A-League fan engagement is second to none. However, the marketing of matches needs work.
On Sunday, I attended the A-League/W-League double-header in the nation’s capital, starting with the Central Coast Mariners and Adelaide United match-up, then the semi-final between Canberra United and Melbourne City. I went with a friend of mine and we were both hoping for a half-decent crowd to turn up as it was a lovely afternoon for football.
“What do you reckon the attendance figure will be?” I asked him.
“Dude, we’d be lucky to get over the five or so thousand that attended the Phoenix game,” he replied with a sigh.
As we arrived at the ticket booth, there wasn’t much of a queue of people buying tickets, which was a worrying sign, even though it was half an hour from kickoff.
Walking through the gate, I noticed there were a few families lining up at a tent that was handing out free Mariners hats and posters. I then remembered that children got free admission into the ground, which seems like a decent enough ploy to get people through the gate.
Yet, there was almost zero attempt at marketing this in the months leading up to the day.
During the first game you didn’t have to be a mathematical genius to see that the stadium looked very empty. There were dribs and drabs of people around, but most of the fans were in the main grandstands. Fortunately, the majority stayed to watch the women’s semi-final, which was quite surprising considering it was a Sunday night with work and school the next day.
After the first game finished, the Mariners had a “family photo” with all the players and fans, which I thought was a lovely gesture, even though it was not a home game technically. The players then did the usual slow walk around the ground signing hats and scarves. It’s nice of them to appreciate their fans that made the four hour trip from Gosford, as well as the small Canberra contingent that are jumping on the bandwagon as there isn’t a men’s team to call our own. Yet.
The last players out talking to fans were Isaias, Tarek Elrich and Eugene Galekovic from Adelaide as well as Trent Buhagiar from the Mariners.
Buhagiar was signing a few kids’ hats and scarves until my friend and I went up to him and congratulated him on the win. He seemed very appreciative of the small conversation – I mean the guy had been out on the field for 90 minutes and probably wanted to sit in the changerooms with an airconditioner, but he gave up his time for the younger fans and to share a quick chat with some neutrals.
My friend admitted that Buhagiar was in his fantasy team, to which Trent laughed, thanked him and promised to try and score some more goals for him too.
Some of the kids who got to meet their heroes will never forget that Sunday at GIO stadium.
But unfortunately, it will be the last time this season that Canberra will get to see a competitive football game until the start of the local NPL.
The hunger for an A-League side is there, although there were only 5,400 people on a sunny Sunday afternoon. If it wasn’t for the poor advertising and marketing, there could have been a few more thousand fans in the stands.
The sad reality is that the FFA will use the poor crowd figure as an excuse to not grant Canberra a licence.
The winners on the pitch were the Mariners and Melbourne City respectively.
But the winners off the pitch, were the players that spent some time with their fans.
Because at the end of the day without the fans, there is no football.
punter
Guest
Ok Thanks Rick. We have that in common, an English wife, though mine is a Liverpool fan, only because she liked Kenny Dalgish legs. She doesn't really like sport, not football, tennis, nothing.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
This one I remember also: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDgLyFNb-DE Ahhh the memories. :)
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
Weird double post there.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
I'm a glory hunter...United. Not much glory at the moment though. The Gunners I do enjoy watching though. My first ever live EPL game was at their old stadium — Highbury — against Villa. It's what truly got me into football, so they have a special place in my heart I guess. That and my English wife forces me to watch them. :) This is the first 'proper' football chant I remember hearing (was not at this particular game): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0q_UgJ-LTXM So good.
punter
Guest
Why do i know your wife is a gunner fan & think you are, but don't know your team. Who is your team Rick? Please not Liverpool.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
My wife is the Gooner fan. Happy wife happy life they say.....
SonOfLordy
Guest
I'm bit of a Johnny Warren. When A-League expansion attempts fail I like to tell everyone... "I TOLD you so" Soccer might be the number one sport in the world, but it's certainly not in Australia. It's plum last in terms of spectator numbers out of the four football codes in Australia.
Agent11
Guest
Coffs is a long way from Newcastle... i think its closer to Brisbane in distance.
Midfielder
Guest
RBB That is an excellent point about the current FFA being to timid ... a little risk adverse ... sometimes not doing something is the greater risk..agree so much with this.. I believe its time for a change ... I think Gallop and his team were the right choice at the time and I am glad he is in now as there are some crazy ideas being floated about.. I think the bigger change should be at board level... our current structure is the board is lead by the chairman and the board decide the direction.. Gallop is charged with making the boards directions work and to ensure the league is run professionally and so are the clubs... further to engage and develop Football.. Both Gallop and his management team do not set policy or make the mega calls ... thats done by the board... If I was king for a day I would appoint a different chairman .. Steven Lowy is not in the same league as his father and I think still uses his father as his chief adviser... Still King I would love to see AP in charge... Back to Gallop IMO and I accept many other don't agree ... I think Gallop is very capable and works very effectively within the role he has. Football in Australia has a very proactive board that pass on their wants to the CEO to make work.. This where the structure needs to change ... and a new body of some kind run the A-League ... with two very important provisos, one FFA must be fully funded and second the A-League must not run the FFA.
RBBAnonymous
Guest
The sooner the better. I cannot see the current board remaining in place beyond the next two years. If they wish to remain then they need to start making bold decisions which will not only appease owners and fans alike but take our game forward. We need bold decision makers especially when there is an appetite for expansion and investment in our game.
RBBAnonymous
Guest
You have to remember who you are dealing with here Midfielder. The FFA is too scared and timid to act. This is a great time for expansion with investors willing to put real money up for a number of A-league teams. We have at least 4 teams which would put fantastic bids up. All four could easily be worth considering and allowing but as we all know the FFA is too scared to act. It is driving fans mental.
RBBAnonymous
Guest
No self respecting AFL fan would need to bother to come on to a football forum. Why are you so insecure to post about AFL on a football forum to people who have no interest in the sport. This just seems to be the exclusive domain of AFL supporters. I see no evidence of football fans heading over to any other tab on this forum to talk about football. It is so counter productive and insecure I am lost for words every time I see it. Why don't get over yourself, pick up your smell and head off to the AFL forum and stay there. Not your mate RBBA
Midfielder
Guest
Bruce Gordon I think it was Hal 3, offered to show the A-League on his WIN network. Fox said no.... Gordon is a Football tragic especially for the old Woolongong Wolves the real shame is he is well into his 80's now. If WIN are broadcasting 10 across regional Australia, and 10 get the rights, then IMO the Gong is in... Gordon is one of the richest people in Australia with heaps of broadcast experience... he also owns I think 12% of 10. The other shame is we have never quite been able to use his love for Football as say the AFL has with Stokes ... Again he is a huge Football fan nay a Football tragic ... IMO he won't back a combined bid it will be for his home town.
Nemesis
Guest
Could very well be a totally new FFA Board that sets the expansion agenda in which case we can expect a lot more valuable input from real football people who have deep knowledge of the The Game in Australia - on & off the pitch. I'd expect a new FFA Board to immediately implement football strategies such as: - 2018/19: National 2nd Division - 2018/19: ALeague Expansion (maybe we go with a massive booster shot & inject 4 teams into the competition: Tassie, Woolongong, Casey/Dandenong, Sth Melbourne) - 2018/19: Independent board to run ALeague with annual Licence Fee payable to FFA
RBBAnonymous
Guest
Unfortunately a Wollongong team won't happen because the FFA would love for Bruce Gordon to invest in a Sutherland shire team and not Wollongong or even worse a joint Sutherland/Wollongong team. We have people willing to invest in the A-league and the FFA unable to pull the trigger. It is infuriating that they keep on delaying releasing the criteria for A-league team selection in order to get their preferred options.
Nemesis
Guest
Bruce Gordon, who is the owner of WIN Tv and has a 14.5% ownership of the Ten Network, is ready to invest in an ALeague club in Woolongong. Full story: http://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/billionaire-businessman-bruce-gordon-ready-to-back-aleague-club-in-wollongong-20170208-gu8euk.html -------- With Ten Network the clear preferred choice for partnering with FFA for the next few years, this becomes very very interesting. So many people wanting to throw millions of dollars to be part of our crap, low-quality competition.
punter
Guest
I would rate you as a very intelligent poster Mister Football, but you are unable to hide your AFL agenda.
SVB
Guest
*people
Slane
Guest
But club comp is all I care about. Richmond, Victory, Storm, the Steelers, the Stars, OKC, Hull, the Corn Huskers. I don't much care for which sport is winning, just how my club is doing.
SVB
Guest
MF Most intelligent would probably avoid this site tbh.