The city I’m referring to is Berlin, where league leading second division side Hertha lost 2-1 at home to city rivals Union in front of a sold-out Olympiastadion – the monumental structure where Jesse Owens so famously smashed Adolf Hitler’s notions of racial superiority and Zinedine Zidane so disastrously smashed into Marco Materazzi’s chest.
Hertha are averaging crowds of around 40,000 in the second tier this season, with the club from one half of the German capital aiming to make a swift return to the top flight.
Attendances have been larger and considerably louder than they were during a disastrous first division campaign last time around, while former DDR-representatives Union contributed a solid core of those in attendance at the derby.
The question is, why did so many fans turn out on a cold winter afternoon in Berlin to watch a second division fixture taking place midway through the season?
And the answer, at least partially, stems from the fact that football fans revel in being part of a big-match atmosphere.
It’s one of the reasons so many fans were excited by the prospect of a Melbourne derby this season and it’s why the Grand Final invariably attracts the largest A-League crowd of the season.
So if fans enjoy the atmosphere created as part of a capacity crowd, why shouldn’t Brisbane Roar aim to attract a full house when they take on Gold Coast United in their final round fixture at Suncorp Stadium?
After all, a triumphant Roar have already sealed the premiership plate, they’ve played some of the most attractive football in the league this season and they’ve got an upcoming finals campaign to look forward to as well.
More importantly, the match marks the return of professional sport to one of the venues hardest hit by the recent floods, so there’s plenty of emotion behind what is already a heated fixture.
And with the Roar struggling financially, the club could certainly use the kind of boost to the coffers a full house brings.
Sadly, any hopes of a full house actually turning out for the match are little more than a pipe dream.
The general Brisbane public have shown an unwillingness to forgive the Roar for a considerable hike in ticket prices last season which saw thousands of fans desert the club, never to return.
Nor has the mainstream media really jumped on the Roar’s achievements as a feat worth celebrating, even if coverage today is better than it once was.
And of course the general lack of advertising doesn’t help, particularly when it comes to attracting more casual fans.
Sadly though, the real reason we won’t see a full house at Suncorp Stadium is because so many genuine football fans appear to have simply given up on the A-League.
From complaints about ticket prices to the quality of football, the weather and Ricki Herbert’s old-school hairdo, just about every excuse under the sun has been trotted out for so-called football fans not to attend A-League matches.
And it’s hurting the league’s image, not to mention its bottom line.
When Brisbane Broncos play the Gold Coast Titans in the NRL this season, there’ll be close to a full house in attendance.
We should see the same for Brisbane Roar’s derby day showdown with Gold Coast United on Saturday, but it’s never going to happen unless Brisbane’s football community pulls its finger out, stops making excuses and actually gets along to the game.
ian
Guest
The Bush So true about selling members and fans tickets along the side of the ground first. great idea, probably will not happen because it makes sense.
ian
Guest
so so true Real Football. The media in this country make the English tabloid press look very professional.
ian
Guest
Well said Aussie Rules , but you made 1 mistake you forgot to put a 1 in the hundreds of millions column. In Brazil alone you have over 500,000 professional football players( receive some payment)
juro
Guest
So why don't Australians turn out to watch the game?
ian
Guest
Judge Smails, Your joking I gather because if your not you must live under a very big rock. This game is huge a if you had done half the traveling that I have done you would know that. Egypt, Spain Italy Germany brazil bolivia Chile mexico UK any African country middle eastern country or asia and you will see children and adults playing this game in the park, street or oval ,, it is simply huge. If you look at our own country we have more registered football players here than all other football codes combined. If you were not joking may I suggest you read a little, and I don't mean the tabloid press.
Evan Askew
Guest
I'm a football nut. I've followed Roar since 2006. I didn't go to the first season because I was pissed off that the hated Qld Lions had taken the place of Strikers. I followed Strikers from 1991 to 2004 in the NSL and I have vague recollections of going to the Italian backed Brisbane CIty when they were in the NSL. I'm very proud of what they achieved because I grew up in that area around Newmarket and Grange. I also followed my local side THistle when they were in the Brisbane 1st division. So it is safe to say I love football. And if we get over 20,000 on Saturday night I'll be ecstatic. We have to face facts. In season 3 when we were challenging for the premiership after another poor start we got 30,000 against Sydney FC in one of the last regualr season games. That was when the Roar were at the high water mark of their popularity. Our following has decreased significantly due to a number of factors, some our fault such as ticket pricing. Others we couldn't control such as the GFC and a percieved lack of quality. We were building some momentum before the floods hit. I am convinced we would have got in excess of 20000 on boxing day if not for the massive rain. I just wonder whether moving the games to the Gold COast has affected our momentum in that regard. Whats important is that with proper scheduling like they had in season 1 to 4 we can get our 10000 average back again. If we can continue our success and get involved in the commnity, then we may be able to get back our 16,000 average again. If we do that we will be making a profit on match day. Coupled with our continued development of players we can get the club profitable.
Aussie Rules
Guest
KICKBALL CODES PARTICIPATION FOR AUSTRALIA Over 1 million playing football and about 650,000 play Australian Rules. AFL is rated 5th in most participation in Australian sports. THE LASTEST STATS I COULD GET. END OF YEAR 2004 - Team sport participation Football 1,169,000 - Aussie Rules 607,000 -MUCH MORE FOOTBALL PARTICIPATION- STATE OF PLAY 2006- Players over 15 Football 614,300 - Aussie Rules 536,200 -MORE FOOTBALL PLAYERS- ATTENDANCE IN MAJOR COMP 2006 A-League (8 teams) 2005=689,997 A-League 2006=1,050,000 Aussie Rules (16 teams) 2005=6,761,952 Aussie Rules 2006=6,736,851 -DECLINE IN AUSSIE RULES- 'A'-League has only in in development for 5 years. GLOBAL PARTICIPATION 2006 Football 207 countries 30,800,000 Rugby Union 129 countiries 3,500,000 Gridiron 2 countries 1,800,000 Aussie Rules 2 countries 650,000 Rugby League 5 countries 450,000 Gaelic Football 1 country 50,000 -FOOTBALL HAS MUCH MORE GLOBAL PARTICIPATION-
juro
Guest
It is no surprise that Phil Rothfield is hated by fans of other sports. He is hated by the majority of rugby league fans too. All he is is a gutter "journalist". He writes sensationalist pieces hoping to spark hits on the telegraph website, not caring that most of the people responding say that he is an idiot.
NF
Guest
Bondy I'm not suggested you attack Rothfield just to confirm that I being a league follower hates the conflict of interest with News Ltd and the hopeless administration that league has being directed by for yonks. I'm a casual football follower at best I follow the Fury the main reason I got into football despite playing when I was younger back then I was indifferent to all sports so I never heard of the NRL,AFL,ARU,Socceroos,etc I was more concerned about video games back in the day. Overall, I didn't watch sport til 2009 so I miss out of the Socceroos qualifying for the World Cup, and other sporting moments. I wish that A-League had better media coverage as I said in a previous post football should be on the back-page and any NRL/AFL off-season story should be 9 pages in. I'm all for a stronger sporting landscape sure there may be some short-term pains via expanison of the codes but in the end it becomes stronger overall hopefully.
Bondy
Guest
I don't personally believe i attacked Rothfield i know you're not suggesting i did, but i feel he's concerned with the overall direction of his game. In relation to Fozz he's a passionate football commentater where like in all sports not everybody agrees with the other thats normal even fom the same code. Im what you would call a hardcore football supporter attend some A League games but watch the rest on T.V and watch probably another 30 games throghout the week and weekend in europe, ( get to the point) when Fozz said the nation wept when the socceroos where beaten by Italy at the world cup in Germany i didn't. I posssibly watch more football than Fozz im not suggesting i have the expertise of him though. He may rub some people up the wrong way but is that because football is global ,though it struggles for general media attention in australia and audience participation in relation to the A League
NF
Guest
Bondy It's safe to say that Rotfield is a News Ltd hack who happens to love rugby league but every sport has there eyed-one die in wool supporters a perfect example is Craig Foster who at times can rub people of other codes the wrong way but I don't mind his passion for the sport of football. As far as I'm concerned in regards to sport coverage is to have someone who is indifferent to all sports by having no real favorite so no bias is involved. And good old fashion honest reporting something that's missing is the sensationalistic garbage we have today.
Bondy
Guest
Gate 21. Phil Rothfield lives in a state of fear and uncertanty for his sport of choice Rugby League and possibly rightly so their trying to expand into areas where rugby league is not foreign whilst on the other hand their looking at cutting traditional clubs in traditional territory. There is a simple rule of thumb therioe you don't care about something that can't hurt you, financialy ,demographicaly and geographically. Overall phil doesn't like any sport in N.S.W. (barring cricket) that threatens his beloved rugby league.
juro
Guest
My original post was saying that the soccer match between Brisbane and Gold Coast would struggle to get anywhere near a sell-out, partially due to the rugby league game being played on the same night. This was completely related to the topic of the article. You are the one who started getting off topic talking about how the rugby league is not popular on a national basis, ignoring the fact that it is the most popular sport in SE Queensland. I simply replied to your posts, pointing out flaws in your logic. Oops, sorry, I said the name of that other sport again...
Twatter
Guest
Juro. This is a football tab and a football thread , all you have done here is promote the Gold Coast Rugby League and the all stars game . Go and find a rugby league tab and thread.
juro
Guest
Twatter, that's $6 dollars more than they were giving away tickets to the Asian Cup final...
Twatter
Guest
Juro. Yes i have heard of state of origin, they were selling ticket's for the third game last year on e bay for $6 dollars.
Chook
Guest
I certainly will be there, but I think a crowd under 30K would be expected. The roar have played very well and deserve the support from Brisbane. If the A -League is still around in it current format and can be maintained there is no reason in 10 years why 50,000 people wont be at the game. Like all good things rivalrys often take time to develop and some times it not always based on geograghical locations. Australia v Japan in the international football stake has really grown to be the team to beat for the Socceroos.
Ted Skinner
Guest
KOG re Titans' Crowds Well it certainly wasn't the local Gold Coast Rugby Union team in the ill-fated ARC that effected their crowds. They had the lowest crowd average in that competition. They also had the lowest crowd in that competition, 780. This will probably go down in Australian History as the lowest crowd to witness full time professional sportsmen play.
Titus
Guest
yeah sorry Juror, could just be the way I feel I don't know, but it is. For me this love of the game, goes back to my childhood, training on a freezing winters night, travelling to games with your mates, working over and over on particular skills, dreaming of making the big time. I can only imagine how good it would have been to have something like the a-league when I was growing up. Of course I played Rugby in the backyard and League for two seasons, but I just can't feel the same passion for League as I do for soccer. I still enjoy having a beer and watching the game though, even get to the occasional Tigers game.
juro
Roar Rookie
Titus, that is an interesting way to view your sport. You can only feel passion for soccer because you physically strap on your boots. Can you feel the passion just by kicking a ball in the backyard or do you need to play for a club? Or do you need to play in the A-League to feel the passion?