The FFA’s decision to allocate Adelaide Oval as the venue to host Friday night’s fixture between Adelaide United and Brisbane Roar is absurd, but not for obvious reasons.
Adelaide United earned the right to host an A-League elimination final – a reward for the team’s ability and effort, the coach’s skill and determination, and the supporters’ firm loyalty for 27 unpredictable rounds of football.
It is an achievement that should warrant Adelaide a competitive edge in week one of the finals series, but instead Josep Gombau must prepare his side for the overwhelming nuisance that is the Adelaide Oval.
Those that attend will lour as the atmosphere seeps out the peculiar hole we shrewdly identify as the “Northern Mound”, where the Red Army are unfortunately and foolishly forced to dwell.
FFA quietly selected the Oval as their desired venue, and for obvious reasons. Cast your mind back to the Round 2 match between Adelaide and Melbourne Victory, which drew more than 33,000 fans. The event was a financial success, therefore FFA has applied the same logic to Adelaide’s upcoming home final.
However there are five reasons the FFA’s decision is folly.
Firstly, Adelaide United have only sold out Coopers Stadium once this season – the inaugural FFA Cup Final attracted 16,142 fans as Adelaide defeated Perth Glory 1-0. With this statistic, it is questionable whether Adelaide has the pulling power to draw a sell out crowd in Friday’s elimination final even with the game at Coopers.
Secondly, had it been Melbourne Victory or Sydney FC instead of Brisbane, there would be greater reason to stage the game at Adelaide Oval. Victory and the Sky Blues are big clubs, and therefore attract large attendances, not to mention the fierce rivalry that exists between Adelaide and Victory. Furthermore, a large portion of away fans would be expected to travel, plus the geographical distance makes a journey more affordable than if fans were to travel from Brisbane. The two Adelaide/Brisbane matches at Coopers this season averaged only 10,950 fans.
Thirdly, match will be overshadowed by Sunday’s Showdown featuring the Crows and the Power, therefore it will be difficult to attract new supporters to Adelaide United with the media spotlight strongly fixed on the AFL. When Adelaide United hosted Victory at the Oval in Round 2, the 2014 AFL season had already concluded. Therefore, it was much easier for United to attract new supporters with increased media exposure.
Fourthly, many loyal Adelaide United supporters are disenchanted by the Adelaide Oval experience, and will instead assemble themselves in front of a screen where a decent view and atmosphere are guaranteed.
Finally, the Cost – the Adelaide Oval’s ‘upgrade’ led to inflated ticket prices, and if general admission were to sell-out, fans would be forced to purchase a reserved-seat ticket, despite half the stadium being empty. With fans accustomed to the hospitality of Hindmarsh, prices could be the Achilles’ heel of FFA’s decision.
Despite the unfortunate circumstances, Gombau will take confidence from his team’s historical struggles when facing the Roar at Coopers Stadium. His players are sure to perform as best they can, and expect the majority of Adelaide’s supporter base to follow suit, however bitter. But this won’t change the reality.
FFA has compromised Adelaide’s right to exercise the competitive edge it deservedly acquired by finishing third, and a home final has been transformed into an exhibition match for the sake of some measly coin.
If the competition is to gain anything from Friday’s fixture, may it be FFA’s realisation that an ignorant and irreverent ploy is not worth the risk when the game’s spirit and integrity is at stake.
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