A-league attendances 24/25

[melbcityguy]

it is what it is isnt it

apart from dropping prices on tickets what do yous suggest that would improve attendances

Players going out in the community/schools
Better marketing
Players appearing on channel ten shows
Clubs being more inclusive
Smarter signings

 

[ingo]

yeah lack of community engagement and marketing is a big one

 

[someguyjc]

They're really pushing the Evangeline thing really hard. Shes good but you'd hope they have something else up their sleeve.

Having random fans with typically very low football ability competing in some boring football task to win a signed top versus pretty girl in short shorts playing violin. I know which one I'd rather see at half time.

 

[Forest1865]

it is what it is isnt it

apart from dropping prices on tickets what do yous suggest that would improve attendances

A very left field suggestion, which may well be unpopular as being a stupid/unrealistic/etc idea on this board but here goes introduce a second team into Brisbane. If Strikers/United/whoever can't shake up the lethargy of the Roar owners/fanbase/football supporters in Brisbane themselves, then Qld football family really does deserve what it gets but remember what happened in the first years of WSW, it galvanised SFC and whilst there looked to be a time when WSW where going to overwhelm SFC in terms of fan involvment/silverware around the Asian cup triumph and before the stadium redevelopments, I think it made SFC up their game which was a good thing for the whole of Sydney football as a whole, more competition breeds a sink or swim/us or them mentality, which in Brisbane is sadly lacking due to complacency.

 

[grazorblade]

A very left field suggestion, which may well be unpopular as being a stupid/unrealistic/etc idea on this board but here goes introduce a second team into Brisbane. If Strikers/United/whoever can't shake up the lethargy of the Roar owners/fanbase/football supporters in Brisbane themselves, then Qld football family really does deserve what it gets but remember what happened in the first years of WSW, it galvanised SFC and whilst there looked to be a time when WSW where going to overwhelm SFC in terms of fan involvment/silverware around the Asian cup triumph and before the stadium redevelopments, I think it made SFC up their game which was a good thing for the whole of Sydney football as a whole, more competition breeds a sink or swim/us or them mentality, which in Brisbane is sadly lacking due to complacency.

if there is a brisbane nst team it will be tempting for my head to turn. Maybe it would give them a kick up the bum

 

[HappyGuus]

A very left field suggestion, which may well be unpopular as being a stupid/unrealistic/etc idea on this board but here goes introduce a second team into Brisbane. If Strikers/United/whoever can't shake up the lethargy of the Roar owners/fanbase/football supporters in Brisbane themselves, then Qld football family really does deserve what it gets but remember what happened in the first years of WSW, it galvanised SFC and whilst there looked to be a time when WSW where going to overwhelm SFC in terms of fan involvment/silverware around the Asian cup triumph and before the stadium redevelopments, I think it made SFC up their game which was a good thing for the whole of Sydney football as a whole, more competition breeds a sink or swim/us or them mentality, which in Brisbane is sadly lacking due to complacency.

It's a nice idea. But I'm not sure introducing a second team would guarantee a "shake up" or put a rocket up Roar to do anything positive. You don't want to end up with just another mediocre club. Do Victory and City lift each other?

There are no guarantees. I think just choosing the best candidate is all we can hope for (and geographically spread). Not forced rivalries where the isn't one, or to appease broadcasters, or because there's a rich owner etc.

And I can't see APL splitting any more cities. Queensland definitely needs more teams, but the front runners would be outside of Brisbane I imagine.

 

[grazorblade]

It's a nice idea. But I'm not sure introducing a second team would guarantee a "shake up" or put a rocket up Roar to do anything positive. You don't want to end up with just another mediocre club. Do Victory and City lift each other?

There are no guarantees. I think just choosing the best candidate is all we can hope for (and geographically spread). Not forced rivalries where the isn't one, or to appease broadcasters, or because there's a rich owner etc.

And I can't see APL splitting any more cities. Queensland definitely needs more teams, but the front runners would be outside of Brisbane I imagine.

I think we should just have infrastructure requirements rather than a licensing fee and any rich person who wants to pay up gets a go, keep expanding, introduce p and r and when the occasional expansion strikes gold, great, if not they get shuffled down the pyramid.

If billionaires want a club and can pay players full time as well as an extra academy just let anyone in at this stage

 

[Monoethnic Social Club]

if there is a brisbane nst team it will be tempting for my head to turn. Maybe it would give them a kick up the bum

I am hearing there very well may be two Grazor.... spoiled for choice.

 

[LFC]

yeah lack of community engagement and marketing is a big one

seriously.........
I'm sure the other APL clubs have their good catchments for the last 20yrs talking "engagement".

Our Association Partners

Sydney FC’s Football Association Partners Across the course of the year, Sydney FC proudly partners with eight community football associations to engage and deliver experiences for local participants from our heartland in Sydney, creating a stronger connection between grassroots players...

sydneyfc.com

Put aside the lack of prime news sports media SFC have had 8 odd Associations to draw on.
Plus school hol camps etcetc......
IF your into football you know where to look for intel let alone all the goss around your local clubs.
This is where the "fish" they don't catch near enough from though you guys seem to think more exposure draws in the casuals ?
Well thats what they are - turn up to derbies hardly any end up as regulars by the look of it after all this time.
The growth potential is always amongst the countless families to Jnrs/Snrs invested in football with passion not for just those on off casuals.
It seems 10/12k avg is the bar by posts intel here - not bad considering its a closed comp like AFL/NRL.
Playing in grounds too big makes it look oridinary most times but thats how the model is.
The youth is great to see BUT the casuals dgaf about that neither do many of the young kids.
Our main known players are abroad, there is hardly any known ex Roo playing that creates interest.
Its all too vanilla, it needs to get openned up

 

[Frankly Speaking]

I am hearing there very well may be two Grazor.... spoiled for choice.

Any news on Gold Coast, Mono?

 

[Monoethnic Social Club]

seriously.........
I'm sure the other APL clubs have their good catchments for the last 20yrs talking "engagement".

Our Association Partners

Sydney FC’s Football Association Partners Across the course of the year, Sydney FC proudly partners with eight community football associations to engage and deliver experiences for local participants from our heartland in Sydney, creating a stronger connection between grassroots players...

sydneyfc.com

Put aside the lack of prime news sports media SFC have had 8 odd Associations to draw on.
Plus school hol camps etcetc......
IF your into football you know where to look for intel let alone all the goss around your local clubs.
This is where the "fish" they don't catch near enough from though you guys seem to think more exposure draws in the casuals ?
Well thats what they are - turn up to derbies hardly any end up as regulars by the look of it after all this time.
The growth potential is always amongst the countless families to Jnrs/Snrs invested in football with passion not for just those on off casuals.
It seems 10/12k avg is the bar by posts intel here - not bad considering its a closed comp like AFL/NRL.
Playing in grounds too big makes it look oridinary most times but thats how the model is.
The youth is great to see BUT the casuals dgaf about that neither do many of the young kids.
Our main known players are abroad, there is hardly any known ex Roo playing that creates interest.
Its all too vanilla, it needs to get openned up

Your spot on about "catchments" and school visits and such malarky... , can you remind me who or what came out to your school to "make" you a football supporter?

There is NOTHING wrong with the APL attendance, it matches the size and quality of the competition... Growth will come with the clubs doing better at servicieng the few fans they DO have ... Make them want to bleed for the club through thick and thin... create those generational alliances that overseas clubs enjoy .. todays 5k at Suncorp can be tomorrows 30-50 k at the same venue.... Dont need to convince the kiddies in primary school, just need to throw your arms around the 5K that attend now... give them a reason to come back and tell tehir friends about it... not just on the pitch but how they are treated as fans.

Lowy and the Aleague wanted immediate growth, big shiny packed stadiums and loud loyal supporters with massive corporate support from day one ... they almost got there..... now they realise they have to do the hard yards and grow the league, like every other league in the known world, slowly slowly ...., whether that is fast enough to appease the foreign investors is a different story....

 

[Monoethnic Social Club]

Any news on Gold Coast, Mono?

nothing concrete but United is one of the clubs that submitted EOI apparently...

 

[Frankly Speaking]

nothing concrete but United is one of the clubs that submitted EOI apparently...

I live in hope.

 

[ingo]

wow thats a fancy SFC pr link
do they actually do anything with those associations

 

[Frankly Speaking]

There is NOTHING wrong with the APL attendance, it matches the size and quality of the competition.

This, Mono, is the key point. But I would add also that it matches the size and quality of the media coverage. Even the Guardian doesn't cover the A League now.

 

[erogenouszone]

They have averaged over 18000 this year. That means the fans have kept coming back.

Perhaps he means will they come back if the team isn't winning because eventually that happens to every team.

 

[LFC]

wow thats a fancy SFC pr link
do they actually do anything with those associations

Fan Engagement

At Sydney FC, our objective is to develop market leading programs that forge life-long connections to Sydney FC. To achieve this objective, the club bases its fan engagement activities around the following core elements: Community Association Partnerships, Participation Programs (Holiday Clinics...

sydneyfc.com

not hard presenting a wonderful website

do they work the associations ?
When my kids were young/er I saw the evidence alot - training nights for the Jnrs attended by top players yaddayadda
Free ticks handed out.
I'm sure not much has changed they are doing same but as mentioned - its not drawing anywhere the numbers that are at their disposal.
In my own ol farts team of the last 10/15yrs.
2 squads + training with our other Snr squad so thats around 45 odd cashed up happy passionate football players kids grown up.
Just a handful are SFC/WSW semi regular supporters.
Its not me influencing anything its just isn't talked about much but my word the Roos/Matildas and heaps of EPL/Liga/SerieA.

 

[ingo]

Fan Engagement

At Sydney FC, our objective is to develop market leading programs that forge life-long connections to Sydney FC. To achieve this objective, the club bases its fan engagement activities around the following core elements: Community Association Partnerships, Participation Programs (Holiday Clinics...

sydneyfc.com

not hard presenting a wonderful website

do they work the associations ?
When my kids were young/er I saw the evidence alot - training nights for the Jnrs attended by top players yaddayadda
Free ticks handed out.
I'm sure not much has changed they are doing same but as mentioned - its not drawing anywhere the numbers that are at their disposal.
In my own ol farts team of the last 10/15yrs.
2 squads + training with our other Snr squad so thats around 45 odd cashed up happy passionate football players kids grown up.
Just a handful are SFC/WSW semi regular supporters.
Its not me influencing anything its just isn't talked about much but my word the Roos/Matildas and heaps of EPL/Liga/SerieA.

oh wow another one
in melb my kids club doesnt have any connection/visits whatever you call it to an apl club
kids school doesnt either but has had afl and storm clinics evry so often...
15 years ago when i was in the system my club didnt have a connection to victory or city either

so for the lucky casual fan that isnt a nutter what entices anyone to follow the apl franchise without that embedded connection

 

[Monoethnic Social Club]

oh wow another one
in melb my kids club doesnt have any connection/visits whatever you call it to an apl club
kids school doesnt either but has had afl and storm clinics evry so often...
15 years ago when i was in the system my club didnt have a connection to victory or city either

so for the lucky casual fan that isnt a nutter what entices anyone to follow the apl franchise without that embedded connection

Friends, family, work mates... anyone in the social circle with an interest in football. Same reason why billions of football fans around the world chose a team. What club do your kids mates follow, or did your footballing mates follow?

You mention AFL clubs going to Primary school ... so far my kids have had Collingwood AND Hawthorn (different schools) visit their school, hand out the crappy pencil case, lanyard and sticker pack and "claim" another junior member... I can guarantee you neither my son or daughter are EVER going to watch one of those clubs as a fan.... They follow the family club (Richmond) because thats what draws them to the sport to begin with... the club.

Same with real football.... MC and WU can go to my sons school every day for the next 5 years, ply him with stickers, free passes and Maccas vouchers., even drive him to and from school in a limo, its not going to change one little thing.... He was born and will die a Hellas boy like everyone else of significance in his life....

 

[Sutherlandbear]

Fan Engagement

At Sydney FC, our objective is to develop market leading programs that forge life-long connections to Sydney FC. To achieve this objective, the club bases its fan engagement activities around the following core elements: Community Association Partnerships, Participation Programs (Holiday Clinics...

sydneyfc.com

not hard presenting a wonderful website

do they work the associations ?
When my kids were young/er I saw the evidence alot - training nights for the Jnrs attended by top players yaddayadda
Free ticks handed out.
I'm sure not much has changed they are doing same but as mentioned - its not drawing anywhere the numbers that are at their disposal.
In my own ol farts team of the last 10/15yrs.
2 squads + training with our other Snr squad so thats around 45 odd cashed up happy passionate football players kids grown up.
Just a handful are SFC/WSW semi regular supporters.
Its not me influencing anything its just isn't talked about much but my word the Roos/Matildas and heaps of EPL/Liga/SerieA.

They are still doing plenty in Southern Sydney with the young ones.