Crowds Down in 2007

[Wedgie]

Article from nafc.com.au, I think they're being a bit nice to the SANFL as I solely blame the stupid programming this year, I said before the start of the year crowds would be down and it looks like they're going to be down by even more as the year goes on:

When footy fans didn't have a choice

After round nine the SANFL has experienced a drop in crowds of 4.9% compared to last year.

In fact the situation could be lot worse if it wasn't for Central Districts night games which have boosted the figures by a staggering 13,087 for two games - average 6,543.

So why? Too many choices?

* The SANFL actioned a successful launch to the season, commissioned an effective radio campaign using Neil Kerley and has generally been pro active with theme rounds - albeit on a very limited budget.
* We cannot simply blame the weather, as it does rain in winter!
* Could it be the predictable results in many games, especially given Central Districts dominant early season form?
* The 2007 Season Program was designed to maximise crowds early in the season whilst the weather was more predictable, what will happen if it's a wet winter? The down side of a manipulated draw is the imbalance of fixtures eg: North has two byes in the first 8 games, plays Centrals twice in six games and Norwood twice in four games.
* Is direct television a help or a hindrance? Might be OK for the profile of the competition, but not so for the Club hosting a home game - especially when weather is a factor. Good luck to Centrals as they now program their blockbuster games at night and are not subject to lower attendances due to ABC coverage.
* Fans will not go to two games on a weekend - one AFL and one SANFL.

It is all too easy for the SANFL football follower not to attend a League match. The opportunity is always there to catch an AFL game direct on Fox or television, your Clubs' match is direct on the ABC or the weather is a bit threatening and the facilities are limited eg car parking. Whatever the reason, we are concerned and dare not think that our passionate Rooster fans have become a bit soft. There is no obvious answer as the SANFL is probably the only second tier sports competition in Australia still attracting reasonable crowds. However the facts are there for all to see:

* We accept the fact that the SANFL is a second tier competition behind the AFL and no longer the number one choice in terms of attending a game. That doesn't diminish the standard of the competition or the fact that a day out at a League Footy ground is still enjoyable - and affordable!
* Ratings control the media and an SANFL Club simply does not have the profile to justify the exposure.How ironic it is that Clubs which once had to control what was in the media now have to make special requests for articles about their Club.

To the passionate followers of all SANFL Clubs, rug up, bring your family and friends and get along to an SANFL match. You didn't have a choice years ago, we need you to make one now.

[Jar Man Out]

Poor draw this year.

Round One was great but the rest have been poor In regards to maximising attendance.

[spell_check]

Not having Adelaide Oval and not enough night games at the start of the year is hurting. That and the lack of advertising from the SANFL.

[giffo]

Advertising might help a bit. The ad in the papers is usually very small and lacking colour and is placed to late in the week. I reckon it should be in at least 3 times a week- Monday, Wednesday & Friday, so that people have time to react and plan. The TV advertising has also been very limited, why not place the ads just before or during Port & Crows telecasts.

[Macca19]

I think some strange programming may have something to do with it. It has been a very wet season so far. Much wetter than last year at this point. Almost everyday for the past 4-5 weeks has been threatening with rain. I think it has been a factor.

Advertising does help. I still dont think there is enough said about our league. We get the two pages in the footy friday. two pages in the footy monday. maybe one page on the saturday and barely anything during the week.

[Hondo]

Doesn't help when traditional crowd pullers Glenelg, Sturt, Port and Norwood are on the wrong end of the table

Sturt excepted this year of course

Maybe having same couple of teams on top year after year takes some interest out of it??

Dunno .....

Maybe we all need to con our mates to go and help reverse the trend rather than complaining about it on here!

[Sojourner]

Too many people are stuck in the past and refuse to even look at new ideas, Central are the reverse though and their crowds are increasing.

The SANFL needs to be at the front of innovative changes if it is to maintain its numbers against the competition,

Each SANFL club needs to host a game in its country zone,

Norwood should play at least one of their home games at Golden Grove, ditto Sturt in Mt Barker.

All SANFL clubs should investagate the idea of having an Amatuer league match prior to their own game even if they have to make their main game start later.

SANFL clubs need to increase their revenue streams, which means more local and country venues.

The list could go on and on, yet the answers are there, it depends if clubs other than Central are prepared to look at some of them.

[Ian]

Central are the reverse though and their crowds are increasing.

Centrals have always had a good following, night games have also helped. they are lucky geographically being the only club based North of Grand Junction Rd, and for a long time have had a "tribal following" in the Northern suburbs. A bit like comparing the supporter base of a inner Melbourne based club to the crows pre Power.

it depends if clubs other than Central are prepared to look at some of them.

Not all clubs have the luxury of a ground not surrounded by houses, it made the installation of lights easy.
As far as country games, this year it has been South and West that have given up "home" games to go country.
North made a number of requests to the league re: programming that the club thought would maximise attendances at Prospect, most were ignored by the powers to be.

[spell_check]

Central are the reverse though and their crowds are increasing.

Centrals have always had a good following, night games have also helped. they are lucky geographically being the only club based North of Grand Junction Rd, and for a long time have had a "tribal following" in the Northern suburbs. A bit like comparing the supporter base of a inner Melbourne based club to the crows pre Power.

it depends if clubs other than Central are prepared to look at some of them.

Not all clubs have the luxury of a ground not surrounded by houses, it made the installation of lights easy.
As far as country games, this year it has been South and West that have given up "home" games to go country.
North made a number of requests to the league re: programming that the club thought would maximise attendances at Prospect, most were ignored by the powers to be.

Which is why Thebarton would be pretty ideal for upgrading the lights - only one side - the southern - has houses.

[Gravel]

A good article. I agree that the SANFL programming defies belief at times. Crows live out of Melbourne and we programme 3 games against that telecast. Unbelievable.

[doggies4eva]

A couple of comments:

Aren't Crows and Power games down on attandance too?

If it was simply Centrals location then why doesn't South build a large following?

[NFC]

A couple of comments:

Aren't Crows and Power games down on attandance too?

If it was simply Centrals location then why doesn't South build a large following?

Because the oval is such a disgrace?

[Ian]

A couple of comments:

Aren't Crows and Power games down on attandance too?

If it was simply Centrals location then why doesn't South build a large following?

I think they were 20 or 30 years to late, needed to make the move when SANFL was number 1 to all SA footy supporters. For the sake of the comp., I hope it happens one day, but I feel they missed the boat.

[Ian]

Which is why Thebarton would be pretty ideal for upgrading the lights - only one side - the southern - has houses.

No arguments from me, I know it's been said before, but, use it as the nuetral ground, I haven't missed Adelaide a bit this year.

[FlyingHigh]

I know the 2pm starts are popular with some, but gut feel is that years with 2pm starts generally have lowered attendance - 1989 comes to mind. Does anyone have any evidence of this?

[Hondo]

The big worry is the profile of those that are going. There's a bunch of SANFL fans from 60s-80s that will be difficult to replace over the next generation now that most kids go for AFL sides and a lot couldn't even name all 9 SANFL clubs I'm guessing.

[Aerie]

The big worry is the profile of those that are going. There's a bunch of SANFL fans from 60s-80s that will be difficult to replace over the next generation now that most kids go for AFL sides and a lot couldn't even name all 9 SANFL clubs I'm guessing.

That's what I'm worried about. 4.9% have probably passed away since last year.

[Sojourner]

[quote="Ian]I think they were 20 or 30 years to late, needed to make the move when SANFL was number 1 to all SA footy supporters. For the sake of the comp., I hope it happens one day, but I feel they missed the boat.[/quote]

Agree, Souths area was St Marys, the home games were played at Adelaide Oval, then the club relocates to Noarlunga and people that live in Seaford etc are expected to embrace the club as their own.

A better scenario would have been South and Westies merging and a new club being established from the Great Southern League and the South Coast league.

[finn]

unfortunately the easy answer to increased exposure is also the most difficult and least likely.

if the afl bring in increased lists for their teams when (and if) the victorian clubs go alone, instead of the current alignment system with a vfl team, then perhaps port and adelaide could go it alone here in the sanfl.

this relies upon port remerging and a willingness from the sanfl to cough up money to the traditional sanfl clubs so that the salary cap could be increased so that the sanfl could attract more players.

the obsession that the 'tiser/mail have the sa afl clubs would lead to increased exposure on the sanfl as stories are written and broadcast about the returning older players (eg tredrea/riccuito/burton et al), give the afl clubs control over placement of players and get rid of the bye. the reserves could be run before home games giving wider exposure to a wider group of players to a raft of clubs from interstate as well as national exposure to the sanfl through the visiting team's supporters and associated hanger ons. I'm sure that the covering media such as abc radio would also mention the game.

personally i wouldn't like to see it happen but I can see the positives if the sanfl supported its clubs to make them competitive.

I also like the idea of having amateur league games before every now and then as it annoys me that I can't see my team on saturdays as I am coaching - not that any division c1 would be likely to be the ones programmed anyway.

[Blue Boy]

The weather may have kept a few away.

Im sure it didnt rain this much for the whole year last year.