OPINION | Raucous Victory-Wanderers clash offers blueprint for A-League Men resurgence | OneFootball

For 90 minutes last night, it felt like we were back in the golden age of the A-League.

Under the lights of AAMI Park, a touch over 18,000 people were treated to a fiery and enthralling match on the pitch, which was more than matched in the stands. In their first home game of the season the Melbourne Victory fans came out in droves and filled the North Terrace to the brim, whilst the Western Sydney Wanderers fans sold out their allocation in the away bay.

The result was a wonderful soundtrack and backdrop to the entertaining match. The home fans unveiling a striking tifo before the match and the away fans held their own for the 90 minutes, and they were celebrating into the night as the disciplined Wanderers claimed a 1-0 win thanks to a Tomislav Mrcela goal just before half-time.

The match itself was the perfect outcome for the APL, as for the second week in a row their main free-to-air match was a captivating affair, with the Big Blue in the opening round also capturing the imagination with goals, colour and noise.

It is a sight that has been far too infrequent in recent A-League Men’s seasons. Even before COVID wreaked havoc on all aspects of football, the famous atmosphere that was once the jewel in the crown of the league had faded significantly.

Active support groups at different clubs for a variety of reasons had waned in numbers or ceased to exist altogether. An indifferent response from the administration of the time towards issues the fans felt were pertinent led to many walking away disillusioned from the game.

The attendance numbers reflected this; from a peak of 13,479, the league wide average attendance fell to 10,877 in the last non-COVID impacted season in 2018-19. The pandemic has ensured that average attendances in the past three seasons have been well below 10,000.

It has been a tough time in recent years for A-League fans. There were genuine fears for the league in the midst of COVID as the previous broadcaster looked to jump ship. And whilst they have financial security through their current deal, long-lasting teething problems continue to harm the product and the league’s reputation in a crowded sporting ecosystem.

It has been a far cry from the mid 2010s, yet the first two rounds of this season shows that progress is being made to climb the mountain once again, and some clubs are doing their part to help.

The Victory ensured that tickets in the active bays and away end were the same as the cheapest general admission tickets, enticing more casual fans to take the punt and attend the match.

For their part, the Wanderers have engaged with the Red and Black Bloc in marketing campaigns on social media, as well as announcing the captain for the season at the Red and Black Bloc 10-year anniversary event. The club also made available a discount code that gave fans 10% off tickets for the match in Melbourne.

These moves have so far paid dividends, and it is crucial that other clubs follow their lead. Despite Sydney FC putting on a great show in their return to Moore Park, they were sharply criticised for the prices of their tickets, with the cheapest adult ticket costing $35.

Whilst multiple factors undoubtedly ticket pricing, clubs must work together with all parties to ensure that ticket prices remain at a reasonable level, especially when cost of living is a significant issue.

It could prove pivotal in restoring the atmosphere that remains the biggest selling point of the league compared to other sports. When done right, it something that cannot be matched and is what helped convert so many fans to the league in the first place.

Of course lowering ticket prices isn’t a silver bullet to instantly creating a vibrant atmosphere league wide, clubs need to continue their positive engagement with fan groups and avoid the mistakes made in years gone by. There is also no denying on-field success plays a huge role in creating a positive atmosphere – just ask the Wanderers.

But if the APL – who are already experimenting with behind the scenes segments with ‘A-Leagues All Access’ and ‘Sky Blue: Inside Sydney FC’ – can continue their positive engagement with fans and help foster the regrowth of the energetic atmospheres, then they may have found the blueprint to success in leading the A-Leagues out of the Australian sporting wilderness.

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