It is well known and documented that the A-League is suffering. Average crowds are well down on what they once were and what seems like every second club is either in finical disarray or have managers who do not want to be there.
Ironically, however, this is at odds with the actual ‘product’ that is being served up to the brave few that actually attend the matches.
The level of football being presently played in the A-League is of a higher standard than previously seen and this trend has continued each year the competition has ran.
Consequently, it seems quite reasonable to ask why the crowd figures continue to dwindle. Australians have proven over the years that they will, generally speaking, pay their money to see a sporting event that will entertain and provide a contest.
True, the Australian form of the game is clearly not of the lofty standards set by some of the European leagues, but it is live football being played at a time of the year when there is nothing else on. Let’s face it, the only other option is domestic cricket, and we all know how many spectators those games draw.
Take Brisbane, currently sitting pretty in second on the ladder, for example.
Where have the fans gone?
Having lived in the state’s capital through the club’s infamous home drought, I can attest to the average crowd figure being well in excess of 10,000. So why now, when the club is playing the best football in it’s existence, and breaking records for undefeated stints at Lang Park, finding it so difficult to attract the four-figure crowds this season?
The same could be argued about Gold Coast FC, when Shane Smeltz netted enough goals to sink a ship, and Clive had to cap the crowds at a mere 5000. The answer is a combination of factors.
It seems those in charge of running the A-League have taken a leaf out the rugby league code’s administrators’ play book of how to run a business – and completely forgotten.
These attractive fixtures are not flaunted in the public’s eye with imaginative television advertising. They are absent from billboards along the main roads featuring the latest and greatest imports, roped in to playing here, somewhat ironically, to lure a crowd.
Instead, the only people who know these games are even about to be played are probably the same fans who read this article – mad sports enthusiasts.
While it is good that there exists a natural base of supporters for the A-League, if it and the clubs that participate want to survive, much more needs to be done to catch the attention of the wider public, and show them the style of football the rest of us are already enjoying.
That is not to say, however, that the product itself is perfect either. What those that have chosen to stay at home don’t witness, thankfully, are the ‘only in the A-League’ moments that seem to be creeping in to games.
For example, Melbourne Heart custodian Clint Bolton was yellow carded a couple of matches ago for ‘marking the surface’. Yes, I too had never seen a card produced for such a ludicrous reason before either. The penalty came about just before the second half whistle while Bolton was performing common limbering exercises.
Ridiculous.
In the same match, a countless number of potentially career-ending tackles were flying in, with studs for all to see, and were being waved ‘play on.’
Having witnessed almost every fixture this season (thank the Lord for Foxtel), these obscure moments are becoming commonplace. The referees have clearly been instructed by the FFA to rule the game in a way so as to ensure we do not end up with a ‘soft’ game.
But then, we see endless yellow cards for extremely technical fouls such as having the ball kicked in to the defender (quite deliberately) of a free kick who has not yet retreated the required distance. Alternatively we see flashes of yellow for kicking the ball away a millisecond after a free kick has been awarded.
Even though in all likelihood the act that drew the free kick was much more worthy of a card!
For spectators having actually taken the plunge and attended a game, witnessing these sorts of blunders, is what will make them not return so quickly.
I’m sure these attendees would rather see a player yellow carded for diving in at the legs of an attacker, than red carded for diving, and suspended without recourse to appeal the sentence – another A-Leagueism.
We have not even touched on the Mark Bosnich scenario presented by the FFA yet.
Here is one Australian who would definitely draw a crowd being given the chance to help out one of the new teams in the competition, being relegated to the stands for not having a licence. Even though the guy who he would be sitting next to (a much more likely crowd-puller, Robbie Middelby) does not possess one either! Only in the A-League.
The higher-ups in the front office of the A-League need to start taking their own product a little more seriously if they want their supposed clients to.
k
Guest
I'd love to take the family to brisbane roar but the games are on too late. NRL's sunday games means you can take the whole family and have a great day (not that I am a huge league fan) but at least the kids can get involved. 8pm may not seem too late for some but when you want to take your family to a game and then after the game you have to get back through the city and home really late at night it starts to be more hassle than fun. There are a couple of slightly earlier games in January 2011 but one or two games out of a season isn't great. Also in relation to Brisbane Roar promotion - without being a league fan I could tell you the majority of names of the broncos team but only one or two players in brisbane roar. If people don't feel attached to the team or that they know the players why would they go to the game. There needs to be more promotion in the local community because if people love the players they will pay the money to go and watch the game - instead of them being just another player in a terrible orange t-shirt :)
jack
Guest
Dont worry, things will pick up after the afl national draft!
mintox
Guest
You can't take those claims of international exposure on face value. It's similar when the AFL claims that it's games are broadcast to millions around the world. It probably is broadcast on random stations around the world but its probably on at some ungodly hour of the morning and just because it's broadcast doesn't mean people are tuning in to watch it. Same with the A-League, you could probably find it or some highlights on stations around the world but I doubt there would be a huge number of people tuning in to watch it.
Steve
Guest
Is the A league shown in the UK? I’ve got every sports channel available and have never seen it, except for the Grand Final a couple of years ago. Can’t imagine people from other soccer playing nations watching it.
jimbo
Roar Guru
Here's an idea Aussie Rules followers. Why don't you write an article about the falling cricket crowds - lesss that 4,000 people watch the Ryobi Interstate Cup. Or how about the falling NBL crowds which average less than that. I'm sure you could make up a nice story about how the attendances at the Four Nations Rugby League tournament have been very disappointing and way down on last time. Any takers?
jimbo
Roar Guru
Stick with Aussie Rules and the Melbourne Demons mate. Bit of a slow off season? Its all relative - over its short history the A-League still averages about 11,000 per game which puts it in the top 20 football leagues in the world and ahead of most football nations. The A-League is shown in over 100 countries around the world and millions of people each week.
Titus
Guest
I'm not saying we should abolish the salary cap but you do need to understand that while it keeps the competition even it also keeps the crowds even. What is a decent level of football in Townsville or Gosford isn't necessarily a decent level in Sydney or Melbourne. Obviously at this stage the game needs to be sustainable so all the clubs need this protection but inevitably in order to get the big crowds, teams like Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, need to be given some lee-way to assemble world class squads. And then one day be taking on Asian and outplaying them. Until then we are where we are, and it aint so bad.
Mick`
Guest
I have a PG membership & have only been to 1 game this season, I could of gone to the Sydney game but the previous poor performances, poor beer, security issues at the ground & the fact that we have not & still do not have a coach in the 6 seasons of the a-league puts me off. Coach recruits Fowler as a striker & does not play anywhere near the goals, go figure If they can not lift their game I can stay home & watch it live on fox
BigAl
Guest
what's happening here ?? are posts now 'disappearing' without a trace ??
Joe FC
Guest
The quality of the football on display has definitely improved and that is what I watch not the crowds. I learnt long ago not to worry about things I cannot control.
Syd Oly
Guest
Did someone say N-S-L
Kaiser
Guest
Yep I too enjoy watching elite players like Van Der Saar drop crosses, Tevez, Anelka and Essien miss sitters and Chamouk taking dives.
JamesP
Guest
You cant blame everything on News Limited. Adelaide is also a one newspaper town - and The Advertiser is owned by News Limited. However they have been one of the more successfull teams crowd wise (i.e better corwds per population capita then Melbourne, Perth, Sydney and Brisbane.)
JamesP
Guest
This is not true. The NRL is not saturated in the south and west just as the AFL is not saturated in East. A-league administration needs to be held accountable.
Axel V
Guest
You clearly have no idea.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
For the majority of football fans, crowd numbers are just a non-issue. The product is all that matters and, as far as I am concerned, v6 of the HAL is far superior to any other sports product available in Australia. What I have noticed is that, whilst the numbers at MVFC matches are significantly lower this season, the supporter base is now clearly a real football crowd, comprising people who live, love & really understand the Game - i.e. a superior quality customer.
mintox
Guest
Our (Perth Glory's) crowds only rose due to the perception that the club had turned it around last season after 4 seasons of abysmal management on and off the field. Add to that the novelty factor with Robbie Fowler which has well and truly worn off now that people realise he is a shadow of his former self. The game just gone against cellar dweller and reigning champion Sydney could only draw 8800 fans despite it being a perfect Sunday afternoon weather wise and the only competition being the Perth Wildcats who were playing at the same time. The simple fact is that football fans have little patience when it comes to the A-League, they have a smorgasbord of other leagues available on foxtel or one hd and will not put up with sub standard football which occasionally gets served up in the A-league. If their team starts losing they soon jump off the bandwagon and follow their favourite EPL (or other league) team instead.
Andyroo
Guest
Brisbane ..massive price increases while shedding coach and senior players = horrible season. They have got it right this year but you can't expect everyone to just forgive and forget straight away. Coverage doesn't help though, the Roar have played great football since game 1 of this season but the Courier Mail led with a completely off base hack piece after game 1 (bagging their performance) written by someone who didn't even watch the game! So unprofessional I haven't touched that paper since.
DS
Guest
Crowds are down due to stupid fixturing. MV have played Sydney, Brisbane and Nth Qld twice before playing Adelaide!
Midfielder
Guest
Kurt I have every faith in Football... we are a growing league our product is what marketers call in the infancy stage... we will make more mistakes but we have the funds the people and the product to be ready for the next media deal which if nothing else will ensure some main stream media...we are also part of a 4.7 billion region that has football as its prefered code ... What most AFL folk on this site do not realise is most in football care little of other codes .. other than to know what they are doing .. all we realy want is our own domestic competition free of crap writing from jurno's from other codes.... When you have 380 million registered players world wide.... 204 nations... over 30 million teams and over 3 million clubs... run one of the worlds largest aid programs... need I go on... you get a few things that go wrong..and some bad mother farkers and some evil ones as well... We all accept that AFL is King in the southern states and RL in NSW & QLD... but we also know that the AFL in the southern states is in what marketers call the mature stage of the market cycle in that it will be difficult to hold existing market share... the same for RL in NSW & QLD ... that is why both codes are on expansion programs into new markets... So you can say all you want ... but me thinks you totally underestimate where we sit... totally overestimate your own position... and right now on paper than may be ... but I have every confidence within 7 years Football will have a strong domestic competion of around 14 teams with crowds around the 12 to 15 K ... have some national teams on FTA and maybe 1 or 2 at best A-League matches on FTA ... Our growth will be steady .... but increasingly upward as it has been in every area aside from crowds the last two seasons... and there are loacl reason for most of this as well mostly poor managenment in this aspect of footballs management.