Sometimes less is more. Sometimes it helps to get the message across clearer.
Thus this article is quite short. It is simply using available facts and asks a simple question.
It’s interesting to look at World Cup ratings, especially the Socceroos, and ponder ‘if only’ questions.
Many non-traditional football folk, come along for the event, union and league fans in particular are big watchers. By the rating numbers so too are AFL folk.
Into the mix is also the European supporter who watches the Champions League, EPL and the other European leagues.
The Australia versus France match rated highly when all regions are taken into account. The total was 2.133 million, which doesn’t take into account the many fans who were watching online, at clubs, at public viewings and of course through Optus.
This means that the audience for the match was high, coming close to some of our biggest domestic sporting events – i.e. the ones that captivate the nation each year like the NRL and AFL grand finals, State of Origin and World Cup rugby matches featuring the Wallabies.
In football most players are based overseas and have long by Australian standards playing seasons.
If the A-League was able to attract only 20 per cent of the total World Cup ratings it would add revenue the likes of which we have never seen. But the A-League rates about 5 per cent of the WC Socceroos matches – meaning there are plenty of round-ball fans who choose not to tune in.
I wonder how we can leverage off the WC ratings for the benefit of Australian football? If the Socceroos do well, will some of that support translate into the A-League?
Football already has the highest participation rates in the country, but this has failed to translate into popularity at the professional level. Will we ever see World Cup levels of support for our domestic league?
realfootball
Guest
pac, I think the reality is that football only has any kind of a grip on major urban centres that have seen significant migrant inflows over the last 50 or 60 years. The rural/city divide is an interesting side story of football in this country, and it is inextricably tied to immigration patterns.
realfootball
Guest
Almost a rhetorical question, Mid. I think it is fair to say that the only way the WC could ever be used to leverage the A League would be the highly unlikely scenario of the team progressing to at least the quarters with a side made up predominantly of home based A League players. Never going to happen.
Evan askew
Guest
Arent swimming lessons sort of like life skills?
pacman
Guest
What is the level of WC coverage around regional Australia? I live in Toowoomba Qld, a large regional city with a population of any where between 110,000 and 140,000, depending on which website you believe. Regardless, the city and surrounding area is serviced by one newspaper, The Chronicle. Last week The Chronicle ran several WC articles, together with a centre lift-out of the draw for readers to record scores. This week, Monday and Tuesday editions had not one word about the WC. Nothing! I would have emailed the editor on Monday, but time did not permit, but I certainly found time yesterday. Doubt if my letter will be published, but the WC did receive 3/4 of a tabloid page in today's edition. I am not sure whether this dismal reporting performance by The Chronicle is based on indifference, or is agenda driven. Probably the former, but whatever the reason, it reeks of gross incompetence. Has anyone elsed encountered such an indifferent and incompetent approach to the WC?
Lionheart
Guest
Isn't South Melbourne going to fix it?
Lionheart
Guest
5,000? I doubt that any non-A League club will ever get that number.
Lionheart
Guest
yeah, and I'm not sure if that ad was shown much, if at all, outside Fox
Fadida
Guest
Developing the brand? Agree totally
Fadida
Guest
Worthless? Absolute bollocks. Just because it isn't the same as the big fancy European leagues it doesn't make it worthless. Ryan Risdon Sainsbury Milligan Behich Rogic Jedinak Nabbout Kruse Leckie 10 of our starting 11 v France in the WC began their careers in the A-league The 11th, Mooy, managed to resurrect his career in the A-league. I won't bother going into the rest of the squad because even DUMB people like yourself can work out where this is going.
Fadida
Guest
As someone who has 2 kids who have done swimming lessons, this is not the same as competitive swimming, just as the 6 million people who "walk" don't do Olympic racecwalking. Ditto cycling
clipper
Guest
It certainly captures the country's imagination. Was at a couple of pubs Sat. night, inner city Sydney, and just about all eyes were on the Aust France game - maybe a couple of Irish watching the Rugby, no one watching the NRL or AFL. Multiple screens for the game, one each for the other sports.
Kris
Guest
Children organised out of school hours Top 20 activities 1. Swimming 1,378,967 30.0% 2. Football 674,094 14.7% Adults Top 20 activities 1. Walking (recreational) 8,397,408 42.6% 2. Fitness/gym 6,317,614 32.1% 3. Athletics, track and field* 3,115,027 15.8% 4. Swimming 2,852,924 14.5% 5. Cycling 2,302,614 11.7% 6. Football 1,141,027 5.8% (AusPlay Survey)
RandyM
Guest
I kind of agree with this. I think football needs to do its own thing and not try and copy AFL/NRL. With a Pro/Rel setup there will be some small and probably unprofessional teams entering into the top flight that will mayeb only get 5000 people a game however they will grow organically over time.
Dart
Guest
In fairness, SBS did draw attention to the banner. I think maybe Craig Foster secretly admires the Wolves’ bid.
Nick Symonds
Guest
Q) How can we leverage the World Cup support to boost the A-League? A) Wollongong Wolves fans know how and they're already doing it - https://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/5478699/wolves-fans-hijack-world-cup-broadcast-and-a-league-rivals-reaction-is-priceless/?cs=300
Dart
Guest
The A-League can improve its audience by developing the brand. At the moment, the A-League is seen as lacking a connection to the history of the game in this country. By bringing back clubs such as the mighty WOLLONGONG WOLVES, it will connect the A-League with some of that history and hence improve the brand. Some have argued that the Wolves don’t have a big enough tv market, and on a superficial analysis that may be correct. However, I posit that the inclusion of the Wolves will boost the tv audience for all matches. What improves the brand improves the viewership for all games.
shirtpants
Roar Guru
If less is more maybe the answer is a BBL style 4 week tournament. Goals worth 3 points and a corner is worth 1. 20 mins halves and mayb- ahh nah i just can't seriously finish this comment hahahah. I'd love to see a streaming service available for the a league and perhaps a discount for players registered with junior clubs. These are the people we need to target and keep involved. Further enhance pathways to the national league. For a lot of juniors its a lot of time and money invested by families to play at the higher level
truther
Guest
the A-League will continue to be absolutely worthless UNTIL there is promotion-relegation AND no more dumb final system.
Midfielder
Guest
The WC rates well over 2 million for each Australian game and the last WCQ was approaching 1.7 mil after regional, Fox and clubs are taken into account. In all fairness, last Saturday nights game was up against a Union test match, an NRL match, a Cricket ODI, and a AFL match, so thats impressive ratings given it was a full on sports night. How then can we leverage off this, maybe commentators could constantly mention the A-League in developing most of the starting 11. instead of constantly saying they prefer the Socceroos played a more attacking style... maybe FFA could place some A-League ads in the broadcast... Hyundai delivered thank you letters could have been better used, to support the A-League, maybe I expect too much, but I find it difficult to watch and see no recognition of the A-League other than in critical terms of where it fails national development needs. I fondly remember shows made like ""The Away Game" , were Socceroo backgrounds and early mentors were given huge praise and the difficulties encounted highlighted. I must admit I do like like this ad and wish there was more of it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=367&v=Bnmw8SZlQ9A
lesterlike
Guest
It's more important on focusing our grassroots community which is there every year AND are also watching the cup rather than wasting time or compromising our games culture on the bandwagoners who are only here to latch on for a few weeks before slagging the game again for another 4 years.