Brisbane Roar player Luke Devere heads the ball over top of Gold Coast United player Joel Porter during the 1st round of the 2010 A-league competition at Skilled Park on the Gold Coast, Sunday, Aug. 08, 2010. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)
So how long can Football Federation Australia officials hold their breath? We’re about to find out. On Sunday December 19 the gates at Skilled Park will be thrown open before Gold Coast United takes on the Central Coast Mariners and everyone will be let in for free.
United owner Clive Palmer says it’s to pay tribute to FFA Chairman Frank Lowy, who’ll be in attendance, and all of the effort he put in to Australia’s failed World Cup bid.
It’s a kind gesture from Palmer, and you can only hope that the beaches are empty on the glitter strip that day and everyone takes advantage of his generosity.
But what if they don’t?
What if the usual small mob of loyal fans show up and Skilled Park is as empty as Main Beach after a shark warning?
I wonder what Frank Lowy will start to think as he looks out at the empty seats from his corporate box?
It will be the latest in a long line of body blows for the man who wants football to be top-dog in Australia more than any business deal he has done in the past.
Until kick-off FFA and Gold Coast officials are certain to be nervous about the crowd figure because the knockers and headline writers will be waiting.
I’ve never understood why the people of the Gold Coast have been so unwilling to embrace this team. If you’re a Gold Coast resident I’d love to know because you have me absolutely baffled. It’s a shame for the league, the area and the players.
They have a great stadium, five-star playing roster, intriguing coach and a billionaire owner. It has all the ingredients needed to be successful… oh except fans!
If letting everyone in for free doesn’t work, then what do Palmer and Lowy do about this problem?
The only option left is to stand on Cavill Avenue and actually pay people money to go. If you live on the Gold Coast try and gather up the family and go along to the game.
If you jumped on the football bandwagon while the hype of the world cup bid built, the Socceroos took to the field in South Africa this year or Germany in 2006, then give the A-League a try.
This team deserves your support. Who knows – you might even like it and come back.
Terry
Guest
Not going to the game contributes to the low crowds. The number of Gold Coast people that tell me they don't go because of low crowds is ridiculous. We could double our crowds if you all came along. It comes down to caring about Gold Coast United Staying in the competition. I suppose that's the difference between a Fan and a supporter. Thanks for the support Comraderoar
ComradeRoar
Guest
So you're saying the reason you don't go is because nobody else does? That is ridiculous, especially considering the Sun's haven't even played an AFL game yet and you already hold season tickets? Why don't you actually go along when they play? Invite a few mates and have a few beers, God knows you might even have some fun? Who care's if the crowds aren't there, if that's your reason for a self proclaimed 'fan' such as yourself then you are nothing but a disgrace to the team and their supporters who actually show up. Such a foul attitude should warrant you a life time ban from GCU games... - Sincerely, a real attending Brisbane Roar fan (In addition to the other AFL and NRL clubs I follow no matter if they are going well or not, the crowds big or small)
Poni
Guest
Ben, your knowledge of football is not in question, but your assumption that IQ relates to fan base is tenuous at best. If IQ is the key to support, how do you explain the NFL. It is arguably the most complex tactical game ever played, yet it is played by, and supported by the biggest morons on the planet. I love watching entertaining sport, EPL, NFL, NHL, and old NSWRL. I'll even argue a nil-all draw in The Championship is more entertaining than most NRL games these days, but football played at a semi-pro level is mostly dull. There are the odd games, but even the Melbourne Victory vs Adelaide Grand Final in 07 (6-0) was an embarrassment for the A-League. Unfortunately we have to get used to the fact that we are a breeding ground for world football and we have to let future superstars go to Europe and South America to develop their skills beyond the level that they ever could playing in the A-League against mediocre competition. The A-League needs more retiring Euro's and less Aussie never was' to draw crowds. This would also help the next gen develop skills and give them entry into O/S comps via contacts made by said retiring Euros. Unfortunately we don't seem to have the population to support the crowd sizes neccessary to pay the Euro's enough to play here and cover costs. An Aussie World Cup on the horizon might have changed this outlook but now that we've been denied this until at least 2034 (by a country with population 1.5 mil and no legacy to pass on after all stadiums built for the event are dismantled, don't get me started about corruption within FIFA), i think the A-League is doomed to follow in the footsteps of the NSL.
Cugel
Roar Rookie
I can remember the Canberra Bushrangers (baseball) being so desperate for any recognition, they also staged a free entry game. Few showed up, the problem being not the admittance fee, but the banal nature of the fare on offer.
jamesb
Guest
In newcastle you have 50,000 registered soccer players. On the gold coast, only 8,000 players. Whether theres enough interest for football on the gold coast, I'm not sure. In rugby league you have St.George-Illawarra and Wests Tigers, two joint ventures who have won premierships in the last 5 years. Maybe in the A-league we should have Sth Qld Roar. Merge Brisbane with Gold Coast, play 8 or 9 games in Brisbane, and the rest on the gold coast. And with Nth Qld Fury, It covers the state. Perfect.
Jeff
Guest
An entire city rejects its local soccer team so the conclusion must be drawn that they are all morons and bogans? That kind of attitude won't attract crowds at all.
Jeff
Guest
lol The Gold Coast is already a football town, TITANS TOWN! Your'e in denial if you think they will ever be rejected and GCU take precedence
Dylan Watkins
Guest
Yeah good stuff by the Gold Coast hopefully you's get your biggest ever a-league crowd. I'm a Jets fan and Tinkler has changed things around well.
Gold Coast Fan
Guest
I am a Gold Coast United Fan (Blaze, Titans and Suns season ticket holder) and have never been to a GC united soccer game, because there is no point, I don't want to be the only fan there watching it with 6 other people. You go to live sport not just for the game but for the atmosphere you don't get when watching it on TV, I have purchased 8 of the free tickets ($1 Ticketek fee....nothing is free these days) and can't wait to go because there will be a crowd......I will keep going and even buy a season ticket........if other people also do the same.
RedOrDead
Roar Guru
I'd like to see JimC sit in torrential rain in a Melbourne Storm game back in 1998 during Storm's first season on a Wednesday night and tell me how many people actually rock up! 6 years on, in 2004 Melbourne Storm managed an average of 8,886! In 2010 they averaged around 14,500 - I'm sure 12 years into the Heart's reign they will be averaging more than that considering they're already averaging around 8,500 in their first season. ...enough said...
Kosmina
Guest
Full time excuse makers. The game is sick back home. No one cares and until we let the boat people in droves, it will remain the same.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
There were 2754 at AAMI Park midweek for the Heart match, on a night when torrential rain hit all parts of Victoria, including the CBD. The people at the ground seemed to be in fine voice.
JimC
Guest
The World Game kind of opens himself up to some ridicule. How was 1700 at AAMI this week - feel good? The bizarre idea that sports are a zero sum attendance game infects this utter utter clown
Midfielder
Guest
Maybe Ben... but who gave the best man hugs...
RedOrDead
Roar Guru
...or Diego's lesser known sister!?!?
Rusty0256
Guest
Maradonna? Must be Madonna's lesser known brother.
Chris
Guest
"by enlarge, lacking in intelligence" No end of irony in those five words.
Chris
Guest
There is a big difference between intelligence and pretension masquerading as intelligence. Claiming that it takes a particular IQ to follow a sport is the latter. I'm not too drawn on the idea that it takes any intelligence to understand a sport - the average sportsman is not a smart person. If you enjoy a particular sport then good for you, but don't cast aspersions on others based on sporting preference. It is about as juvenile as calling soccer players "poofs". If you are trying to win someone over to a particular viewpoint insulting them is the absolute least likely path to success.
punter
Guest
He is a RU supporter.
RedOrDead
Roar Guru
The problem with these ignorant AFL trolls is they don't realise that our two football codes can in fact coexist in harmony. AFL is played from March to September and A-League from October to March (next season)...A-League is not out to steal AFL's fan base so why not come watch some football during the AFL/NRL's off-season? Gorgonitus - it's okay to love Aussie Rules/Rugby League AND like football at the same time in Australia, we'll still accept you with open arms when you realise that you don't have to hate the round-ball football code!