A-League needs a New York state of mind
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I think a better conclusion to draw from the MLS is that its best when different teams pursue a number of strategies. After all, the Seattle Sounders have by far the highest attendances without any really big names (possibly Kasey Keller).
On another point, I don't agree that 'the A-league exploded in 2005 due to Dwight Yorke'. The average attendance in 2005-06 was 11k, whereas it was 13k the following season after Dwight Yorke had left.
give FFA a break...try starting a new competition is a country like Australia where cricket AFL NRL ARU Tennis, Golf etc are all so entrenched.... i reckon the HAL is doing very well
If you watch the J-League, the K-League...and even the MLS - when they started, there was a big boom of attendance numbers, not due to some big "bling" player, but rather the atraction of a new sports league.
Then after a few seasons or so, the attendances fall a bit, and there is a period where the "neturals" no longer have a intrest. In Australia the 150 year history of the AFL/VFL gains more support than a then 5 year league.
As shown in the J-League, K-League and MLS, the attendances pick up and the leagues and their teams get a more solid following.
We've got to remeber this league, which was the succesor to the racially-exclusive NSL, has only been going for 6 years.
People often forget the small crowd figures coming out of the "cake-tin" in wellington is their early days. My old man met a couple from the Sporting capital ofgot a NZ in that first away game, wishing that one day they could "be like Melbourne" and have 20,000 average home attendances. Look at the now.
Perth Glory this season have started off crowd figures that are similar to that of the "good ol' days" of the NSL. Some may pay tribute to Mr. Fowler for that, but a solid finals appearance from season 5 after a few dismal efforts may be a contributing factor also.
We can expect that after having the NSL in Australia - that led the public to believe "soccer" was all about violence and flares that was only a past-time for our imigrants and offered nothing to the rest of multicultural Australia - that we can have a prosporus league with 20,000 average crowd attendances.
Like other league's in Asia, and Northern America, in time this league will grow
Everything in this article is gospel. It is so true that it should be required reading for all potential suitors of the A League. We need star players to make this league work. It isnt rockert science, it is pure fact.
Well here's the thing, Going by the Gold Coast experience Jason Culina does not a marquee make. So to get people in we need an absolute star or get owners like Clive to keep their mouth shut.
But at the speed the clubs are going broke, who can afford so many much needed big name players?
good point, he would come here for less...all he has to do is ring Benny Carbone and he will get a great rap on Australia
fabio cannavaro - went to the UAE for a couple of million a year. surely australia can offer him more of a life style for the same ball park of money?
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