Comments on: Lack of atmosphere stifles A-League games

By: Footbal Person

Footbal Person — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 03:25:47 +0000

i think this a tad unfair, ive just been watching a-league tifos on youtube, looks like a good atmosphere…….. anyway this was last year .

By: Davo

Davo — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 07:25:22 +0000

2 points. Australia is a completely different structure than European or South American leagues. We should take a leaf out of the rugby book and set up a larger league with SA, and parts of Asia. Ie Indonesia etc. Football Asia might have a differnt view but to create the scale and interest of other world leagues we need more teams and a greater population.
Second. Sydney only has two songs and one is nick nack paddy wack for Christs sake. No wonder atmosphere is a problem. That song wouldn’t inspire me and is actually embarassing. More imagination people.

By: Pete

Pete — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 14:08:24 +0000

The reason I went to my first a-league game(victory). Was because some one told me the fan supporter group made it a great atmosphere, so I thought ,What the hell I will give it a go. Now I’m a member and never missed a game since 06′. The FFA must accept this is a common story. And to be honest, if those fanatical surpporters groups were not there then I would just watch at home on tele. The only way to bring the crowds is to bring the atmosphere of the supporter groups. People talk about victory’s wonderfull business plan that made victory a success. Complete shiiiite. Victory is and always will be successfull becuase of it’s fanatical surpporter groups.!!!!

By: Footbal Person

Footbal Person — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 02:01:38 +0000

To see the effects visual atmossphere gives a game we should look back at the phenoix game at FMG

now… COMMENT

By: Jeb

Jeb — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 00:01:27 +0000

I like Ballymore as a ground – right size, great surface etc. However I just can’t see the roar being successful there. For sure they may not be losing the vast amounts they are at suncorp, but i can’t see them even maintaining the tiny crowds they have now if they moved to a tucked away suburban ground with nothing around it that no one knows how to get to.

Ideal scenario long term would be soccer specific stadium at perry park or rna showgrounds but that’s pie in the sky stuff.

Re atmosphere, I’m no acoustic engineer, but with suncorp if you fill the lower tier how could that not make the same atmosphere as a boutique ground (with no enclosing roof) that was the size of the lower tier? Is it all perception?

I think the problem the roar faces is a better problem then what adelaide and perth and melbourne have. We’d be ok if we get a decent crowd. They are ok with tiny crowds but they are screwed if they get a big game as they’ve got no decent rectangles.

By: Football

Football — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 22:48:33 +0000

I was at the Sydney game last night with a crowd of 12,000 in a 45,000 capacity stadium & can tell you the atmosphere was simply outstanding.
I have been at the same stadium with a 26,000 crowd for an NRL Anzac day clash & NRL semi final which had around 30,000. I can tell you that last nights atmosphere was much more exciteing than the NRL matches.
The chanting, singing & general atmosphere created by the cove is simply outstanding & engulfs the entire stadium.

By: Robbo

Robbo — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 22:09:00 +0000

The breakeven point is 20,000 and the Roar are averaging 7,000.

By: Jeb

Jeb — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 07:26:22 +0000

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.

By: Rob

Rob — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 23:26:05 +0000

Chook, Yeah, the public transport issue with Ballymore is a big one. If they can sort that out, then it wouldn’t be a problem for the games to be held there. A refurb of the stadium in a joint project between the Reds and the Roar to increase the capacity from its current 24K to, say, a max of 30K, and also to bring the ground in-line with FIFA regs would be perfect (and add a roof to the open sections for those frequent times it rains during A-League football season), particularly if they can build a brige across Enoggera Creek as you suggest – a decent bridge where more than two people can walk abreast – and I think it would be an excellent venue for football.

It would also be good for the Reds, which would make the whole thing a lot more attractive to financiers, and way better than facing an empty Suncorp Stadium week-in, week-out.

By: Davo

Davo — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 21:01:10 +0000

Spot on Mxjosh. I watched an interview with the CEO of the MLS and he said something which the FFA should listen too. He said that 10,000 people sitting in a 40,000-60,000 seat NFL stadium does nothing to sell the game to the average American. No atmosphere, and it looks bad on TV. It’s about selling the game to people who in the past haven’t cared for the game, and empty stadiums don’t do this. The MLS or at least the clubs in the MLS have made it their business to build a series a of smaller 20,000 seat stadium purpose built for football/soccer across the United States. They know and are realistic about what size crowd they can draw to a MLS game. We should be realistic about the A-League. As our bid for the world cup gets going, why not include the legacy of building a few purpose built, smaller sized football stadiums to replace the large super sized stadiums. They can be used for training pitches for World Cup teams, then when it’s over the A-League teams can step into them. For me Hindmarsh is the perfect size for most A-League teams. Even with 8,000 patrons it still looks OK on TV and the atmosphere is maintained.

By: David V.

David V. — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 13:32:32 +0000

Football’s role should be to encourage social responsibility and teach decent values, not stroke teen/adolescent egos to a mindless crescendo.

By: jimbo

jimbo — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 12:28:54 +0000

The FFA and the A-League clubs are not responsible for the behaviour of fans – which by the way has been excellent and no real complaints or back page negative exposure from the ready-to-pounce Murdoch press.

MV fans are not labelled hooligans – the MV fans and their loyal following is the most envied in the A-League.

By: marinator 4LYF

marinator 4LYF — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 10:11:10 +0000

Have you played a game of football b4 Matt? its just a thing that happens as you run more you do get excess saliva in ur mouth and have to spit, i accept that and i also do it when i play, BUT there is definately no need for them to televise it, its pretty disgusting to see EVERY time the camera shows a close up, i passively counted the number of times it was shown in the sydney vs melbourne game and i stopped counting at around 50!!

By: Dan

Dan — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 09:35:52 +0000

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.

By: Matt

Matt — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 08:14:55 +0000

Or maybe they should just stop doing it. There is another thought. Basic respectable behavour.

By: marinator 4LYF

marinator 4LYF — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 05:32:27 +0000

i have always felt that the swearing of coaches and players need not be broadcast, its just stupid to show the whole country that “if you bring your family to the football, your gonna hear people swearing at the top of their lungs. Also on that point why do they constantly show players spitting, seriously we dont need to see it!!!!!! ‘Archie turns, shoots, just misses wide AND THEN HOCKS A BIG LUGIE!!! cmon FOX Sports lift your game!

By: Mxjosh

Mxjosh — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 03:25:12 +0000

The FFA does continuously seem to shoot itself in the foot in terms of how it treats current and prospective fans. desirably in the future I would love to see Football specific stadiums built with capacity somewhere between 25-40 000 however where funding would be found for this is the main problem. Also in a country of 21 million it may be less realistic than say for the US, however I would love to see a few made if possible

By: BigAl

BigAl — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 01:33:09 +0000

Excellent !!

By: jimbo

jimbo — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 01:30:19 +0000

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

By: BigAl

BigAl — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 01:26:36 +0000

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.

By: Killer_Tomatoes

Killer_Tomatoes — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 00:56:35 +0000

The FFA also have to take some responsibilty for cultivating a bit of a hooligan culture in places like Melbourne, and to a lesser extent Sydney. By devoting so much time and resources to maybe 150 kids nation wide and pumping them up every time something goes wrong in the press as a ‘dangerous minority’ they reinforce there opinions of themselves as ‘ultras’, it’s also basic social theory that if the powers that be tell a group they are something for long enough, they can fully expect those people to conform to the characteristics attribute to them. In effect, if you label a small disorder issue a ‘Hooligan problem’ one year, don’t be surprised if the next year you actually have one.

By: jimbo

jimbo — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 00:26:49 +0000

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.

By: danny

danny — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 00:24:51 +0000

actually, the inaugural season of the mls was 1996. which sort of reinforces your point.

By: Chook

Chook — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 00:22:40 +0000

And finally if they do go to Ballymore build a bridge across Enogerra Creek so we can get to the train.

By: Chook

Chook — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 00:21:12 +0000

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.

By: Gweeds

Gweeds — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 00:17:40 +0000

I think Allen has hit the nail on the head.

The FFA believes that the future is in attracting families etc. Which is true. But somehow they believe that active support is incompatible with this. My experience is talking to active Melbourne Victory fans.

The FFA has a psychotic relationship with active fans. On one hand they love the atmosphere they create and use pictures of them on their promotion etc. But on the other they fear this group that has spontaneously grown up and is out of their control.

So they introduce things such as ‘Home End Memberships’ (where fans are supposedly meant to stay in one designated place, which hasn’t happened anyway) and employ ‘anti-terrorist’ firm Hatamoto to film the fans etc. It’s surprising that Melbourne active support has been maintained considering all the s**t they had to endure.

I don’t think that the FFA can have their cake and eat it too. If they want passionate supporters that create a unique atmosphere unmatched by any other sporting event in Australia they have to stop the mistrust.

Sure, there is a risk that someone will rip a flare etc. But that’s is happening anyway. I reckon that if the FFA engages and trusts with the active fans a bit more instead of seeing them as ‘a problem’ maybe the level of troublemaking will be less, as some fans will be less pissed off and wanting to figuratively give the finger to the authorities.

Also club owners have to recognise that domestic football will not match the number of people attending the AFL. I know that for some soccer fans that is an issue, but why should it be so? A stadium like Hindmarsh or the new bubbledome in Melbourne is what we should aim at. 12,000 – 20,000 people can rock as stadium if it is the right size.

By: jimbo

jimbo — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 00:17:10 +0000

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.

By: Chook

Chook — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 00:12:42 +0000

Just to put thins in perpective the Brisbane Roar are playing on a ground that would be the 4th or 5th largest ground in the UK.

Wembley – 90,000
Old Trafford – 75,000
Emirates – 60,000
Suncorp – 52,000
St James Park – 50,0000 – 53,000

I agree that Suncorp is top big for the Roar and Ballymore with 27,000 capacity is a better ground. Its a shocker of a ground because it hard to get to no public transport close by and it still has wooden seating, its is a bit run down as well. . As far as the atmosphere I though it was awesome against the Fury on Wednesday night. Its is really killed off by the size of the ground. It would be far better a Ballymore and I think it is the only option for the Roar.

By: Smokygrayson

Smokygrayson — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 00:11:47 +0000

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.

By: jimbo

jimbo — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 00:11:40 +0000

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.