AFL crowds fell by more than 360,000 despite 11 more games

[DMT]

AFL crowds fell by more than 360,000 this season, despite 11 extra games.

League figures released yesterday show finals attendances were also down, by 12 per cent.
A total of 6,778,824 fans walked through the turnstiles at AFL venues, the lowest turnout since 2006.
The average crowd across 198 home-and-away matches was 31,509, the lowest since 1996.
And finals crowds fell from 614,783 to 539,948, despite a full house at Saturday's Grand Final.

The AFL declined to discuss the figures yesterday.

The introduction of Greater Western Sydney and Gold Coast dragged the averages down, while Port Adelaide, Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs had dismal seasons.
But those factors do not explain the drop-off in crowds for the finals series, which featured three Collingwood games.

A disappointing crowd of 31,742 turned out for the Adelaide-Fremantle second semi-final at AAMI Stadium, while 69,146 saw the Hawks-Crows preliminary final at the MCG.

Ticket prices for all finals matches increased this year under a new four-tier system.

But while crowds were down, TV audiences were up, with more people watching football than ever before.

Fox Footy, which aired every game live for the first time, saw its viewing audience climb by 10 per cent.

Channel 7 also enjoyed a ratings boost after broadcasting Friday night games live, while the overall free-to-air audience was about the same as last year, despite Foxtel simulcasting all free-to-air matches

[Blotto]

and what exactly does this have to do with Local SA and A League football?

[dudley]

who cares, just worry about your own back yard.

[mike17]

pretty funny though

will be funnier when wsw get 20k for their derby match with sydney and adp runnin around


i told everyone this year that they shouldve found a way to make gws more competitive, now they will pay for it. mind you i guess they can afford it

[ozzie owl]

Factors hitting the AFL crowds:

1. Too many teams, quality has been watered down.

2. Too many poor quality sides.

3. New franchises not attracting crowd home or away.

4. Live against the gate.

In the future free agency will see the weeker sides stars plundered by top sides. Create the havs and have nots which will drive crowds down further.

[the fink]

too many victorian teams in it and new teams are just fads

[Stitch This]

Factors hitting the AFL crowds:

1. Too many teams, quality has been watered down.

2. Too many poor quality sides.

3. New franchises not attracting crowd home or away.

4. Live against the gate.

In the future free agency will see the weeker sides stars plundered by top sides. Create the havs and have nots which will drive crowds down further.

5. Disposable income.

[Jay Walking]

Factors hitting the AFL crowds:

1. Too many teams, quality has been watered down.

2. Too many poor quality sides.

3. New franchises not attracting crowd home or away.

4. Live against the gate.

In the future free agency will see the weeker sides stars plundered by top sides. Create the havs and have nots which will drive crowds down further.

5. Disposable income.

I think that is a big one. First time in about 18 years I didn't have a Crows season ticket. I prefer to watch it live but when money is tight, the couch with cheap beer or the pub with drink specials is a suitable alternative

[ruud]

Factors hitting the AFL crowds:

1. Too many teams, quality has been watered down.

2. Too many poor quality sides.

3. New franchises not attracting crowd home or away.

4. Live against the gate.

In the future free agency will see the weeker sides stars plundered by top sides. Create the havs and have nots which will drive crowds down further.

... like soccer?

[Ernie Cooksey]

Factors hitting the AFL crowds:

1. Too many teams, quality has been watered down.

2. Too many poor quality sides.

3. New franchises not attracting crowd home or away.

4. Live against the gate.

In the future free agency will see the weeker sides stars plundered by top sides. Create the havs and have nots which will drive crowds down further.

5. Disposable income.

I think that is a big one. First time in about 18 years I didn't have a Crows season ticket. I prefer to watch it live but when money is tight, the couch with cheap beer or the pub with drink specials is a suitable alternative

I could buy 2 tickets at the gate with the money I'd need to sit in a pub for 2 or 3 hours, drink specials or not. Can't argue with the couch though. You could probably stretch a carton out over a weekend... maybe.

[Red-4-Life]

Suns, GWS, Port, North Melb, WB, St K, Melbourne all averaged below 20k for most parts of the season. St K not so much earlier on and Nth Melb not so much when they picked up their form later in the season. People don't want to go watch 1 sided matches which are happening are an alarming rate since the 2 new expansion clubs joined the league which has also affected the likes of Port and Melbourne as they have lost top draft picks and priority picks coz the 2 new franchises got them automatically. The AFL need to be careful from here

[sephiroth]

crowds town, record tv deal. do the math. the AFL certainly did.

[Red-4-Life]

crowds town, record tv deal. do the math. the AFL certainly did.

win win for them