+x+xThere has been a lot of comment about the small crowds at the Bulls and Western home games and I agree that they are low but are they low compared to the NSL attendances when the NSL was struggling in its dying years?
Over a 3 year period:-
5 clubs had average crowds less than 3,000.
2 clubs had average crowds in the 3,000 to 4,000 range.
1 club had average crowds in the 4,000 to 5,000 range.
2 clubs had average crowds in the 5,000 to 6,000 range.
1 club had average crowds in the 6,000 to 7,000 range. This is the summation of Adelaide City and Adelaide United and Adelaide United on its own was in excess of 10,000.
1 club had average crowds in excess of 10,000.
The clubs with the highest attendance, Adelaide United and Perth Glory, were accepted into the A-League. Both were broad-based clubs. Of the other clubs only South Melbourne I think would have transitioned easily into the A-League.
The fact that both Western and the Bulls support is equal with the bottom half of the NSL clubs puts their position in context.
As start up clubs in growth locations they are doing as well as clubs that had been through the struggles all football clubs go through for 20+ years in the NSL. That they have a lot of work to do to grow their fanbase goes without saying. For the good of football in their locations I hope they succeed.
Looking at those NSL crowds I think that they represent a target for the clubs that get into the NSD. If they meet that level of support I think they will make a positive contribution to football and the development of talented players that is sorely needed.
Not a fair comparison in my opinion.... WU and MacArthur have the benefit of competing in a pro league with other clubs with vastly larger attendances, in a market place that accepts soccer as an Australian sport and one were their matches get broadcast favourably to potential fans... They should be doing 10 x times better than a failed, shoddy, tinpot league from 20 years ago no? Otherwise what was the point of the great Frank Lowy "cleanisng" of the "effniks"? Nothing?
between enzo flytox (whatever multi he is) on and on living in the past......
Carrying on about 20yrs ago just doesn't add up period anymore.
NSL had its issues but never let them live it down eh..piss easy target.
Its was always gonna fail the so called big time into the modern era for liitle ol australia was behind the 8ball in any case.
Christ you can't keep beating this old drum of crowds back then to todays world let alone the difference of circumstances, numbers of the past sync with current Bulls/WU.
FFS we have grown a little in general population, general outlook regards to migrants has changed so so much obviously as well, media is at your finger tips, what a load of bollocks.
In todays world what Franchise of any style business (I deal with some Franchise companies HQ and Franchisee's) can afford its own sugar daddy keep putting in to keep their investment alive by continuous DD $'s into their account, unless they from the ME in most case's talking football, hello CFG.
WU IF they survive their consort has to have money on tap to keep burning, we shall see.
The Bulls in such a growth area and a football pool I'll give the benefit of the doubt due to starting up upon covid hitting us BUT they should be double what they have attending right now even at the current low numbers.
Something is very wrong here for no way is wanderers sucking up most of their support, let alone their management blunders ie over priced ticking, going down hard on the limited active support they had, the takeover of NBridge getting into PL1, why hasn't that SW and west region got on board some, forget talking about crowds of 20yrs ago + a non tech time and wog league - the world has moved on 1000mph since - something doesn't add up, who can afford that long for a sound supporter base and ROI, business is business.
In saying the above what damage does a half baked supported Club do to the image of the league in the big picture, to some may say thats the same everywhere of low supported Clubs BUT this is Australia, we're a minnow, fighting against other codes that are way ahead commercial wise, thats what Joe Average sees and pass's judgement.
What about the elephant in the room talking Sydney and WSW, the golden child and people carry on about its template of the past.
Their supporter base numbers are a third to what they once were.
Forgetting the RBB being rubbed out to a degree what of the other fair weathered supporters, seems they only back when winning which is typical Aussie generally as well.
Leave the NSD alone you guys, no one is expecting big numbers, I'm sure the FA and the Clubs aren't going into this half cocked.
Long overdue having something that creates a better pyramid and nuture the game where its needed big time getting out of the dark.