Here is an analysis of each A-League club’s home attendances for the 2019-20 season up to Round 21 (1 March), before the COVID-19 pandemic affected crowds.
Adelaide (average home attendance of 8,584): This was Adelaide’s lowest average in its 15 seasons. Its two lowest attendances were Sunday 5:30 games played as the latter part of three home games in successive weeks.
One was the same time as the day-night test match at Adelaide Oval, the other on a 39 degree day. Adelaide also hosted a game on a 42 degree day and a game on a day of significant rain.
Brisbane (10,176): An improvement on the previous two seasons, but still its fifth-lowest overall. Brisbane was one of the most consistent teams for home attendances, drawing between 8-13,000 each game.
Two of Brisbane’s games were at Dolphin Stadium, which only has a capacity of 10,000; although the close-to-capacity atmospheres were widely praised.
A small crowd looks on to watch the Roar. (AAP Image/Darren England)
Central Coast (5,696): Perhaps only beat its lowest ever average from last season (5,562) because the season was suspended, but either way these last two seasons have been poor.
Central Coast had the most Sunday 6pm games (four), played its traditional New Year’s Eve clash on a 43 degree day, and had the fixture quirk of hosting Adelaide twice in little over a month.
Melbourne City (8,912): In its tenth season, City continued to be a low-drawing club. It had the fourth-highest membership tally (11,968), but only got crowds larger than 8,000 when it hosted Victorian opponents.
Without derbies, it averaged 6,655 – only better than Central Coast and Western United.
Melbourne Victory (17,617): Victory’s third-lowest season average likely correlated with its poor on-field performances. It had the fixture quirks of four home games in five weekends and hosting Wellington twice in little over a month. Lower crowds continued to be particularly noticeable at the cavernous Marvel Stadium.
Newcastle (7,386): This was Newcastle’s second-lowest season average. While it had the fifth-highest membership tally (10,344), it ranked ninth for attendances, which may reflect its early season losses.
Newcastle’s two lowest attendances were for a 5pm game on a 39 degree day and a game on a day of significant rain.
Perth (8,416): Perth’s fifth-lowest season average was not too much lower than its highest (10,533). It operates in a consistently low range of 7,500-10,500, whereby its highest season average is the lowest of the ten established A-League clubs.
This season, its lowest crowd was for a game played at the same time as the day-night test match at Optus Stadium, on a 41 degree day.
Sydney (12,999): A mid-range season for Sydney: acceptable if you consider it played at two smaller stadiums and therefore could not draw a large derby crowd; unacceptable if you consider the team’s impressive form.
Regardless, the reduced-capacity stadiums created a good atmosphere. Its lowest attendance was on a 36 degree day for its fourth home game in five weeks.
Wellington (8,730): This was Wellington’s third-highest season average, and best in ten years.
It was helped by strong attendances in Auckland, but this has also been the case in previous seasons. It is likely the strong on-field performances and attractive football were a factor. Its lowest crowd was a Sunday 6pm game.
Western Sydney (13,729): The Wanderers’ first season at its new ground started well, but the attendances decreased as the season progressed; likely related to the team’s middling form. Its lowest crowd was its only Sunday game, which kicked off at 6.30.
The A-League has struggled to attract crowds this season. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Noting the poor on-field form, it was a season that can be built upon, with a brilliant stadium and the second largest membership (17,325).
Western United (5,653): Some leeway must be given for a club’s first season; however, of the other ten current clubs, only Central Coast last season has had a lower season average. Not helping was the fact it had three home grounds – none of which are near its eventual main home – and hosted six games in eight weekends.
Overall, while this season’s A-League attendances were not great, it continues to respectably rank around 21st for global averages (beating Turkey, Poland, Sweden and South Korea). Plus, numbers are not everything. Arguably, the two crowds of just over 9,000 at Dolphin Stadium were the A-League at its atmospheric best.
Samuel Power
Roar Rookie
Elaborate on how a winter season would work without clashing with the AFL and NRL.
IJ
Roar Rookie
It's not impossible- it's just a question of choices. This is literally true.
Bendtner52
Roar Pro
I like the article. What is clear is it’s all been trending in one direction. Lack of marquees hasn’t helped. Some small shoots of positivity in Western Sydney, but not many other places
At work
Roar Rookie
We're all happy to discuss the issues (of which there are plenty), but when an outsider that is clearly only here to troll (like Mr Football, AR, etc) only puts forward negative opinions it gets tiresome.
Samuel Power
Roar Rookie
I know that mate, I am too an 'AFL Stooge'. Grew up playing Aussie Rules and still do in the seniors, love it with a passion and go to every Port Adelaide home game and is a member of their cheer squad. However I love both codes, and don't mind a bit of RL, but the soccer bashing on these forums are ridiculous. Yes, the A-League has so many issues but it will work through them.
Samuel Power
Roar Rookie
Yes, and that is why I said in the 'short term future', it's impossible for the A-League to go to a winter season, which I'm all for by the way.
At work
Roar Rookie
Very good point, they'd be averaging 8K easily ! But also don't listen to Johan, he's just an AFL stooge, known to be the old Mr Football.
At work
Roar Rookie
It would take some years for the A League to transition to be a Winter comp, so many of those clubs wouldn't be using BankWest. - Only the Parramatte Eels would use Bankwest as a regular tenant (along with WSW). - The Dogs and Souths would be back using Homebush. - Wests Tigers use a combination of Leichhardt, Campbelltown & Bankwest. - Waratahs will be back at the new Allianz stadium.
Samuel Power
Roar Rookie
I'll use Bankwest Stadium as an example. There are now 4 NRL clubs using the ground (Eels, Wests, Dogs and Bunnies), and the Waratahs from Super Rugby. There will at least be 2 games a week and the damage caused by the games will not be suitable for soccer and the Western Sydney Wanderers, who are the main tenant of the ground, wil most likely not be able to play there. If the redeveloped Stadium Australia was finished then they could move a few games to there every now and then, or the NRL could, but at the moment and for at least the next 5 years, it won't work.
IJ
Roar Rookie
I suggest that climate change and hotter summers means that it is essential. Stadiums are not the problem you suggest here. The question becomes which stadiums and how to schedule the games. Very far from impossible.
Blood Dragon
Roar Rookie
Suncorp has 3 Tenants plus hosts at least one Origin Match a year and Dolphin Oval is owned by the Dolphins RLFC and are not gonna give Roar games priority over themselves
Kevin
Roar Rookie
Bankwest Stadium would actually be suitable if the Wanderers start winning.
Samuel Power
Roar Rookie
Wouldn't both grounds be mostly occupied though from the Broncos, Reds and Dolphins? Pitch would be very poor as well from the rugby.
Waz
Roar Rookie
Brisbane Roar have a stadium that can be used in winter. Two in fact, Suncorp Stadium and Dolphin Oval.
Samuel Power
Roar Rookie
We can't go to a winter season, for at least the short term future. Stadium availability is a huge problem. At the moment, only these teams at the moment have stadiums that can be used in winter. - Perth Glory - Adelaide United - Macarthur - Newcastle - Central Coast
IJ
Roar Rookie
What a season, as others have noted. The only thing I personally have drawn from the stats is that it supports my firming view that we need to shift to a winters season. Summers are untenable for a sport like football, and last summer is what we can expect in the future.
Samuel Power
Roar Rookie
Johan – If Macarthur FC host let’s say 3 ‘derbies’ next season (if it gets underway), they should get at least 15k to these games, which equals 45k. Then, assuming the FFA schedules the fixture 13 home games and 13 away games, all they need is 59,000 more people through the gates at their remaining 10 home matches, which they need to average 5,900 people per game to reach an average attendances of 8,000, that is very very achievable. I didn’t say these are what attendances these teams will be getting, I think it will be lower than that, but these figures is what every club needs to aim for. Mariners and Jets have been financially unstable for years, don’t know about Western United.
Johan
Guest
Samuel- Surely your ‘very achievable’ attendances predictions for next year is a parody. It is highly unlikely that MacArthur FC will have played a single league game given the financial state of the a league; let alone get an average for 8000 fans each game. In addition I hear there are now very significant doubts about the ongoing financial viability of the Mariners, Western United and even the Newcastle Jets. It is nice to be positive but let’s not be deluded peeps!!
Blood Dragon
Roar Rookie
Knights capacity is 15k but only 3 k of that can actually be seated and due to knights poor location i think 7k average is to much to expect from western if they play at knights which i think is unlikely anyway
At work
Roar Rookie
Because the local schools use it for their athletics events, and since the council own it it'll likely stay that way (probably quite rightly too). What makes it a bad ground for atmosphere is this: - Oval ground - No roof which allows sound to escape easily - The hill lends itself to everyone sitting down and this creates a more casual relaxed vibe; which does not lend itself to standing, yelling and getting into the football as much as normal seating does.