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The A-League has set a new all-time season attendance record, as well as scoring its highest average attendance since 2007-2008, off the back of the entrance of the Western Sydney Wanderers and the marvelous marquee troika.
According to figures released by Football Federation Australia today, in the 2012-2013 season attendances shot up 18%, to a season total of 1.666 million, while the average regular season crowd number of 12,388 has only been beaten in the 2006-2007 (12,911) and 2007-2008 (14,610) seasons.
TV audiences have also increased – to close to 80,000 viewers per game, also an all-time record, while the cumulative TV audience passed 10 million for the first time.
These are good signs for the fledgling competition, particularly after the up and down experience it has endured over its nine-year history.
The increases have to be put down to the arrival of the Wanderers and the shot in the arm provided by Alessandro Del Piero, Emile Heskey and Shinji Ono.
Apart from energising a long marginalized football region, the Wanderers have been Australian sport’s cinderella story over the past 8-12 months.
Before the eventual flowing football and premiership win, the fanatical support has been staggering.
The Wanderers even received a crowd of nearly 4000 to a pre-season trial against lowly Nepean FC back in July 2012.
It has grown and grown from there, with a packed and pumping Parramatta Stadium every week a sight to behold.
The wider impact of Del Piero, Heskey and Ono cannot be underestimated.
Apart from their performances on the field, which have been stellar and attracted bigger crowds and many of those who had never been to A-League game before, the trio generated talkability, merchandise sales, increased media attention and even global interest. These three stars have helped put the A-League on the world map, as well as the local one, and it couldn’t haven’t happened at a more critical time.
According to these figures– Del Piero has helped boost Sydney FC’s average crowd attendance by nearly 7000, up to 18,633, the highest average the Sky Blues have ever had.
Heskey, who has re-signed for the 2013/24 A-League season, added another 1200 people for the Jets, pushing them to 13,389, also the highest the club has ever had.
But the injection provided by the marquees was not just felt by the clubs fielding them, but by their opponents and at stadiums across the country.
Adelaide United’s average crowd this season compared with 2011-2012 went up 1000, the Mariners were up 400 and Melbourne Victory 4000. Brisbane Roar and Perth Glory also had slight increases, but average attendances were just down in Wellington and for the Heart.
These last two clubs are proof that while the A-League is on a high, there is still much work to be done.
Financial stability for all the clubs remains a huge issue. Most lose millions every year. The Mariners teeter on survival every 12 months. The Wanderers are owned by FFA, which is a conflict of interest.
FFA needs to continue to partner with the A-League clubs to ensure the competition can become profitable so the clubs can start to break even, and eventually, be profitable.
The rise in crowds and interest must be built up, not neglected like after the first three years of the A-League, so that the competition continues to grow and prosper.
The FFA is doing a good job with its digital channels and with engagement through platforms such as Twitter. This must continue.
The deal to have a live Friday night game every round on SBS, as well as delayed finals and Socceroo matches, is another massive important step forward.
While ratings on Fox Sports have grown this season, they are still dwarfed by the NRL and AFL. For example, last weekend’s pay TV ratings show that football still has a long way to go. According to these numbers – the only football game to score in the top ten sporting broadcasts of the week was the Socceroos vs Oman match, which received 187,000 viewers.
This was beaten by five NRL games and three AFL matches, with no A-League game being watched by more than 170,000 people. The top rating sport broadcast of the week was the Sharks vs the Dragons with 343,000 viewers.
Live free-to-air coverage is completely vital for the A-League’s growth.
Pay TV reaches a limited audience and without a sound free-to-air component, there is a glass ceiling. You only need to look at rugby union to see that.
Still, season 2012-2013 has been one of success and celebration, and those at FFA headquarters can afford a smile today.
Recent figures by IBISWorld – confirm that football in this country is on the up.
The A-League is currently ahead of rugby union in terms of the amount of revenue in generates (including ticket sales, sponsorships, TV rights and merchandise), $95.2 million compared with $70.1 million, but the world game is still behind Cricket Australia and Tennis Australia.
Critically though, comparing figures from 1995-96 to 2011-12, football is growing. It is now third highest in terms of unique spectators, behind Aussie Rules and Rugby League, but ahead of cricket, rugby union and tennis.
The signs are promising. Let the good times roll.
Follow John Davidson on Twitter @johnnyddavidson
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