FFA have announced plans to bring in Big Bash-style atmosphere, aiming to bring fan backs to football by having pre-game and halftime entertainment, ‘controlled smokies’ and music when there are breaks in play.
It’s all well and good for a non-football person trying to make the A-League exciting, but to try and copy another sport is not something that should be considered.
Because it puts football fans offside.
To bring in music during a break in-play takes the emotion out of football.
When there’s a corner taken, the fans lift and encourage their team to score and the players feel it. Playing loud music will not only take the fans out, but it may also put the players off, as this is an unnecessary distraction.
When players are being subbed off, they want to hear the fans clapping them off for their effort. When the other player is coming on, they want to hear the roar of the fans cheering them on – it helps encourage these players.
FFA need to go back to the 2012-13 season and see why the A-League boomed at that time. It wasn’t just the introduction of the Wanderers, it was the atmosphere that was created by the Red and Black Bloc – this created more interest for non-football fans.
Even Eurosnobs – who, at times, ridiculed the A-League as being boring and not at the level of the Premier League or Serie A – suddenly got interested and ended up supporting an A-League team.
AAP Image/Dean Lewins
Then other active supporters stepped up their game and produced their own unique atmosphere, which attracted more fans.
There was always buzz, excitement and hype, and fans looked forward to heading out to the game to enjoy themselves.
The quality of football was just as entertaining as the active fans off the field.
Ange Postecoglou’s Brisbane Roar were the most entertaining team to watch, winning back-to-back titles in front of a packed Suncorp Stadium, while Western Sydney took the A-League by storm in their first three seasons, winning the premier’s plate in the first season and then winning the Asian Champions League 18 months later. Kevin Muscat’s Melbourne Victory dominated the league by winning the treble in 2015.
Football is the entertainment.
The fans’ culture was there. The fans were there, as many clubs consistently saw crowds of five figures – Parramatta stadium would often sell out in the Wanderers’ first two seasons. The Victory were constantly getting 20,000 to their games.
Instead of a BBL-style atmosphere, FFA needs to address the TV schedule (no more Sunday 7pm kick off), police and security, availability to grounds, as well as fan engagement and understanding.
And most importantly, let football be football.
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