A media release from the FFA earlier today brought nothing but good news for those of us that love football – informing us of the record-breaking first week of the season that has just passed.
The previous records for aggregate attendance, as well as both TV and digital viewing numbers were all shattered; and to me, it’s clear that the star power the A-League generated in the off-season through a few brilliant signings has paid immediate dividends.
I’m the last person that would ever get involved in a code war; I’m a Rabbitohs member, a devoted Hawks fan and hell, I’ve even been getting into the ITM Cup for the last couple of years (go Taranaki!).
But as someone that has adored football his entire life and watched it be kicked around by supporters of other codes who’ve yet to grasp that you can like more than one sport, this is some sweet vindication.
When Sydney signed Alessandro Del Piero, there was nothing but joy from football lovers…and yet oddly enough, there was an equal amount of cynicism from others I spoke to that don’t particular care for the round ball game.
A Rugby League forum I post on (which has a football sub-forum which is home to many knowledgeable fans that appreciate more than one sport) saw the anti-football zealots out in force, claiming that “nobody’s ever heard of this guy” and that he was washed-up, over the hill etc.
Sydney may not have won on the weekend, but that’s not the point. Aside from the fact that we never win in Wellington, Del Piero was the best player in a losing team by an absolute mile. But even if he wasn’t, the importance of his signing goes well beyond his considerable ability on the pitch.
To quote the aforementioned press release; “This season the Hyundai A-League will be seen in territories across the globe with live matches taken throughout Asia including Hong Kong, Singapore, Myanmar, in Italy via Mediaset and the USA with both One World Sport and Fox Soccer Channel while weekly highlights will be broadcast in the UK through Sky Sports.”
To provide some perspective – there were Juventus fans having their morning coffee, reading about Silvio Berlusconi’s latest indiscretion and settling in to watch Sydney play Wellington.
To even imagine that Italians would have been watching our poxy little A-League six months ago would have seen far-fetched. It was probably as confusing a thought as these new viewers felt on Saturday, trying to work out how Terry McFlynn is paid to play football.
There were over 107,000 views on the A-League and corresponding club websites across the weekend, up 25% from last year’s record. This number will continue to grow with the network of global television viewers.
But even in our own backyard, things are picking up. 108,000 was the average audience for a game this weekend, absolutely destroying the round one figures from last year by a cool 38%. Whether it’s Del Piero, Heskey or the presence of a new team that actually has fans, people are starting to take notice.
Oh and finally, the games themselves. 93,500 people turned up to the five fixtures, beating the old record by around 6,000 people.
With a new TV deal looming for the A-League, this is kind of positive press that we needed to continue the growth of our domestic league, and football in Australia as a whole.
The more money that can be generated in the next deal may provide the clubs with more marquee slots, a higher salary cap and perhaps down the line, room for a second professional tier.
But let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves. For now, it’s just great that the yield is finally matching the quality of the product.
I’ve been saying since season one that every year, the crowds have gotten worse, but the standard of play has gotten better. I guess this is the year the scales finally tip.
And as Ben Buckley said, we’re looking for more crowd records to be broken when Sydney host Newcastle on Sunday. Short of Del Piero and Heskey being ruled out through coincidental mishaps (as we’ve seen in the famous ‘Softball’ episode of The Simpsons, it is possible), I think the 33,458 against the Victory in 2008 could be under a real threat.
But probably not the 80,295 against Beckham’s LA Galaxy.
Twitter: @TheMattBungard
me, I like football
Guest
http://www.afl.com.au/international%20broadcast%20partners/tabid/14533/default.aspx
Alex Saxon
Guest
It is especially frustrating, because although Sydney were awful - it was blatantly obvious to everyone the type of football they were trying to achieve, which was a fast paced, short passing game, and it has the potential to be an extremely attractive style of play. To have Mcflynn as the lynchpin in that style of play is just suicide. It hindered everything good Sydney were trying to do.
KHAN
Guest
Exactly!!! and surely the coaching staff have eyes, I'm sure Terry is a nice guy but he was the main reason we were so bad against WP as we tried to play the ball out of the back into midfield without enough options and turnovers.
Minister for Information for the Democratic People's Republic of Football
Guest
A special mention to my Year 8 Geography teacher in 1988 (a mad Rabbitohs fan) who quizzed all the boys in class once about what sports they were into. Me...the new kid with the funny accent who just touched down from Europe.."I like soccer Sir! " to which he responded with a patronising smile : "No son, we don't play sokkah in Australia! " Mr McKenzie, if you're still around, I beg to differ.
Brick Tamlin of the Pants Party
Guest
Yes he is,very nice pass and vision.
Towser
Guest
Surely Paul Reid is a better player than McfFlynn? This bloke seems to have been slagged off for years by SFC's own fans.
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
Not only was he the worst player on the field, he's close to, if not the worst player in the league. And he's the captain of the most publicised team in the league. Imagine all the old Italian blokes waking up to him playing? Embarrassing.
Brick Tamlin of the Pants Party
Guest
Fair enough,by the way im not sure how flush with cash you think us Aussies are,you buggers keep moving here and taking our jobs!;)
KHAN
Guest
Good news for the A-League but the SFC performance was quite frankly embarrasing. My father has seen better passing in Fiji and what do expect from a team when the captain in the worst player on the field? I'm taking four new people to the game on Saturday and hopefully things change otherwise crowds will go back to 10K.
Emric
Guest
Brick - There are a lot of soccer supporters in New Zealand they are just spread out across the various landscapes the problem in New Zealand is cost of tickets v disposable income people pick and choose what events and sports they will attend if any at all. Unlike Australia the average kiwi has to spend most of their cash on survival which leaves very little to attend every single soccer game so when the phoenix have a 1 off game in say Christchurch or Dunedin, or even Auckland they get get 20,000+ crowd numbers but Wellingtonians are picking and choosing what games they attend because they can't afford to attend every game Don't worry Rugby is the big sport in New Zealand and all the provinces are feeling the crunch for the same reason no money to spend on sporting events so people pick and choose the games they go to.
Brick Tamlin of the Pants Party
Guest
Exactly,what would have been the crowd if they played ADP in Christchurch.I recall them getting near 20k in a league game against Adelaide,thats nearly 3 times what they normally get in Wellington.Is Christchurch more of a Football town than Wellington Emric or would the novelty wear off after a few games?
Minister for Information for the Democratic People's Republic of Football
Guest
Credit goes to Ricky Herbert as well. The guy works hard balancing the national team job with his Nix gig. On another note, did anyone else find it curious that he signed Solomon player Benjamin Tortori when NZ is currently in competition with the Solomons in the FIFA Oceania WC qualifying tournament? The boy will improve out of sight. Would be funny if he scored the winner against NZ in Honiara..lol.
Minister for Informatio for the Democratic People's Republic of Football
Guest
I hope I'm not getting ahead of myself Matt but I was hoping for more than a 15000 average. I was thinking 17000-20000 with some bumper crowds for the big games. But things will have to improve from the dross we got served up in Welly, and I'm sure they will.
Christo the Daddyo
Guest
Hardly surprising - it's a rectangular stadium, unlike the Cake Tin...
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
Almost all of the seats in the Cove, Silver, Platinum and Platinum Plus (Bays 10-16, Bays 21-27 and Bays 33-37) are sold, as well as GA Season Tickets, of which I couldn't tell you how many have been sold. I'm hoping for a 15k average this year - with the amount of season tickets sold, that's certainly realistic!
Emric
Guest
Its hard to judge crowds for one off games compared to regular season games
Brick Tamlin of the Pants Party
Guest
The crazy thing i've noticed about the Phoenix is that their crowds are bigger when they play in Christchurch,They should play more games there!
Emric
Guest
Awesome news for the A-League. The phoenix did a great job on the weekend Go Wellington.
gawa
Guest
I really hope to be proved wrong but 20,000 for Brisbane at the weekend seems unlikely. The lack of promotion of Brisbane Roar in the area is astoundingly almost completely non existent.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
" This season the Hyundai A-League will be seen in territories across the globe with live matches taken throughout Asia including Hong Kong, Singapore, Myanmar, in Italy via Mediaset and the USA with both One World Sport and Fox Soccer Channel while weekly highlights will be broadcast in the UK through Sky Sports.” Would Andrew Demetriou give his right knacker to have this kind of exposure for "Australia's national game" ? And Ted Bailleau recently urged the AFL to take season games to China. And just who did he think were going to come along to watch at the same time as Drogba and others are being paid a fortune to play in their domestic league? Just stirring the possums :)