With tens of thousands of fans set to turn out at Optus Stadium tonight, surely Perth Glory should consider hosting an A-League fixture at the new ground?
The Glory take on English Premier League giants Chelsea in a high-profile friendly at the brand new stadium, and for those who don’t have tickets to the game, it’s being broadcast on SBS from 9pm (AEST).
The game will not only give Chelsea fans a glimpse of new coach Maurizio Sarri, but also a first look at Tony Popovic as he takes charge of perennial sleeping giants Perth Glory.
Sarri, of course, has already raided his former club for the highly-rated Brazilian-born Italian international Jorginho, and plenty of pundits reckon he won’t be the last Napoli star to end up in West London.
But from an Australian perspective, there’s surely more interest in what’s going on at the Glory.
As entertaining as they were last season, it’s safe to say an eighth-placed finish in the league wasn’t quite what Glory fans were hoping for under Kenny Lowe.
The likeable Englishman has now taken up a role as technical director of the Glory’s academy, allowing former Socceroo Popovic to take charge as Glory’s new coach.
And he’s wasted no time assembling a squad that looks like – on paper at least – a serious contender.
If leaking goals was the problem last season, then a backline featuring the likes of newcomers Matthew Spiranovic and Tomislav Mrcela – not to mention tough-as-teak duo of Alex Grant and Shane Lowry – should tighten things up.
Add in full-backs Ivan Franjic and Jason Davidson and one-time Real Betis midfielder Juande, and suddenly the Western Australian side look a formidable outfit.
The problem for Perth has always been translating their undoubted potential on paper into tangible results on the pitch.
But if there’s a coach who knows how to motivate his players, it’s Popovic – who has surely taken on the most intriguing-looking job in the A-League.
Tony Popovic (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
So the question is whether the Glory should play one of their A-League fixtures in the 50,000-capacity Optus Stadium. My first inclination is to say: “why not?”
And before everyone lays into me for committing the heresy of tinkering with the fixture list, let me be the first to acknowledge that A-League clubs shouldn’t be in a position where they have to take games away from their home grounds.
But here’s thing – they are.
Perth Glory’s average attendance last season was 9,186, and their biggest crowd of the season was 13,565 in a recently renovated 20,500-capacity stadium.
And since we’ve got the truth serum out, let’s acknowledge one more thing. No one in the East Coast football media gives a second thought to Perth Glory.
When it comes to whatever’s happening at nib Stadium, the majority of Sydney and Melbourne-based journos couldn’t care less.
That shouldn’t be the case for a club that was once the biggest in the land, but unfortunately it’s true.
So if the Glory want to start making headlines in a media landscape dominated by the two Sydney and Melbourne clubs, they’re going to have to do something different.
Starting with a decent performance against Chelsea tonight would help.
Jacob Italiano of the Glory (Photo by Stefan Gosatti/Getty Images)
And if a big crowd turns out and few newcomers get a taste for top-class football, then why shouldn’t the Glory explore the option of taking a game to Optus Stadium?
There’s a tendency in the A-League to want to say “no” to every idea and keep the competition hidden away for purists only.
And that would be okay if A-League clubs were selling out every game.
But they’re not. And it’s high time a few A-League clubs started to dream big.
I’d like to see Perth Glory switch their Round 1 fixture against Popovic’s old club Western Sydney to Optus Stadium and actually market it as a marquee event.
Sure, it might upset a few purists. But that might be the price the A-League has to pay to generate its fair share of media headlines.
RobS
Guest
The lower stands can be brought forward to suit rectangular sports but the stadium management didn't bother re-configuring it.
John B
Guest
I also went last night and the organisation and facilities were terrific. A great spectacle all round with friendly atmosphere. Great banter between the fans. The pitch was really sub standard - having just had an AFL game previously. You cannot invite world class players to play on that surface.
Martyn50
Guest
Lights are ok for cricket. Pitch surface was ok the day before
The Phantom Commissioner
Roar Rookie
No Went to the game last night, nice enough stadium but watching football at NIB with a vastly smaller crowd is a better experience. Football fans were once again treated like second class citizens by the security by telling fans in the active area ( an active area which was okay'd weeks in advance) to stop playing the drum they had brought in and to sit down. Pathetic but hardly surprising.
MQ
Guest
One billion dollars doesn't get you what it used to.
chris
Guest
I was wondering about the lights. I thought it might have been the quality of the broadcast. The pitch looked under lit to me
BrainsTrust
Guest
Well no one seems to be aware of the pretty obvious link between staging these matches and lowered A-league crowds. The worst example was Sydney Fc the year they had so called festival of Football. Playing 3 matches against Rangers,AEk and Blackburn directly before the start of the season and that season with an average of 8000 was the worst in Sydney Fc history by almost 4000 and Sydney Fc were amongst the lowest clubs for the first and only time. The irony was of the four teams that played Sydney Fc had more jerseys in the crowd than the other 3 combined and got the princely sum of 150k for the whole three matches. The worst is when the matches were bankrolled by the owners and they lose heaps of money on them, Palmer,Tinkler,Sage and Serepisos all bankrolled exhibition matches. Only one is still around and Sage is running on cash reserves from the mining boom. There is no doubt had Palmer not staged the Fulham match, Gold COast United would have lost a lot less money and had bigger crowds during their initial regular A-league season.
lesterlike
Guest
The stadium is a dump for Football and should never be used again. Perth should miss out on more major events in response to their pathetic attempt to make the stadium "Multi-Purpose"
MarkfromCroydon
Roar Pro
That's the first time I've seen the new stadium, and to be honest, it's pretty underwhelming. Pitch quality didn't look great, lighting was poorly managed and the stands didn't look anything special.
Nemesis
Guest
Foreign clubs have been coming for pre-season tours for the past 10 years at least. Only the most unaware people think it has any bearing on the ALeague - positive, or negative. It's just a practice match. Sometimes it puts players on the radar for foreign clubs. 16 year old kid from Wangarratta, Seb Pasquali got noticed playing for MVFC in a practice match vs Juventus. Now he's with Ajax Youth team. Most of the people who go to these matches don't have any intention of attending ALeague. I think it's extremely funny to have them pay $200 to watch an Aleague club on holidays playing a practice match.
BrainsTrust
Guest
I am well aware that directly Perth Glory will be shouldering none of the costs and be paid an appearance fee for the match. What you have to think about is the indirect economic effect on Perth Glory, there would of course be a whole lot of people that would pay to see an exhibition match but never an A-league match, What about those would, well all of a sudden they will be thinking I will go to watch this match and then I won't buy a season ticket, and go to the odd match instead. Some will go to the odd Perth Glory match but then say I payed top dollar to go to this and then go to none. Then you have the corporates, they may cancel a whole season of corporate boxes and go for the top priced one at the Chelsea match. All this adds up. The FFA also they get the 250K but since these exibition matches have gottten commonplace its coincided with a downturn in Socceroo match attendances. If the Socceroos sell 70 thousand tickets versus 50 thousand thats over a million dollars right there.
Waz
Roar Rookie
Nemesis is on the money here. This is a deal thrashed out a couple of years ago for these type of matches. Glory will be very happy with the money in the bank
Waz
Roar Rookie
A bit too fantastic for my liking ?
Nemesis
Guest
Perth will not be paying 1 cent in any hiring fee. This is a match that is organised by a private event promoter. They underwrite the event, pay all the expenses and they bank all the receipts.
Nemesis
Guest
FFA gets $250,000 for each match held in AUS. That's just the FFA's standard rate to allow the match to be played. The appearance fee will be negotiated between club & promoter. Whether it's $500,000 or $100,000, it's going to be more than Perth gets for playing any competitive match in Australia and it's certainly more than any Aussie sports team will get for playing a practice match in 2018.
BrainsTrust
Guest
There is little chance Perth Glory are getting 500,000 for one match, they would be lucky to be getting 250,000. Your thinking of MV and the ICC where they played multiple matches. The biggest issue is that the state governments are actually putting in millions into these matches. So Chelsea walk away with 10 million most of that comes Perth Glory customer base. I would estimate that the match will lose Perth Glory 1 million for the season in business. So even if they were being paid 500,00 they are still losers, but I would not be suprised if they are getting less than 250,000. The government subsidy goes to Chelsea while Perth Glory will then have to fund the repeated hire of NIB stadium.
Nick Symonds
Guest
Speaking of derbies how about one for Canberra? North versus South. NEWS - http://www.abc.net.au/news/specials/curious-canberra/2018-07-23/is-there-a-rivalry-between-canberra-north-south/9995940 - FROM THE ABOVE: Of Canberrans who lived north-side in 2011, 96 per cent were on the same side of the lake five years later, and 94 per cent of south-siders remained on their end. Nationwide, more than a third of people changed address in the same time — Canberrans really are loyal to their lakeside.
Fadida
Guest
That defence looks fantastic
Old Greg
Guest
I wouldn't support the idea of Glory playing at SBS (sorry, Optus) Stadium unless it was a Grand Final or FFA Cup Final.
MQ
Guest
That's a good, solid base.