Despite a few upticks in recent weeks, the current campaign has seen, on average, the lowest crowds in a quarter of a century
One commentator suggested the game has become “too woke” with all its rule changes and crackdown on umpire dissent. Others believe the standard of play is driving punters away. But, arguably, the football has been far superior to that played half a decade ago, when crowd numbers peaked. West Coast’s dire year, the redevelopment of Kardinia Park, the floating fixture and a recent Arctic blast have also played a role. Here are some of the possible major contributing factors.
Even though Covid no longer leads the nightly news, there has been a distinct shift in how we live, work, travel and connect. It has changed the way we use public transport, the way we eat out, the way we plan ahead and the way we watch sport. Older fans in particular, are understandably much more reluctant to expose themselves to the virus, particularly with flu season also now in full swing.
It wasn’t that long ago that there was a one-hour delay on Friday night games. As the opening siren would sound at a packed MCG, over on Channel 7, Dr Harry would be poking his head in a beehive. These days, every game is live and in high definition. Kayo is cheap. It’s convenient. If you’re so inclined, you can park yourself on the couch on a Thursday night, watch every minute of every game, and then sign the divorce papers on Monday.
Unlike other sports, modern football doesn’t translate that well to television. And modern TV doesn’t always translate well to one’s sanity. But for better and frequently worse, we were conditioned throughout Covid to watch the sport on TV. For many, that’s a hard habit to shake, particularly when the wind whips a little harder on a winter’s afternoon.Inflation, interest rates, and petrol prices are rising, and Australians are tightening their belts.
These days, organising a ticket is fraught, time-consuming, expensive and often nonsensical. Navigating Ticketek, particularly for blockbuster games and for those trying to secure multiple tickets, can be a one-way trip to the nuthouse and the poorhouse. For anyone without a smartphone, it’s especially difficult. As winter nears, it’s often cheaper and easier to stay home, turn up the heater and turn down the sound.
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