Is Australia’s sporting landscape too overcrowded?

while there is plenty of sport in australia it is by no means the only nation with numerous sports and attention in this country is only afforded to cricket RL/ AFL with union and soccer getting less attention other sports only get crumbs or have to wait for olympics for attention in the usa they have football /NFL/college basketball NBA/college baseball MLB and ice hockey NHL then there is golf nascar mma and womens sports are big over ther too the womens world cup final got like 9 on the ratings Canada has the CFL/NHL/WHL/basketball/baseball/curling and winter sports like skiing england has EPL/and lower football leagues cricket rugby league rugby union the differnce to australia is that other nations watch lower league teams aswell

I think this country is great at accommodating ALL SPORTS , I think it's a nationally definable trait of our great nation that there is room in our hearts and in the general domestic sporting landscape for ALL/ANY sport to thrive and grow in this great country. For ALL our national sporting teams ; no matter how small or obscure the following in this country ; WE as a nation expect them to do well , to win more often than not and more often than not they ALL rise to the occasion -that is WHY AUSTRALIANS/AUSTRALIAN SPORTING TEAMS ARE IN THE TOP 20-30 NATIONS in any given sport . :-)

Couple of points on the inaccuracy of the article. NRL has a lot of expansion options, we are likely to see at least 5 serious bids for 2 spots for 2013 this year. Eventually you will also see NZ putting its hand up for another team as well. Secondly the UK with its 61mill population has alot more professional teams across all the codes than Australia has per head of population. There are well over 100 pro or semi pro teams at least. Australia really only has two serious footy codes, AFL and NRL. RU is losing gound fast and soccer has a long long way to go to get even close to these two giants.

Growth of cricket? It's dying in the very places that have been it's linchpins for so long, such as Australia, England etc etc. In Sri Lanka, South Africa, West Indies etc same story, the crowds are dying. Cricket's only saving grace is that they have India under the thumb but the truth is football is growing fast there and multi billion dollar owners are now owning football clubs in not just the EPL but also in the Indian Football league and Sepp Blatter stated that growth in India is a key facet of FIFA's growth objectives, so hang on to your hats. Cricket growth? No chance. I doubt anyone even cares about next years one day world cup, it's doesn't count for anything.

Here's something on world's favourite sports for 2005. It notes the NFL Super Bowl is the world's most watched sporting event but 98% of its audience comes from North America. Cricket is even more insular> http://www.exchange4media.com/e4m/media_matter/matter_010406.asp

The only problem i have had is that i wanted to attend the Victory game saturday night. after lining up for tickets i was told that Members only first. (Fare enough) but with the new stadium in melbourne being only 35.000 it means i have to Buy YET another membership. I mean how many can you have? (Fitzroy, North Melbourne, Brisbane, And to have to shell out for Victory as well. I don't earn much on low income. And the free to air with sport like A F L and A- league Soccer Are Rubbish.

Just found this article, and in one word - NO. It is not overcrowded.

I think Australians love their sport, contrary to Dave1 and the Age's claim (i hate survey results because how do they come to that conclusion, they never asked me of anyone else I know), and this is shown by our newspapers, we have the backpage (sport), but how often does the backpage become the frontpage. I used to work in an airport and many Europeans said "you can tell when your in Australia by the newspapers," they continued on, "there is sport on the front and back pages." So we are mad about our sport, but I must say I am confused when it comes to our ability to show up to games. People love their sport but do not necessarily go to the games, thats the best part of the sport. Soccer gets sold out crowds in England and Germany on average- SOCCER!!!! Possibly the most boring team sport to ever watch. Why can't Rugby League or AFL do that- i know AFL do pretty well- but our products are by far the greatest (yes I am a one-eyed fan) in the world and we don't even turn up to them.

We are defiantly not oversaturated with sport and are interested in other things http://www.theage.com.au/news/sport/a-nation-of-armchair-sporting-fans-the-numbers-dont-add-up/2009/10/19/1255891774711.html "A nation of armchair sporting fans? The numbers don't add up.." ".......BARELY one in five Australians is a keen sports fan, and little more than half are sports enthusiasts at all, says a pay-television lobby group, somewhat exploding one of our favourite national myths. Further, few football matches have the national significance they claim, says the Australian Subscription Television and Radio Association. The AFL grand final, for instance, attracted 30 per cent fewer television viewers than the Masterchef Australia finale......."

Its not happening. The AFL and NFL keep getting bigger

There are barely 20 international players or rookies in the AFL system out of 700 players, I think its great if get a few more in the system especially as expansion will require a spread of the talent pool. It does not mean a relentless all out goal to chase the international recruit but surely it is good for the game overall to spread its wings. The AFL will always remain the elite comp for the foreseeable future. Redb

as funny as any of the other bowl names like Fiesta Bowl Orange Bowl Rose Bowl Game Sugar Bowl http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_college_bowl_games

'then face each other in the Rice Bowl to determine the national champion.' Your having a laugh aint you?

Bever fever What you are referring to is so basic to sport and its called 'Tribalism'. Tribalism is very much a manufactured illusion in the world of corporate sportstainment although I do believe that the AFL have managed to keep a balance while growing the game nationally, in maintaining as many Melbourne based clubs as they have, albeit demographics do shift with time anyway. I dare say further Melbourne clubs may have to be sacrificed for the national (as distinct from INTERNATIONAL) cause in time sadly. I am also encouraged that the AFL have not yet completely removed traditional ritual from the game i.e. the club songs although the new guernseys that are trotted out from time to time are quite nauseating. I do miss the big splash of streamers we used to see behind the goal posts not that long ago as well and it is important to perhaps acknowledge that these subtle changes are a result of tele and the growing litigeous cultures respectively. An Ozzie mate of mine who has lived in Glascow for over twenty years now, loves his soccer however he often bemuses over and bemoans the fact that his beloved Celtic barely boast a Scott these days and this is a club with such strong tribal roots. This is farcical really and you are of course correct in surmising that any semblance of remaining 'Tribalism' would be further compromised should our game ever relinquished control to satisfy some pie in the sky international market agenda.

So too were those Aussie footy players who joined the NFL to become kickers. Are the NFL out their proactively looking to promote their product in order to glean some national worth - no they are not and this as much about analogies between respective cultural attitude as it is market forces. I seem to recall reading a stat stating that the AFL sported the second or third largest patronage per capita live, of any code in the world, so why on earth would you want to jeopardise those credentials, if you must argue from a purely bottom line economic stance. Can anybody understand the distinction I am trying to make or is it simply that the Gen gap has become insurmountable. I am begrudgingly coming to accept that this humble baby boomers pearls of wisdom will fall on ever increasing deaf ears with the passing of time. Enjoy your footy one and all.

are you well placed to decide what it is that is meaningful and the future for the people that listen to the ABC in Perth? If the reporting is as disproportionate to actual supporting preferences as you appear to be suggesting, should this not be reflected by 'bums on seats', or tv ratings? Should we all be wearing alfoil on our heads? Are the media really out to get us?

Aust-NZ Bledisloe.means hardly anything west of Auburn so its not the only match of importance in all of Australia over the whole weekend. So the ABC in perth which is evn further west were pretty much be on the ball

I like the international dimension to aussie rules, its great to see people from overseas enjoying our game. ( at any level) But i would not like it to go the way of English soccer where the bulk of the players are from overseas, everyone likes to see the local boy play for his local team which still happens often enough at AFL level. A conspiracy theory has long existed among some aussie rules people that the AFL is hampering or not fully supporting overseas expansion simply to keep full control of the game. Its quite concievable for some media magnate to buy all the best players, set up a nine a side comp on soccer/rugby grounds and set up a world series cricket/ superleague type scenario. I dont buy it though.

if a kid plays for a junior Rugby League team in Sydney, he is given a card that allows him to attend any and every regular season NRL game. Many Sydney League teams do a family deal for approx $40-$45.

Jim Synes was recruited he wouldnt have come otherwise.