AFL dying in Sydney

[ROK Lobster]

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/sport/afl/story/0,27009,24113447-5016140,00.html

It must be the attractive brand of footy we play.

[NMWBloods]

Not surprising. No neutral supporter I know likes watching the Swans play so we're hardly likely to attract large amounts of interested spectators.

[573v30]

Yep, the good ol' days of 1993 are back...

[DeadlyAkkuret]

Slow news week.

[bedford]

Not surprising. No neutral supporter I know likes watching the Swans play so we're hardly likely to attract large amounts of interested spectators.

for once i agree

[Damien]

The TV ratings in Sydney is a massive issue and if it isn't rectified, I can't see how the AFL can expect to increase revenue in the next set of TV rights.

9 and Foxtel will almost certainly win the next set of rights, Foxtel will probably get the better games more often also in the next round so they can drive up their subscribers (and pay more). A friend of mine at 9 also believes that 9 would prefer a 3 fta/5 pay split but will probably have to settle for 4/4 if the TV sporting protection laws remain as they don't have a fta partner to bid with.

[swansrule100]

going to Sydney for the first time ever last week it seemed sport in general just isn't as big a deal it is in Melbourne and Tasmania, as down in tassie we just copy the vics anyway.

[Damien]

going to Sydney for the first time ever last week it seemed sport in general just isn't as big a deal it is in Melbourne and Tasmania, as down in tassie we just copy the vics anyway.

Less passionate overall probably, still a big deal though. Four codes survive reasonably comfortably here with League the king quite comfortably (never let the crowd figures ever fool you, it is the number 1 sport by a country mile)

Hardcore League fans though would DIE to have what AFL has in Melbourne.

More of an event city I guess which is why the ANZ Stadium "Blockbusters" work so well generally for the Swans.

[NMWBloods]

Yep - agree with Damien that it is very much an 'event' city although still keeping a solid number of sports going. There just doesn't seem to be the passion - when I worked there sports discussion were more general rather than regular and passionate like it is in Melbourne.

[hot potato]

with the new stand being under construction still, the numbers at the home games have been satisfactory, but Whnthe Swans have haD A CHANCE IN PEAK PERIODS THEY HAVE PLAYED CONSTIPATED TURN OFF FOOTY, no wonder people turn it off in droves.

[stellation]

In all fairness to the Swans, Davis is injured.

[stellation]

Yep - agree with Damien that it is very much an 'event' city although still keeping a solid number of sports going. There just doesn't seem to be the passion - when I worked there sports discussion were more general rather than regular and passionate like it is in Melbourne.

blah blah blah we're better blah blah blah

When will you and your pro-Melbourne cronies wake up and smell the java? New York is the place to be!

[connolly]

Not surprising. No neutral supporter I know likes watching the Swans play so we're hardly likely to attract large amounts of interested spectators.

You couldn't be more wrong. The Bloods have a lot of interest from traditional RL supporters i know in the area i live. The viewing numbers in Sydney for all AFL teams is down, the numbers for Bloods has declined less. What the RL supporters don't like about AFL is soft matches. i believe it is the recent rules changes which has done more to turn RL supporters off AFL than anything else. The technical tiggy touchwood rules and confusing free kicks are the turn off. RL supporters do like hard intense contested football.

[connolly]

The TV ratings in Sydney is a massive issue and if it isn't rectified, I can't see how the AFL can expect to increase revenue in the next set of TV rights.

The worst recession since the 1930's will certainly ensure that the AFL doesn't get an increase in revenues. Until 10 and 7 get a presentation which is identified with Sydney, actually explains the rules (if that is possible) and gets rid of arse clowns like Bomb It Blight and Dumbstall the ratings in Sydney won't greatly improve.

[Donners]

I'm not surprised. I was far more interested in going to and watching Swans games even back in the early 90s than I am now.