If the A-League is only as strong as the sum of its parts, then fans in cities like Brisbane need to get behind their team and continue showing up at matches.
There is no doubt whatsoever that the Bakrie Group have done everything in their power to alienate supporters.
When last year’s off-season dramas were repeated again this year – only this time to the extent it was unclear who was even running the club – it led to calls from the Brisbane Roar’s hardcore supporters to boycott matches.
Such calls are understandable. Not only has the club failed to back its supporters, it has failed repeatedly to even back its own employees.
Nowhere in Australia’s five major capitals are fans considered such an irrelevance by their A-League clubs as they arguably are in Brisbane.
Yet the truth is that if the Roar’s hardcore fans decide not to show up for the season opener against Melbourne Victory on October 7, they won’t necessarily be missed.
With The Den having shrunk alarmingly in size over the past few years, there were times last season when it appeared the Roar didn’t even have a home end.
The reasons may be varied, but the end result is matches played in front of one of the worst atmospheres in the A-League.
Fans continually state that Suncorp Stadium is too large but as I often remind them on Twitter, if 50,000 supporters simply showed up every week, it would be an ideal size.
And that really is the crux of the problem. As much as I sympathise with supporters who are unhappy with their club’s direction, there are simply too many football fans who look for any excuse not to attend A-League matches.
It’s hardly a problem unique to Brisbane. In fact, every club in the competition struggles to bridge the gap between those who say they are football fans and those who actually go to A-League matches.
And the fans who buy season tickets or otherwise regularly attend matches deserve some recognition. In cities like Brisbane, there are thousands of supporters who sit on the sidelines even as The Den dwindles.
But the fact remains there are hundreds, if not thousands, of A-League fans who are quick to call for boycotts as soon as something is not to their liking.
Less than 4,000 fans have bought Brisbane Roar season tickets so far – and even that figure is a minor miracle.
Some Roar fans announced that they would stay away from matches as soon as it was confirmed the Bakrie Group would remain in charge – a position which saw star striker Jamie Maclaren take to Twitter to point out that it’s the players who are most affected.
He implored fans to continue getting out and supporting the club and highlighted the fact that Brisbane had the best home record of any team last season.
This is a side, it should be remembered, that was one game away from a grand final appearance last season.
For all the talk of the Bakries letting the team down, it’s not like the players have failed to perform on the pitch.
And isn’t that really what supporting a football team should be about?
Whatever off-field shenanigans your club gets up to, isn’t the point to put them to one side and support the players in their quest to provide us entertainment and with any luck, some results?
A few notable examples aside, what difference does it make who runs your football club anyway?
Wouldn’t the football scene in Brisbane – or Newcastle or Perth or Wellington for that matter – be stronger if fans simply showed up and made their own fun on the terraces?
I’ve already bought my tickets to the Roar’s season opener and I would urge football fans across the city to do the same.
You may not like the club’s owners, but the alternative one day could be to have no club at all.
Roarfan
Guest
Agree also with MIke. For Pete's sake let's stop our belly-aching. The Bakries reputedly have poured 20 million dollars in the club so far. How much have all their critics put in? It's what happens on the park that really matters and the boys in orange have been the second most successful team in the League so far and generated a major shift in the quality of football. We have a solid squad that will do very well this season, including some great youngsters like the 4 that played in the successful Under 19 Asian Championships. So much to look forward to and enjoy. Stop stressing and support the Roar loud and proud. Go Roar!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Chopper
Guest
Chris as a Coventry City supporter for 57 years I have seen it all at City but you cannot compare the two (Roar and Coventry)as Coventry are a real basket case. ( and yet they still get gates around 13,000.) As an example of the differences Roar played 3 ACL games at the Coast whereas Coventry took the whole team to another town (Northampton) for a season and a half. Roar provided funds to acquire two former internationals and Coventry are starved of funds. Roar were close to premiers last year and will be up there at the end of the season, Coventry were not too bad last year finished just in the top half are currently bottom and winless and favourites for relegation. In Brisbane the Courier Mail seldom write about the Roar in Coventry the Telegraph created a petition with 15,000 signatures to get rid of the owners. I am a Brisbane Roar member and of course I would like more interaction with the club. I have seen what excitement can be created as the late Jimmy Hill showed when he took Coventry from the 3rd division to the top in 4 years. That dream has died, been suffocated by Sisu (Coventry's owners) and I fear they will fall into extinction. So Chris sorry but I see no synergy.
Paul
Guest
So when the Bakries said to fans faces "we promise we will pay players on time in future, trust us and come to games" that was some cultural misunderstanding?? For crying out loud !
Paul
Guest
Or they might just go and watch the Broncos, or the Reds, or the Lions, or the Bullets, or the bandits, or the Heat .... I mean, it's not like it's the law you have to support football and there are other choices!
Paul
Guest
I won't buy a membership but will go to games. Same as last time.
Paul
Guest
Very few unfortunately. The problem is it's fashionable to portray fans as "fickle" which isn't true and somehow you're not a "true fan" if you don't buy a membership. It is disgraceful how badly this club has been run and at the moment only the fans are standing up and saying it's wrong and has to change.
BrisbaneBhoy
Guest
It is afterall the Australian way...
11gawa
Guest
Hi Paul - I wonder how many fans of other A League teams are aware that Brisbane Roar were as you wrote unable to fulfill some fixtures in the NPL? Only one of so many issues that most of those pointing their fingers are unaware of.
punter
Guest
No I don't accept what you are saying is the same (see twist comments) as hers. But more importantly what she says is her opinion (whether I agree with everything she says is another thing) but her opinion is based on what she thinks is best for football. Likewise my opinions (she may not agree with) is what I think best for football. You are a AFL fan on the ever of your GF on the football tab, talking, ummmm, not really even sure what you are saying apart from AFL is best.
pete4
Guest
We'll see how the FFA play this if BeIN and Optus enter negotiations "A-LEAGUE bosses want to increase the salary cap to $6 million per club to coincide with a new television deal" http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/football/a-league/aleague-clubs-chasing-6m-salary-cap-to-go-with-new-tv-deal/news-story/57f4d9b64a40236ce5f678e4c28d6a83
Lionheart
Guest
they need to start somewhere JB. I've suggested before a talk show on community TV, Bris 31 with a couple of experts, fans, player interviews, profiles, updates etc - standard stuff. They could use some media students from Griffith Uni, one of Roar's partners, to run it. I'm sure Bris 31 would be interested. A bit more radio time would help too. I do think Marco at the Courier Mail does his best to get Roar in the press.
AR
Guest
So you accept that Bonita and I are saying the same thing...yet you attack me and not her? Geez punter, keep up the good fight eh?
Paul
Guest
You are wrong but you won't be "corrected" because you're not here for the debate you're here to be antagonistic. BR fans have decided to use membership as a visible protest over the way the club is being run, that does include but is not restricted to player payments and it also extends to missed payments to other suppliers, it includes the loss of two key players due to poor management, it includes the throwing of two fixtures last July because they couldn't afford to fly, the off-shoring of home games, it includes numerous promises and commitments made to fans that have been broken, it includes a lack of transparency and accountability, a lack of communication with fans, constant negative news stories and winding up orders and much more over the years; the most recent broken promise was in winter last year when the Bakries said to fans at a forum "stick with BR, keep supporting the club, we promise player missed payments won't happen again". BR fans may be unique but I don't think we are, we do feel a sence of ownership and loyalty to the club and the way it is being run is wrong and as a condition of ongoing support we want an improvement in the way things are done. This is a protest by fans, and it's interesting non-fans critisise when they don't understand the basics of what has gone on at this club nor do they seek to understand the damage that has been done. Change is needed - no one is forcing the Bakries to own the club they have chosen not to sell on two occasions now, and no one is forcing people to turn up and support, they have a choice too.
Paul
Guest
Just for the avoidance of doubt, fictional news flash: "WSW today announced their 2017 ACL home games will be converted to away games instead, this means no WSW ACL games will be played in Australia this coming season". Would any WSW fan like to coment and say they'd be okay with that please? That's happened to BR twice in the past.
Paul
Guest
You said unique not me. BR have given away 4 ACL home games that should have been played in Australia to foreign countries. That's unique, that makes BRs situation unique. Give me an example where any other club has done that? Why don't you go back to the AFL pages where you belong now lol
AZ_RBB
Guest
It's not just derbies. But you also getting that extra presence in the city. At the moment Roar are fighting the battle alone. Sfc had a similar difficulty before WSW came around. It'll also be a kick up the butt that Roar needs. I know expansion carries great risk. But what's progress without risk?
j binnie
Guest
AZ - This is a dangerous assumption you make by singling out 2008 and building a case around that figure, As you are well aware there are other factors to be considered when assessing averages,"home " games being played elsewhere,playing successes,notable guest players on show, weather etc etc etc. Here are some interesting average figures taken to the nearest round figure of Roar progressive attendances over the last 6 years,9,500, 13,400,13,500,15,000,11,600,and 12,800.As you can see there is no real pattern of steady growth,going from 9,599 to 15,000 then back down and an apparent start back up again. All this has been recorded when the franchise has been under the direction of some very dubious management practices so ,all is not yet lost it would appear. Cheers jb.
Fadida
Guest
CCM played in Geelong as a "home"game last season. As I said, none if this is unique. As I also predicted, Paul has come in with an angry rant :)
punter
Guest
Shares her opinions of how tho better the game in Australia, rarely about any other sport - Bonita. Shares his opinions on his agendas, twists his comments giving any opportunity will attack the A-League or football and always talks up his sport, has no idea what is a football fan - AR. Why would we attack Bonita? You are seriously deluded.
melbourneterrace
Guest
Good one pal, really figured it all out by yourself there.