A-League side Sydney FC's match against Melbourne Victory on Saturday "is set to break the club's combined record attendance for an opening four home games of the season, but the true value is in the difference to their bottom line," according to Dominic Bossi of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD.
Sydney's best start to a season "is having a significant impact on their off-field success; more than 100,000 fans are expected to have gone through the turnstiles at Moore Park by this weekend."
A "predicted attendance of up to 25,000 for the 'Big Blue' will set a record in terms of crowds for the Sky Blues and help trim the club's losses in its 10th season." With limited revenue streams available to A-League clubs, Sydney's strong start this year "is a welcome for the club;" the first four home games are set to deliver up to A$200,000 ($174,000) in profit. Sydney FC CEO Tony Pignata said, "It's great not just for us but across the whole A-League. Crowds in Melbourne have been sensational, we played in front of a near sell-out in Adelaide last week. It's a good sign of how strong the A-League is at the moment and crowds are a way of helping clubs put dollars in the bank" (SMH, 11/13).
