With some of the doom and gloom going on around the state of the A-League based on this season’s crowd sizes, I think it’s important to have a bit of perspective.
While the A-League’s average attendance this season is no doubt poor, you have to look at the figures for each club to get a better idea of what’s going on.
Starting with the top four – who all have averages over ten thousand – you have Melbourne Victory on top with 18,017 followed by the Wanderers’ average of 14,923. Both clubs have had poor seasons.
Then you have Sydney FC with 12,312 and finally Brisbane Roar in fourth with 10,312. It’s important to note that of the clubs with the top four average attendances, three of them are having bad seasons – which won’t always be the case.
After this you have the middle three who like the first four, are all based in major cities. Melbourne City have 9,062 followed by Adelaide United with 8,767 and then Perth Glory on 8,416. In all three cases these clubs could do better with a bit of work.
Is there something to worry about with A-League crowds? (AAP Image/David Mariuz)
Then in the final group you have the usual suspects of Wellington Phoenix, Newcastle Jets, Western United and Central Coast Mariners. The problems with these clubs are already well documented, but the Jets, Mariners and even Wellington have each had season averages over 10,000 in previous seasons.
Furthermore, Western United should be able to increase their average to over 10,000 once they move into their own stadium in Wyndham.
The big cause for concern however is the overall average for the league, which sits at just 9,816 at present. This figure is bad by itself, but it looks utterly abysmal compared to the sort of crowds that the AFL and NRL can attract. It’s easy to see why it raises so much concern.
But here’s the thing. We shouldn’t compare the A-League to the other codes, we should compare it to its global peers. If you look at the A-League compared to other top flight competitions it was actually the 19th highest attended league in the world last season.
Or if you use the A-League 2007-08 season as a metric then it would be the 15th. But even with this season’s current figures it’s still the fourth-highest attended top flight in Asia after only those of China, Japan and India.
It isn’t that the A-League gets bad attendances, they’re actually respectable by global standards, it’s that they only look bad because the stadiums that matches are played in are too large.
This is where we need to focus on improving.
A small crowd looks on at Suncorp Stadium. (AAP Image/Darren England)
The main offenders when it comes to oversized stadiums are Sydney FC, Brisbane Roar, Newcastle Jets, Wellington Phoenix and Melbourne City.
In the case of Melbourne City their highest ever average season attendance was just 11,047 and unfortunately this often looks terrible at AAMI Park, especially outside of the derbies. Ideally, they should move to a new location and build their own 15,000-seat stadium.
Newcastle’s best effort was 13,389 and whether they like it or not a 33,000-seat stadium is too big for their needs. Like Melbourne City, a stadium with around 15,000 seats would be more appropriate.
For Wellington Phoenix the “Cake Tin” is a terrible stadium, plain and simple. It has 30,000 seats and is oval shaped, but with strong political resistance against building a rectangular stadium they’re basically stuck with it. The only way to deal with this situation might be to drop the Phoenix from the A-League.
Wellington have failed to meet the metrics to renew their licence automatically, meaning that they will have to rely on the other A-League clubs supporting them to remain in.
However, the lengthy and complicated process requires negotiations with and approval from New Zealand Football, OFC, AFC and FIFA, before FFA and Wellington Phoenix can sign a new licence agreement.
It seems like a lot of work just to give Wellington a licence that would last until 2034, when there are so many Australian bids who would do a lot more to grow the domestic TV audience and crowd averages in Australia.
The other clubs will have to think very carefully about what is best for the next TV deal when Wellington’s licence expires at the end of the season.
When it comes to Sydney FC, things get interesting. The NSW government have removed the curtain for the upper tier that was part of the original design plan and Sydney FC have voiced their disapproval.
In fact, they have said that they would not have given their support to the plan if the curtain had not been a part of it. Their stadium deal at the new Moore Park runs until 2027, at which point they will reassess whether or not to remain there. Given that they could build their own stadium with the savings they would make by not paying massive costs in rent at the new stadium, they might just decide to do this.
Sydney FC fans. (AAP Image/Dean Lewins)
Finally, there’s Brisbane Roar. Since they entered the league, their 50,000-seat home of Lang Park has been very hard for them to fill to a meaningful level. Thankfully however, they are now pushing to build a new 12-17,000-seat stadium close to the CBD to improve the atmosphere and optics.
It seems like the A-League is now at a turning point similar to what happened with the MLS. At one point, the teams making up the league were playing at stadiums with 60-80,000 seats that were 80 percent empty and were being bled dry financially by the costs of the rent, which had to be paid for by the owners, who then pulled out of their clubs.
Since they have started building their own however, the MLS has really turned around and is now seen as a big success.
With the crowds it has had across its history, the A-League has bounced up and down between being the 15th to 20th-ranked top flight globally, as well as being the fourth highest attended league in Asia. The A-League’s crowds might not look good when compared to other codes, but for the sport they’re perfectly fine.
There’s no reason to apologise for this and considering all the many challenges that the A-League faces, I think that its crowds are actually a testament to the passion of Australian fans.
Those same fans now need to make their voices heard and demand that the clubs who take part in the A-League have stadiums that are both appropriately sized and that are affordable to use financially. Build the right sized stadiums and the crowds will fill up the stands.
Micko
Roar Rookie
Outside NSW & Qld this stereotype is accurate Kanggas. Your mate TWAS didn't appreciate it when I pointed out the clearly polynesian nature of the "local" rebels recruits.
Christo the Daddyo
Roar Rookie
LOL - yes, very true! And to be fair, scheduling does seem to be weird across many sports...
chris
Guest
Paul thanks for the tip. I did check it and stuffed up. However that doesn't take away from my main point that soccer in this country has faced many hurdles, one of which being a hostile media and people like you.
Paul2
Guest
"A few years ago I wrote to the Hall of Fame and asked why there weren’t any footballers on there." Just a thought, Chris. Perhaps actually check the Hall of Fame list before writing whiney letters and posts about soccer players being absent from it. Otherwise you end up looking silly.
Post_hoc
Roar Rookie
wasn't suncorp built for someone? wasn't the Gabba? etc. Stadiums are always built for someone
Kanggas2
Roar Rookie
“Chris the only people playing league will be islanders and kiwis. “ There are plenty of big strong fast Aussies who can play league , not every one body type or skill set is made for soccer .
chris
Guest
About 2 years ago. Seems like you know more about it than even the people at the Sports Hall of Fame. Keep up the research and keep me posted.
Garry Jr
Guest
*Joe Marston
Garry Jr
Guest
Ray Baartz and Peter Wilson were inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame in 1985. Johnny Warren was inducted in 1986. Peter Marston in 1988. Alfred Quill in 1996. Just how long ago did you write this letter?
chris
Guest
Nemesis I have no doubt the A-League will make the required changes to get crowds back up etc. Pro/rel is vital and with that, you engage another 100k plus grassroot level supporters. VAR may not disappear entirely, but what we have seen recently is a more sensible approach in its application.
Anthony Ferguson
Guest
There is no greater affliction in Australian sport than SOKKAH Derangement Syndrome, exhibited by certain AFL lovers, and to a lesser extent, some NRL fans
Nemesis
Guest
Chris, ignore the poser. Knows nothing about football, doesn't engage with football other than to come to discussions to disrupt & annoy. The textbook trll. The A-League can get an immediate 10-20% surge in crowds next season, by doing some basic things, which I've outlined previously: 1) Get rid of VAR 2) Get the scheduling right. Either don't play during Dec, Jan, Feb. Or only play matches at 730 pm on Fri, Sat, Sun. If matches overlap, no problem. People will watch the match they want to watch. Just like they do now 3) Don't play on cricket ovals or any stadium over 30k capacity 4) Announce N2D will start in 2022 with teams only chosen from across all 8 NPL 4) Announce Pro/Rel will start in 2025 Do this & the fans who left will return. Do this & the fans who never got involved will start to get involved. The APFCA hired Richard Scudamore to provide input on how to transform the A-League. He actually said all this a few months ago. Yesterday's announcement by Tony Sage suggests that big changes are afoot. The top level football competition in Australia can be massive. But we need the whole football community involved. That's the strength of football.
chris
Guest
Serious question AR. Do you ever go to games? I've been to one AFL match and it bored me to tears and the skill level was abysmal. But you seem to be on here regularly checking out what Nemesis has to say, or what he is doing. Are you interested in football or Nemesis? Both? Neither?
chris
Guest
Gary I couldn't care less what you thought. Thanks for the links and yes my mistake. A few years ago I wrote to the Hall of Fame and asked why there weren't any footballers on there. They did say they would be looking into it and it appears they have fixed that up. Better late than never I suppose.
Garry Jr
Guest
I'm looking at the list on the page you linked. Johnny Warren, Harry Kewell and Luc Longley are, plainly, in the Sports Hall of Fame. The same Sports Hall of Fame you linked to. The fact that you couldn't find them, complained they weren't there, and continue to insist that they are not there is, or should be, embarrassing for you. http://www.sahof.org.au/hall-of-fame/member-profile/?memberID=231&memberType=athlete http://www.sahof.org.au/hall-of-fame/member-profile/?memberID=609&memberType=athlete http://www.sahof.org.au/hall-of-fame/member-profile/?memberID=527&memberType=athlete
chris
Guest
No not embarrassing at all. Not sure what list you are looking at. They might be in some Hall of Fame somewhere but not in the link I provided. There are multiple examples of football players being ignored. The old Allianz/Football stadium had all these statues of Rugby players and league players at the main entrance. There was a statue of Johnny Warren out the back. Typical treatment of football players by generation 1950's.
chris
Guest
Craigo pretty soon the only people playing league will be islanders and kiwis. Aussies might be watching it but they aren't playing it.
AR
Guest
As I’ve said on another article, the ALeague crowds are not too bad by any comparative measure. The real issue is they have dropped 6 seasons in a row. As have all other key metrics. The metrics death spiral is the real issue. Crowds, tv ratings, memberships, sponsors. The competition is stale and contrived. Genuine fans and corporate partners are finally admitting this. Gallop - once heralded as the saviour - was a complete disaster. Cans the ALeague sell it’s content to the next broadcaster/medium AND adapt to the competition it wants be? I don’t think it can. Sad, but all the data says it cannot. Even “Fuss” has given up. Says it all really.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
oh dear. elvis really has left the building. I do hope you express your opinion on this to the other sports that have already benefited (& continue to benefit) from taxpayer funded stadiums, and to the politicians, at local, State and Federal levels, that legislate to fund these other sports with public funds. Yes, it's politics and you are arguing it. And yes, you are saying that debt should be prioritized over spending on a sports stadium. By the way elvis, all those concerts you played, were they in stadiums, or is that before your time? These days major concerts are all in publicly funded halls. Publicly funded. Still in the movies elvis? Terrible actort you were, but filming attracts considerable tax concessions in Australia these days. In fact, I'd say with a fair degree of certainty that movie making attracts more public funding in Qld than does soccer. Still doin' movies elvis? It's a sports blog. Why are you here elvis?
Jimmy
Roar Guru
The problem is even if they get their desired stadium and that’s a big IF, it’s still years off, they need a more short term fix. I’m a huge fan of Suncorp and I think with a focused and concerted effort they can get 20 000 therefor home games. I don’t agree with it but Governments love big stadiums because they may secure big events down the track and clubs lobe them because it’s easier to schmooze sponsors. It’s a flawed system but it ain’t going anywhere unfortunately.