Massimo Maccarone is enjoying life in the A-League but says it’s difficult to play in stadiums that are ‘always empty’.
The Brisbane Roar marquee striker has scored three goals in his first four games, including a brace in last weekend’s 3-3 comeback draw against Wellington Phoenix.
But the 38-year-old Italian import said he’d perform even better if he was playing in front of bigger crowds.
Maccarone volunteered the opinion himself after he was asked by reporters on Wednesday for his view on the playing standard of the competition.
“It’s different from Italy, where I played. But I think it’s good,” he said.
“Every time you go and we play home or away, we play in a good stadium.
“I think it’s not good that it’s always empty – there’s no people coming to see the game.
“When you go to these stadiums and it’s full, it’s very good… I think you play better.”
Having played most of his career in Italy’s Serie A, Maccarone would be accustomed to big, boisterous crowds.
An average of 14,207 supporters have attended the first four rounds of the new A-League season.
At the same point last season, the average was 15,864.
The crowd for Maccarone’s last match at Wellington’s Westpac Stadium was 7,018 — the second-lowest figure so far this season.
Those numbers are exacerbated by the fact that most teams play in large stadiums with big capacities, rather than smaller, more intimate boutique venues.
It comes after criticism directed at Football Federation Australia for a lack of promotion for the new season and their low-key launch event at a suburban soccer club in Melbourne.
The A-League has also been overshadowed by the ongoing FFA congress saga, with clubs openly at war with the governing body over who should wield the power to select board members.
A-League chief Greg O’Rourke said last month FFA had “optimised” its marketing spend to ensure sustained promotion throughout the whole campaign, instead of a “big, flashy thing” at the start of the season.
Maccarone will be hoping for a strong home crowd for the Roar’s clash against the Central Coast Mariners at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday.
Beny Iniesta
Guest
Fiorentina and Empoli are separate cities. How many Australians travel from Melbourne to Central Coast? Or Sydney to Adelaide to attend matches? Not too many you know. Folks don't like to travel to other cities to watch their teams play. It's the same the world over - look at the EPL or the American MLS for instance for two English speaking countries we could compare with!!
AR
Guest
"Maybe once that happens, then the governments will look into some upgrades for rectangular stadiums." The government - that is, practically every government in every state - has fully funded every single rectangular stadium in Australia. In particular, the NSW Govt and local councils have spent hundreds of millions upgrading rectangular stadiums all around Sydney for decades. It's remarkable that people choose to ignore this fact. It's why NSW has now said "no more" (to suburban grounds that is) - and stadiums in Sydney must now be rationalised. The irony is that to cure this chronic spending issue, the Govt is spending a further $1.6 billion + on stadiums...for a Sydney public which has a well-earned reputation for staying at home.
AR
Guest
It'd be pretty cool if Empoli got the Govt to build them a brand new $300M stadium.
LuckyEddie
Guest
The standard at Roar cannot be better, we lost Broich but still have to suffer mcKay.
Lionheart
Guest
and yes, my good woman's been on my computer never mind
Betty B
Guest
aah, thanks JB. You've pointed this out before, and it makes sense. My apologies.
Redondo
Guest
Even the set you picked is trending down
Redondo
Guest
Not sure about that Nemesis - it depends which base year you pick. Go back 20 or 30 years and Serie A is definitely trending down. From 2009 on it is clearly trending downwards as well. If we're assessing the trend for a mature league then surely you'd pick an older base year.
Kangajets
Guest
J b Good points mate My single biggest problem attending is cost of the game and travel for me and my kids. I’m not the only one who struggles and would like to go to games .
Kangajets
Guest
Newcastle diehards keep turning up . But as a single parent or family with kids it really gets expensive to go . I would guess it’s more expensive at other clubs too .
Nemesis
Guest
SerieA Crowds are not trending down - they're not trending up either. Just flat, which we'd expect for a mature competition Average SereA crowds (000) 2011/12 = 22.5 2012/13 = 23.2 2013/14 = 23.4 2014/15 = 22.2 2015/16 = 22.7 2016/17 = 22.2
Redondo
Guest
Kanga Ironically Serie A crowds are up on 10 years ago (2006-7) mostly because that was the season the one horse was banished to Serie B. But once Juventus returned to Serie A the crowds went up again and have since trended down.
Kangajets
Guest
No doubt serie a crowds are declining from 10 years ago A one horse race every year doesn’t help
Lionheart
Guest
hang in there Realfootball, their days will pass. I do really fear for our defence - too many injuries again, and they seem to have gone backwards in the off-season (maybe due to Aloisi playing around with wing backs?) Write to the club, the MD and tell him the fans aren't happy, then get back to work.
j,binnie
Guest
Lionheart - I think you missed the point. If the top two tiers of Suncorp could be curtained off and locked up,the resultant crowd ,say 15000 ,would be "forced" to sit almost "pitchside" adding greatly to the atmosphere on match day. Look at the website on Vancouver Whitecaps home ground and you will see sample s of how the curtains are used to give the impression of a full stadium. Cheers jb..
Realfootball
Guest
Thing is, LH, a fair weather fan is exactly what I am not. I was there at the first game, and was there with my boys through the disappointments of the Miron and Frank years, which is why I am so hostile to what Aloisi has done to our club. The reason I am staying away in protest is because I feel so deeply about what is happening. Staying away as long as Aloisi is in charge, and having a voice on these forums, is the only protest I have available.
Sydneysider
Guest
The problem isn't only an A-League problem, it is also a NRL and Super Rugby problem in Australia. One or two big crowds for each of these competitions for each of the stadiums they are played in. The exception in Australian sport is AFL but they only use 2 stadiums in Melbourne and 1 each in Adelaide and Perth. NRL uses a multitude of stadiums, especially in Sydney. The first target should be to promote the A-League, then try and get to a crowd average of 15,000. Maybe once that happens, then the governments will look into some upgrades for rectangular stadiums.
Lionheart
Guest
can't say I disagree with your sentiment on either our recruits or coach, but I am still a Roar fan and will be cheering them on this Sunday, and every week regardless of their coach. Their biggest problem at present imo is defence, not helped by injuries, and their fair weather fans.
Lionheart
Guest
"Napoli and Roma are only half filling stadiums too" Oh I get it, "The topic is the two Milan sides". The last ten games to the last season is a fair indicator no matter how you look at it. But we are wasting time. Out.
Nick Symonds
Guest
HOW ABOUT THESE TWO STADIUMS? Sardegna Arena - 16,000 seats (all temporary) - 8 million Euros CONSTRUCTION - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzhKP0YcplU HIGHLIGHTS - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JLOkDWsLb0 Stadio Pierluigi Penzo - 7,500 seats (permanent main grandstand other 3 temporary) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y59HVPBaUOk