preventing the supporter groups from growing further organically. Nearly every core supporter group in the league would be smaller than it was 2 or 3 years ago when supporter areas were more accessible.
It has been apparent from the start of the a-league that the new clean cut FFA inherently fears active support. I have been saying for years that rather than seeing active support as a problem, the FFA should embrace it. We should look to the examples of the j-league and even increasingly the MLS where active support is being embraced by the league as its point of difference over competitors. Rather than simply throwing extra security guards at fan issues, communicate with fan groups, provide resources and provide avenues to allow fan areas to grow over time. By creating trust and dialog, in return fan groups will be more willing to provide the FFA with self policing to help remove the 1% of idiots there for the wrong reasons.
For the record I myself am not usually an ‘active’ supporter anymore, i usually sit on the wings these days. But I love the atmosphere, noise and colour that Melbourne active supporters create, and along with the football it is a key reason why i buy a membership each year.
Killer_Tomatoes said | December 22nd 2009 @ 9:57am | Report comment
Agree with your main points, FFA have without doubt damages one of the main marketable points of their ‘product’ by intentionally stifling active support league wide (with the possible exceptions of the Cove and Yellow Fever), but Melbourne North Terrace will never ‘self-police’, sorry, will just not happen, and that in the FFA’s warped view is in itself enough to justify their over the top and repressive fan policy. They could leave them to their own devices though, and little of note would go wrong.
The problem with the FFA’s fan policy is, that even with all their international research and anti-terror experience, they’ve clearly not listened to any of the practical risk management resolution practices. For example, why, when the away fans are up the other end of the stadium at Docklands, is the North Terrace so heavily policed? Yes, you could definitely make many arguments that these fans brought the situation on themselves, but it does nothing to change the fact that it’s bad policy. A flare let off by someone who knows what he is doing is very rarely a risk, it actually becomes less of a risk by allowing the culprit to do it freely, as he doesn’t have to drop/throw it into a confined area. On the otherhand, away and home fan clashes are a serious risk, and although they rarely occur, should clearly be the main focus of any aggressive policing by security, police and the FFA’s hired goons at any stadium.
md said | December 22nd 2009 @ 9:32am | Report comment
Hmm… Adrian, the overall point you make has some validity, but the examples you rely upon are hopeless.
Firstly, insofar as your article myopically suggests that vocal support in the A-league is best characterised by Melbourne and Adelaide fans, it is a complete crock of nonsense. There is only one group that sings all game, every game in unison and loudly; they sit in good numbers at the Paddington end of the SFS and travel in numbers to a fair few away matches. Maybe it was to do with the placement of microphones, but I pretty distinctly remember the away Cove outsinging the Victory fans for good parts of Saturday’s match too – at least on the telly. I say this because the people I was with sang “When Sydney go Marching In” on 30 and 60 minutes led by away Cove over the telly.
Secondly, as for the “halycion” NSL days, well, let’s just say that you may have just grown the world’s first rose coloured ear-trumpet that hears into the past. I appreciate that things always seemed better in our youth when we were carrying on with our mates, but that vaunted support pretty frequently consisted of singing songs from the “homeland” in the “mother tongue” where half the crowd wouldn’t even bother to insert the local NSL teams name. The sustainability problems with that sort of vocal support and the often hostile and alien atmosphere it created for people of a different background was one of the reasons the NSL sank and the FFA has staunchly opposed the re-creation of ethnic clubs as A-league teams. On the other hand, taking Sydney FC as an example, the chants are based on a wide variety of well known standards – Skippy the Bush Kangaroo, When the Saints go Marching In, That’s the Way I Like It and even the chop – which I think they stole from US baseball – that receive great acceptance from people of all backgrounds.
I think the point that you seek to make mostly relates to the clubs where there is a library atmophere, which are those where the clubs have treated their supporter groups with either neglect or even distain; NUJ, where Con more or less threatened them with physical violence, GCU locked them out of their usual seats and along with the Roar, also sought extortionate ticket prices and CCM where the main sin was just ignoring the Marinators as part of their strategy of going exclusively after familys. This year, Perth have taken active steps to re-engage with the Shed and that has had a marked effect, but there is 4 years of neglect to make up for there.
Cheers
md
Allen said | December 22nd 2009 @ 10:05am | Report comment
Yep, I can confirm that good old Foxsports had a crowd microphone sitting directly in front of the Sydney corner, while the microphones in front of the Melbourne ends were right next to the touchline, with advertising hoardings between the mic and the crowd which would cut out some of the noise.
Mister Football said | December 22nd 2009 @ 9:46am | Report comment
This is yet another reason why our World Cup bid is premature.
Build the local league up to a half-decent standard, that Australians actually want to watch – then bid for the World Cup – not the other way round.
MV Dave said | December 22nd 2009 @ 9:57am | Report comment
The US didnt even have a local league when they were awarded the 1994 WC. Their MLS was started the year after the WC which gave it a huge boost.
South Africa’s football league is probably on a par with HAL. Hasnt stopped SA hosting.
The hosting of the WC will give the local game a massive boost. Bring it on.
BTW HAL has produced many excellent games this year so your slur at the local league is unwarranted.
jimbo said | December 22nd 2009 @ 10:11am | Report comment
The World Cup has got nothing to do with the local league.
Average attendances at the South African football games are lower than the A-League.
Average attendances at the MLS in 1994 when the WC was played there are about the same as the A-League.
It depends on how well equipped you are to hold a World Cup and how many people will go to the games.
The Socceroos are ranked 21 in the world – well within 32 countries who make up a WC.
Socceroos games average 45K and 90K for a friendly against Greece.
If its a WC the people will come.
Stop your whingeing – the AFL can’t stop a FIFA WC being held in Australia.
danny said | December 22nd 2009 @ 10:24am | Report comment
actually, the inaugural season of the mls was 1996. which sort of reinforces your point.
jimbo said | December 22nd 2009 @ 10:26am | Report comment
South African Premier League Average attendances 2008-09 is 7,526.
Attendances at games is not the only indicator of a sports popularity – like Australia, football is the highest participation sport in South Africa.
Stop your whining – the AFL can’t stop a FIFA WC being held in Australia.
BigAl said | December 22nd 2009 @ 11:26am | Report comment
Jimbo . . . you just can’t let that ‘AFL destroying WC bid’, bone of yours go can you !
I suggest for your own health you do so.
Any one with the slightest understanding of what’s involved would appreciate that whether Aus. gets a WC or not, the attitude of the AFL is minor to the whole process.
jimbo said | December 22nd 2009 @ 11:30am | Report comment
Other people are the ones looking for any excuse not to hold a WC here and I love to clear up any misconceptions.
Most Australian have a more open view on the world and its attractions. There is no reason not to hold a WC – for any sport – in Australia.
Its been done many times and the sky hasn’t fallen in yet.
My health is fine, but thanks for asking
BigAl said | December 22nd 2009 @ 11:33am | Report comment
Excellent !!
Smokygrayson said | December 22nd 2009 @ 10:11am | Report comment
I think FFA expected first season novelty crowds to continue and steadily increase, the reason why smaller clubs have been dropped into huge stadia. The problem is that follow-up marketing of A-League from FFA is appalling. Other codes aggressively market their games on FTA, FFA does nothing. Gold Coast’s crowds are embaressing. Sydney’s crowd size, for its size, is also embaressing, except for the Cove. Unless football wins cross-code supporters, the crowds now, are what we should expect for years to come. Whether takings at the turnstiles are what the club needs to survive, is a different question.