Latest TV figures suggest game is on rise in 2007/08Article from: Peter Desira
January 26, 2008 12:00am
AUSTRALIAN soccer at club level has come of age, with nearly three million viewers watching A-League matches this season.
Fox Sports released figures yesterday showing average audiences of 136,000 a game, for a season total of 2.8 million.
That is a 23 per cent ratings rise for the league and the pay TV station, and indications are it will be higher during the finals series.
The last-round match between Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory attracted the highest audience of more than 370,000.
"The success of the A-League on Fox is indicative of a very healthy competition," Fox Sports chief executive David Malone said yesterday.
"We're confident this level of interest will continue and look forward to more fantastic ratings results through the finals series."
Soccer has always rated well when the Socceroos are playing, especially in competitive matches compared to friendlies.
But the code struggled to register more than a blip in the ratings when it was the old National Soccer League, so the Fox Sports figures are a significant change in viewing habits.
Fox Sports has broadcast every Friday and Saturday night game live, as well as games on Sunday afternoons and evenings.
FOOTBALL Federation Australia cannot be biased, but it will be hoping Sydney FC makes the A-League grand final.
FFA announced yesterday it has provisionally booked the 83,000-capacity ANZ Stadium (previously Telstra Stadium) for the grand final should Sydney make it.
The match would likely eclipse the record Australian club-fixture attendance of 55,436 set at last season's grand final between Melbourne Victory and Adelaide United at Telstra Dome.
Sydney Football Stadium, with a 45,000 capacity, will host the grand final if Sydney fails to advance.
At least one regional club, Central Coast Mariners or the Newcastle Jets, will make the grand final, and under normal circumstances would have been entitled to host the season's biggest match.
But the Mariner's Gosford home has a 20,000 limit and Newcastle's capacity is 26,000.
"If we were to keep the grand final at either of their home grounds, it would leave little or no capacity for supporters of the opposing team, or the many thousands of A-League fans who just want to be part of the biggest game of the year," FFA chief executive Ben Buckley said yesterday.
"It is not unusual for sport to have neutral venues for marquee games.
"The FA Cup, the NFL Super Bowl, the NRL Grand Final and the AFL Grand Final are notable examples.
"We believe the A-League grand final, as the most important game of the year in the competition, should be given the status it deserves and that's what we're doing."
