- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Falling A-League attendances should be of great concern to the FFA after last weekend’s round pulled an average of just 7,000 fans to the five A-League games.
This week’s round wasn’t much better at around 7,500. While it’s still not the lowest A-League round average ever, which was about 6,500 in 2009, the signs are there that the A-League might need some assistance.
Even Sydney FC, the second highest crowd puller in the A-League’s history, although currently bottom of the table, attracted its lowest ever home crowd of 7,500. That figure is roughly 40 per cent down on last season’s average SFC attendance.
The A-League season average attendances are slowly declining and look like falling even lower than last season, which was the lowest yet.
The tragic irony is that season six of the A-League has clearly been the best so far and the most entertaining to watch.
The standard of play is the highest, Australia’s new coach has been watching with interest, three very talented new European coaches have joined us, high scoring games, some outstanding goals, a new team Melbourne Heart, have all added excitement and class and some stunning goals.
Then throw in a magnificent, purpose built new rectangular stadium in Melbourne, built to accommodate the growing crowds, and season six should be the FFA’s best ever.
But the crowds haven’t reflected this at the stadiums.
Despite a strong first few rounds that averaged higher than last year’s overall average, this season’s attendances are starting to drop markedly.
Some have suggested the reason for the declining attendances could be the novelty factor of the A-League wearing off, the declining interest in football and the Socceroos after their worse than expected performance in South Africa.
The FFA also seems preoccupied with the bids for the FIFA World Cup and its finances and resources are stretched.
A season proper average of 14,612 in season three was the best so far in the history of the A-League, built on slowly increasing crowds in season one (10,955) and season two (12,940).
Season four saw a drop-off with 12,180 the average. That drop-off headed dramatically lower in season five to hit the 9,500 mark and season six looks like drifting even lower.
No one really wants the A-League to die off like the old NSL did. The sport of football really needs a strong national competition to keep growing. The National Youth League and A-League proper is providing a wonderful nursery to develop our greatest football talent for home and overseas.
Even if people aren’t attending A-League games there are a lot of people who still like watching the A-League on Fox Sports. And the international coverage of the A-League has really taken off – last year the highlights package and final series were shown live in over 100 countries around the world.
Most people thought last year that Archie Fraser’s response was not satisfactory and really did nothing to stop the slide. Archie has subsequently stood down from his position as the Head of A-League Operations.
A more acceptable plan to turn things around is awaited from FFA CEO Ben Buckley and his new Head of A-League Operations Lyle O’Gorman.
Another season of lack of action on the FFA’s behalf will be another year closer to the death of the A-League.
Are you the ultimate team manager? Pick your own superstar team and go head to head with other football fans for glory and cash prizes on Draftstars. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.