Where's the fans? A-League fails to spark

"Where are the editors?" - good question, but expect a bad answer. Old style copy editors / subbies are extinct (mostly) because it is taken for granted that, because all today's journos are university-credentialed, their first drafts can be taken as 'read'. Wrong, because too many uni J-schools seem to lack, like, y'know, actual journalists who were experienced in and excellent at their craft. Instead, such faculties seem to be stuffed with preachers and / or the sorts of ex-journos who could not stand, as Mr Nixon said, the heat (or the smell). Yes, some traditional journos were bitter cynics (Very Bad Thing), but most seem to have been inquisitive skeptics (a Very Good Thing) - too many of today's fall for any old peecee BS. About 100 years ago, this bit of verse was penned by Rudyard Kipling: “I KEEP six honest serving-men (They taught me all I knew); Their names are What and Why and When And How and Where and Who”. Too much of today’s journalism seems to skip - or far worse, ignore, and for some, even despise - doing the What and When and Where and Who, and go straight into preaching mode with their opining about How and Why.

Ask AAP. It's their headline.

Were I an Australian Association Football fan, my polite response to the official reactions quoted above would be "Own goal!" More likely "Total denialist BS" - because the stats (aka 'metrics', a silly faddish word in itself) really do tell a terrible story, especially when expanded to show the four-digit crowds in the first third of the 2017/18 A-League season: R1: 9589, 8154 - 2 [four-digit crowds in season] / 5 [games played]; R3: 9091 - 3/15; R4: 7018, 5519 - 5/20; R5: 6258 - 6/25; R6: 7873, 8416, 6105, 7516 - 10/30; R7: 5073, 9285 - 12/34; R8: 8,427, 6963, 5679, 8210 - 16/39; R9: 7021, 8215, 8108, 5765, 8115 - 21 [four-digit crowds in season] / 44 [games played]. Almost half. And here is a Sydney Morning Herald story reporting this explanation by no less a suit than the Head of the A-League Greg O'Rourke: "There may have been a hangover with the AFL grand final, the NRL grand final, the whole city of Melbourne may have been fatigued with big sporting events". Not the fault of us at the FFA - it is all them sports fans going to other freakin sports - they are the ones to blame!!!!

Where is the fans ? ...well i am one of those fans that used to attend but havnt attended an A-league game for a few years now. There are several reasons for this but ill just jump straight to the number one reason. 1. Connection. I dont feel connected to any club. There is no emotional feeling attached to BNE Roar FC. There is no club house, there is no trophy cabinet, there is no stadium to call our own. Most clubs i assume would feel like this. There is little intamacy or connection between A-League clubs, state clubs and fans as a wholle. At Suncorp, A Wally Lewis Statue is there to greet you at the door along with a painted wall covered in Broncos players. Lang Park may be a gov. owned stadium but the reality is its a rugby league house. I love Football but i have lost the intimacy with her, and this is partly the responsibility of the FFA. FFA statergy is marketing solution how to maximise profits with little concern for fans of whom they treat as the money jar. I dont know if i have motivation, want or a need to attend another Roar match. Unless the day comes where we can play in a 15-20 k stadium, closer to the pitch and have the sold out sign on a regular basis. This would then create a demand for tickets. So for now the reality is, who needs a membership when i can walk up to Lang Park and know that there will be more seats than players, staff, or fans combined.

Waz - weather was not fine. Big storms rolled through in hour or two beforehand. I had to wipe down rain that was on my seat. Week before Xmas and Friday night traffic in Sydney (driving in city on Friday is akin to toot canal) are also negative drivers. What I'm really annoyed about is that Every Sydney game this season is at 750. Terrible time for families. My kids love going - but there usual bedtime is 830 and turn to pumpkins if not in bed not long after. Hence they haven't been to any games this year and unlikely to,

"Where’s the fans?" Where are the editors?

It has definitely gone downwards, I don't think anyone is going to argue otherwise. In fact, looking across the four games completed this round to date, it's looking like another very low turnout which is going to make the average attendance for the season take another dip. But as I said elsewhere, next season it will rise again, we are bobbling around our long term average of some 11k, and that probably ain't going to change in a hurry. That's actually pretty good for a country of our size, and is a full three times the size of what the old NSL was in even its very best years. The future is bright.

The long term average (across 13 seasons) is about 11,000. This season, it's probably going to drop a bit below the long-term average, next season it might rise again (and then drop, and then rise, etc, etc). In other words, this is a position in the market place after 13 seasons, a long term average attendance of around 11,000. To retain that same average when we go to 12 teams will actually represent a major achievement. People need to stop beating themselves up about it - 11k is fine. Season three, when we had the highest average attendance of all, was a comp with only 8 teams, with the Victory hitting very high average attendances, and the Nix replacing the Knights also helping to increase average attendances. Those who have a long memory of these things will recall that quality wise, that third season must have been close to the worst on record.

Okon & you think the ref got the decision wrong. The ref thinks he got the decision right. Both of you can justify your decisions, so both of you are right. If Okon was the ref last night, McGing would be on the park. But, Okon was not the ref last night and the guy who was the ref said it was a Red Card. Why is Paul Okon's view of the incident any more valid than the ref's view? But, why is anyone's view that the incident was "yellow card" more valid than the ref's decision of "red card"? The decision is subjective. What you consider Yellow; another person can consider Red.

As he's not paying to watch the game he wouldn't know. He's understandably frustrated. It was the worst example of VAR last night. The McGing send off was farcical, but says more for the referees (Evans and King) than the "VAR". Evans should have simply said "it's yellow, play on". King as watched the footage, should have said the same. It's inconsistent and proof that most decisions aren't black and white. Clearly having time to see replays doesn't change poor decision making (see also the Jets "penalty,"). Unfortunately refs have now lost their best defence, that they see things in real time, without the benefit of a replay. I'm also concerned the "showman" refs love the ability to control things now, the chance to make the tv sign and run on over. Interestingly in the overnight EPL action there many controversial and game changing decisions; a red and a penalty in the Huddersfield game, a penalty in the Stoke vWHam, red cards missed in the City v Spurs game to name just a few. Upset managers, upset fans, but no-one threatening not to go to games because of it. Which isn't to say the VAR isn't a shambles. The worst part is you only half heartedly celebrate goals, living in fear the VAR will wipe it out 2 minutes later. VAR out!

Using another tit-bit of information for analysis. Last season to game 53 we had 18 sub -10,000 crowds. This season to game 53 we have 27 sub-10,000 crowds. Now if we are to believe the original blurb put out by the embryo FFA that any incumbent into the competition would have to "break" the 10,000 attendance barrier to "break even", what is it the above accurate figures are telling us?. Thoughts???? jb.

Var is turning me off

Eddie, There’s plenty of diving faking injury and time wasting in nrl . Why do u isolate football for this behaviour??

There's a PhD for someone who's interested in analyzing fan psychology and their beliefs. HAL average attendances have been 'flat' for the last 10 years - the average yearly crowd falls within 12,300 +/- 1500. Best attended season was 2007/8 and then it's been as flat as a pancake. The WC fiasco around 2010 saw the average crowd drop to 8,749. The seasons before and after the fiasco the crowd were just under 11,000. If anybody reckons this is OK well there is no help for you. The FFA saw the HAL on an upwards trajectory after the first few seasons but what they have delivered is anything but. The week-in week-out fan base is modest. The fan base for events like the HAL finals series and Socceroos/Matildas is higher. The needle has not shifted. The Sir Frank Lowy model has well and truly had its day.

The var needs to be gone by next weekend. I’m a rusted on fan and it’s got me thinking of why bother anymore.

Is it possible that “It’s just not that interesting”? Friends and relatives in the Uk who have followed the A League on Bein Sports where they show live games and highlights have all asked “what has happened this season” they haven’t really mentioned Var to me, just that the football is dull and uninspiring. I can’t say I disagree either. I have had far greater enjoyment from watching MLS this season than the A League and at WSW those that are turning up do so under duress. Playing at ANZ is just soul destroying, mind you the quality of the football played recently hasn’t helped but the whole Homebush experience and the sense of displacement is having a major effect. Apathy is on the rise. Same old Same old breeds contempt too. Irrespective of the result and the issues of changing the coach etc the crowd for derby 2 was well down on expectations but similar to derby 1 which was also lower than expected. Maybe we are discovering other things to occupy us? Perhaps the core of those that turn up because “they are fans” is diminishing as people’s beliefs are changing? Maybe they do want entertainment rather than just offereing blind support? Next week, Newcastle play WSW on Friday night. That’s going to be a tough game to get to on a working day, so don’t expect the visiting contingent to be very high. Maybe there are scheduling issues, VAR troubles, governance, stadium sizes, lack of bling, but ultimately you need a product that people want and have value for and of that I’m not certain this season.

Well all my data came from published reports. You made yours up to suit your argument presumably? And the “Crowd Action Committee” ... not my idea, it’s what the FFA have already initiated Now why would they do that if they weren’t concerned about crowds??

“Mariners coach Paul Okon says VAR is turning A-League fans off football” Pfffft .... what would he know? Where’s his evidence? He’s only a professional employee within the game??

Richmond’s up tho Nemesis. Averaging 50k+ That’s great news as I’m sure you’d agree. Keep on rocking in the free world!

VAR is a great example of how FIFA has a tin near to football fans. Despite the fact it has been universally panned in every tournament and every league it has been implemented, FIFA declares it a total success. Sadly, I suspect we’re stuck with it.