The A-League is navel gazing. Oddly enough, Adelaide, if one considers Australia as a sitting Buddha, is about where the navel lies.
Adelaide United have had their problems, still do apparently, but they are a model for this struggling code of football in this country. I’ve never been to Adelaide, probably never will, so wipe away thoughts of bias, please.
Sport is a contagious disease, one reason we watch it is because other people do; a pack mentality.
Want some proof ? Most people I have known have no interest in sport whatsoever, they prefer to watch drama on topics of warlocks and demons casting magic spells on each other or continuously occupy themselves only with activities that increase their chances of getting laid.
However, come World Cup time, much to my surprise, off they toddle at odd hours of the morning to a venue that serves alcohol to watch the Socceroos go around.
This bewilders me.
I’m talking about people with nil interest in the game, not just little, nil. I have to explain the offside rule continuously and that no you can’t pick the ball up unless you’re the goalie. They go simply because other people are going, they go for the atmosphere, the party, the chance of a good time.
This is a major factor as to why the A-League is struggling to make a public impact in this country; lack of atmosphere. Ask people why they don’t attend or watch and they’ll say the standard of the game is no good. This is not the truth, it’s just an easy answer to give.
It appears like that because there’s no atmosphere.
Most people wouldn’t know how to tell if a soccer game is a good standard or not. I don’t really and I’m am addict. I watch for atmosphere (and incredible skill) and the highlight of my year is watching Liverpool fans sing at full volume ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ when they play Manchester United at Anfield. A crammed mass of ordinary folk, loud, singing for a cause. It gives me faith in humanity, it moves me, and I’m no Liverpool fan either.
With Adelaide United, I notice signs of atmosphere at their small 15,000 capacity Hindmarsh Stadium. The game versus Newcastle the other night was a prime example. There was noise and the visual impression of actual people at the game. For most A-League games we stare at vast empty seats, there’s a bloke with a beer up there somewhere and a hint of white noise behind the commentator.
At the actual ground it is worse, because you’re afraid the TV camera will identify that lonely person is you, and all pretense that I’m a cool happening person will be destroyed in seconds.
How to create an atmosphere at an A-league ground 101: play in a small venue. Hindmarsh looks pretty crowded with 9000 in attendance, which really isn’t that big, but put people in close proximity to each other and a buzz starts to evolve, and it transfers very well to TV. Put the same crowd in a 40K stadium and it’s dead.
Now if this Adelaide buzz occurred at all clubs, word will spread like swine flu, people will want to attend or watch due to a party atmosphere. All clubs should play in 10-15K square shaped stadiums like Hindmarsh, make it a party, hand out drums, let’s rock, and watch them come. Melbourne Victory is at current an exception to this rule, because Melbourne folk are strangely obsessed by sport, and good for them.
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