"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."

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/afl/afl-crowds-are-down-by-more-than-360000-in-2012/story-e6frexx0-1226486122003

Why?

What do you think?

With extra games comes dilution of crowds across states.

I reckon Foxtel screening every game live had a fair influence as well.

finals crowds due to smaller venues

also, crowds down DUE TO STUPID START TIMES LIKE 315 145 etc etc

Anyone surprised?

Going from a lovely 1:10/2:10 start time to a ludicrous time of 3:15 on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon has meant I can no longer attend games in that particular time slot.

The lack of regional trains leaving Spencer street after 6pm has also prevented me from attending games I would normally go to.

Obviously I haven't been missing out on much lately, but when we do start winning, I won't want to be stuck at home watching it on the box.

I'm sure there are many others that are in the same situation.

Edited October 1, 201212 yr by The Big Ticket

Why should the AFL listen to the fans. They never have in the past.

Many one sided games involving GWS, GCS, WB and the demons...

Footy is no longer controlled by the AFL. It is merely managed by it. The Game is now run by sponsorship, the chief sponsor is the TV, of which other media outlets are an extension of the TV sponsorship. Journalists are virtually owned by the media, hence the move from written journalists to TV performers. They protect the sponsor ship industry. The chief Media sponsor is supported then by the numerous other subsidury club sponsors. The AFL is merely an agent of the Sponsorship industry. If it thinks the commission is independent it is deluded. The AFL is totally depended on sponsorship. The chief supporter is the home viewer. They are the target of advertising. Hence the weekend timetabling of every match - wall to wall weekend TV football watching, to hell with the convenience of the regular attender. The faithful football attender/usually member is lowest on the totem poll. We are nothing other than emotional fodder for the home viewer and more importantly the TV sponsor, eg the closing of 3rd level Etihad stadium on smaller crowds, the seating of people behind goals whether they want to sit there or not. The best example is that of Grand Final tickets given first to Sponsors to give out round the office for that one game in September. Clubs get limited dregs.

Treat the regular attender as a none entity and bingo the tide will eventually turn. I'm not surprised attendences are down

WHEN YOU CHANGE YOUR CORE VALUES ULTIMATELY THERE WILL BE CONSEQUENCES. WHEN MONEY BECOMES THAT VALUE - IT WILL SHAPE THE ORGANISATION ACCORDINGLY THIS HAS HAPPENED IN THE AFL

Edited October 1, 201212 yr by Harrisonrules

games with GWS and GC don't interest people. When these sides start to improve i think we will see the crowd numbers go up as the games won't be so one sided. This was probably always going to be a trade off bringing in 2 new frachises back to back. Foxtel doesn't help things either!

Live Televised games would have s hell of a lot to do with it.

Dilution of quality. There are now an extra 80 or so players running around who would have otherwise been playing in the VFL, WAFL or other lower leagues.

Maybe because the Dee's preform so badly?

I hope our fans are sleeping out there in hibernation until the sun shines again, cause it's damn cold at the moment.

Finals would have been better if Geelong didn't coast against Freo and actually showed up. Freo and Adelaide in Melbourne finals doesn't help, and Adelaide fans don't want to pay to go to finals apparently.

The lack of competitiveness from us and the Doggies, Richmond and Carlton's demise (they are fickle supporters), and obviously the expansion teams all effected the regular season.

I will say that I went to the GF and the whole experience was amazing. The crowd was phenomenal, both teams played well and the skills were outstanding given the pressure and conditions. I think the AFL is doing ok overall. Fox Footy is great to catch up on games you can't watch live during the weekend (or get to). I do wish the league would stop trying to make Grand Final day about anything but footy. I don't need bands for the other 26 weeks of the year. If they must do something on the day focus on the highlights of the year and the people that play the game at every level. Friends of mine watched in the US and they couldn't believe how great it was to see young kids give the Swans their medals. We have a good thing going thats built on involvement and inclusiveness and the more the day is about that the better the atmosphere and the better the experience.

also, crowds down DUE TO STUPID START TIMES LIKE 315 145 etc etc

absolutely - twilights are deadly, esp Sundays

The 1.45 start time kills it for me, that and the unbalanced competition with many non event games. Dare I mention the rules, the maul to maul rugby style game.

I also think the point made previously about the fan being treated poorly is coming back to bite the AFL on the bum. We can add cost to the list, in particular for poor quality food.

Edited October 1, 201212 yr by rjay

More people overall watching them though, and higher amplification.

Money lost at the gates is made up with broadcasting rights.

Nothing to see here.

Cold winter and the Telly.

Still miles ahead of NRL crowds.

Finals crowds: 2 Adelaide finals, a Sydney final and a Perth final certainly wouldn't have helped numbers.

Essendon went on a downward spiral, and their fans are as fickle as anything, and an Essendon-supporting friend of mine has said that she hasn't seen such low attendances in years. Same goes for Richmond, if we're being honest.

I find it easier, & these days more pleasurable, watching games on TV.

I find it difficult & tiresome watching games at the venue, with so many rotations. It's hard to see who comes off & on, where they're playing, & on who, what role?

There is more intellectual play, & way less spontaneity & inspiring play to stand and cheer for.

IMO the TV is easier, less effort, & the game doesn't draw me to it, like it Did.

Edited October 4, 201212 yr by dee-luded

Most of the reasons have already been covered here, but the main one I think is the deterioration in the quality of the game, it's admistration and umpiring/rules. I have never found it more frustrating to watch games as a neutral due to the ridiculous "interpretations" of the rules and lack of consistency. I still attend most MFC games that I can get to but attending games as a neutral just doesn't interest me any more whereas in years past I have attended many "games of the round" or Richmond matches with my Richmond supporting cousin.

You can only ignore the fans for so long before it starts to bite you on the arse. When everyone is telling you that the game is being ruined by ridiculous umpiring decisions, ridiculous tribunal decisions and ridiculous off-field decisions it might be time to listen. Of course the AFL doesn't care as long as people turn up but if this starts to change (as these figures indicate for one year anyway) they may have to hopefully rethink their decision.

Oh by the way, for those that hate the twilight timeslot, get used to it because next year there is every chance the GF will be a twilight game. Makes for a long wait for those queuing up outside the MCC from the night before.

The AFL can't have it both ways, trying to attract more viewers on television by shifting games around and showing them live is never going to make attendances bigger. It's really sad that they care more about people watching on a glass box at home with mostly [censored] production rather than getting out of your house and seeing and feeling the atmosphere. The 1:45 and 3:15 starts are a pain (and obviously made for TV). No one wants to see their team play GWS or Gold Coast either.

Finals prices are too high, plus there's always odd patches of seats empty, so I don't think they do the ticketing right

"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."

http://www.dailytele...0-1226486122003

Why?

What do you think?

the way the game is being played. its evolved in to a rolling maul, scrappy and only great to watch if its a significant game or the scores are tight. the afl need to look at restricting rotations which will reduce the ability of 90% of the field contesting every stoppage. it looks like under 13s. or a flock of seagulls fighting over a bag of chips.

We need to get it back to the fast free flowing chain of positional footy, where the fwd pocket wasnt contesting possessions on the half back flank!

Neutral observers arent going to games of footy as much as they used to unless theyre blockbusters. its just too congested.

Edited October 3, 201212 yr by Munga

Big Victorian clubs such as Essendon, Carlton and Richmond have won one premiership between them in the last 15 years or so. higher afl crowd stats must be offset against the dismantling of w.a and sa. state competitions which had rabid support, just look at any old youtube footage and compare it to the antiseptic contests of today. i often wonder how much more exciting for the local supporter football would have been if the state competitions had not been chopped up, but provided finalists for an end-of-season 'championship of australia' in a play-off series. there is no joy in watching many interstate teams play with stacked audiences, whether they are here or at subiaco. grounds like etihad and kardinia park don't offer equity to the supporting public, they are merely marketing arrangements to destroy the away team before they run through the banner. the loss of reserves and under 19's football is also a big downer on attendance for the true follower of this code. last point off the bat: the infamous 'away' strip reduces games to 'the home team' and 'the away team' for the less entrenched tv viewer. it does nothing for traditional supporters seeing their team 'verse' another team with either club wearing some kind of trendy target store tshirt. in future years noone will remember half the teams when they go back to footage of old games. perhaps that's how the afl intends it. market the 'event' rather than the clubs.

on a positive note, i have enjoyed sydney's rise as an aussie rules power, especially enjoyed them smashing hawthorn in the final game. weren't they the team we also smashed on the mcg not that long ago?