Where have Sydney's sporting fans gone?

Ratings are not double what the A-league gets.... They are far less. We have a league that totals 150+ games, and finals. The BBL has what, 25 games? If all A-league games were condensed and tweaked for best TV ratings, I daresay we'd outrate BBL 2 to 1. Very misinformed you are. I'll be fascinated to hear a response to this comment that I can break down for you :D

As an SFC member for the last few seasons and this, I can tell you, we have around 10k core support that will be there for 11-12 games a season even if we're last, then there's maybe 3-4k more than are there for 3/4 of games, then another 3-4k that are there for half the games, then another few thousand that just hang around and flock back every now and then. If we'd had a good start and been upper-mid table I think our average attendance would be well over 20k and we would have had the chance to have been outdrawing the Swans, but that's a massive if. It's pretty impressive Sydney FC's growth, given we have had new neighbors move in with Wanderers, and our other neighbors the Mariners have been a standout and taken many of the Northern Sydney football supporters around where I live up here in Epping and around Hornsby. In 2010 our crowds dipped as long as 8-9,000, last season that went back up to 11.5 even though we had an unremarkable season, then this season it's shot through with Del Pierro up another 6-7k. This article doesn't really do SFC justice by saying 'a healthy 35,000 down to 20k down to 12k' because it isn't apples for apples. We pulled in 21k against Melbourne Victory which is a very decent effort, but then dropped to 13k against Adelaide which isn't horrible considering we were last and playing terribly, and then 12k against Heart is decent too considering that game holds nothing for our fans and once again we were playing awfully with no head coach. I think that is as low as we will dip this season barring further disaster which I can't see happening, we're playing better and our next home game is against Central Coast which should be a cracker and pull a few more in. So yes, Sydney FC and Wanderers are doing excellently, especially when compared to Sydney sport teams as a whole - Waratahs have dropped several thousand over the last few seasons, no disrespect to cricket at all because Tests and ODI's are fabulous, but T20 is a joke and I think people are starting to see that. GWS you didn't mention in the article but their crowds are further swelled by the opening of their new ground, free tickets and moving matches to the ACT. Wanderers are already several hundred miles further than GWS will ever be, and are starting already to develop into a real household item having recovered from that pre-season violence issues and what have you. Not too sure about the NRL clubs, I know nothing about them, but what you said about Manly and Cronulla moving is spot on. I think it would be ridiculous if Brookvale wasn't used anymore, for this reason; Northern Sydney, from Castle Hill to Hornsby down to Lane Cove over to Manly up to Newport, has only Brookvale oval as a decent stadium, and I guess North Sydney Oval (though it's a beautiful ground it's very dated and insignificant compared to most other grounds).

Crowds have dropped right off across the country not only Sydney. Although tv ratings on Fox Sports are DOUBLE what the A-League gets. I tried watching 20/20 and I am a keen cricket fan, but I just do not recognise most of the players. A bit like why would I go to the theatre if I do not know any of the actors? The BBL reminds me of the old parable of "The King with no clothes" In other words it is all duck and no dinner. Maybe we should try 10 over cricket, but with famous people?

I have to be honest, I love the orange caps the Scorchers wear at home. But they are AhHaHaEffOff expensive.

Not worth including in any figures. 5pm start on a Wednesday during serious ongoing rain problems? It was the 5pm start especially that was just a mess of an idea. West Australian sporting events get screwed too heavily by eastern state tv needs.

Perth Scorchers v Melbourne Stars, Crowd - 4,329 !!!!

Why would you travel 1 or 1 1/2 hours to watch a game that is all over in 2 hours? You will only get supporters who live close by or are on a direct public transport access line. AFL found that one out when they relocated their HQ to Waverley in the 1970s,

Why would you travel 1 or 1 1/2 hours to watch a game that is all over in 2 hours? You will only get supporters who live close by or are on a direct public transport access line. AFL found that one out when they relocated their HQ to Waverley in the 1970s,

I blame the hats they wear in the Big Bash.........honestly........how stupid are the hats? Who could possbly take that seriously?

Blame cricket Australia, last year the big bash league started a week before Christmas, crowds were very underwhelming including a 12,000 for the sixers and 11,000 for Adelaide, even the much hyped stars v thunder match featuring warne was about 22k........once Christmas was over the crowds picked up big time in January, the next sixers home game the crowd was 29,000, the sydney derby got 30,000 and the melbourne derby 40,000, and sell outs in Adelaide, Perth and hobart. So what does cricket Australia do? they start the big bash league even earlier this year! well done morons lol. Crowds will pick up but only in January, buy that stage the competition will be in its final weeks and some teams will already be eliminated from semi final contention.

Or tally the number of meaningfull, intelligent, comments you've ever made on any topic! Beaches and potable water?!!

The Scorchers pulled a good crowd the other night. Not sure of the numbers but the WACA looked well populated. Have to admit I was expecting a better crowd for the Stars first home game at the MCG. Turned out to be one of the better games of the BBL so far. Maybe the crowds will pick up when the majority of people start their summer holidays.

You cant deny Sydney fans are pretty poor, they turn up when their team is winning and desert them when they are losing.

The atmosphere at Moore Park last night was electric, and the Western Sydney fans contributed much to that. The police kept a close eye on them but generally they were a credit to themselves and their club. Just a pity that Sydney FC did not come to the party.

Off your long run there, Rabbitz, and you're absolutely right. The T20 bubble may have already burst. And generally, Sydney sports fans are looking for quality. When it's not available, they stay home. Despite the foregoing, my mate and I continue to turn out for every Sydney FC home game. We must be masochists. The highlight last night was the excellent steak and $5 pint at the Three Weeds in Paddington.

Big Bash and A League crowds should both pick up once the school holidsys start.

I live in Western Sydney and it's actually easier and quicker to go to CCM games than to go to the SFC games. Parking is easy and cheap and you can go to the Central Coast Leagues club for a good meal at a reasonable price. Even getting to WSW games in Parramatta is not quite so relaxed or pleasant although you can get a good value meal in Church Street afterwards.

Actually last year on the Roar, expert Adrian Musolino did a similar article: http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/04/01/sydney-why-are-your-sporting-crowds-so-poor/ Whats also interesting is both Musolino and the author of this article, ojg1997, are based in Adelaide! "Where have Sydney’s sporting fans gone?" you need to offer sports fans a good product, not something plastic like BBL, which if you check around the country, the BBL crowds ain't that flash. BBL might be ok in the long term, but at this point in time, the Australian test side is a very moderate average team and that I think is effecting the BBL. As for Sydney crowds, geography and transport are central issues, which people from interstate probably struggle to comprehend. Try living or visiting Sydney and getting from A to B, than these articles might be a little different in understanding.