A-League execs said that poor crowds have not "tempered enthusiasm for expanding the league" and they are "confident attendances will lift over the summer," according to Ben McKay of the AAP. The first 10 rounds have seen 91,000 fewer fans through turnstiles compared with last season, a drop of 13%. The average A-League crowd stands at 11,902 this season and is "likely to drop further given the traditional summer slowdown." Past A-League seasons show "waning attendances through summer as the sport contends with the popular Big Bash League, other sports and holidays." The numbers have "spurred" Football Federation Australia into creating a crowd focus group, with a "number of initiatives to be rolled out over summer." That includes "kids-go-free offers" for at least one match for every club and an advertising drive targeted at young families (AAP, 12/15).
STAYING THE COURSE: In Sydney, Dominic Bossi reported FFA remains committed to its trial of the "controversial" video assistant referee and "will continue to use the innovation in the A-League for the foreseeable future, in spite of a series of errors and delays to games." A-League Head Greg O'Rourke refused to suspend the season-long trial of the VAR after a series of delays, inconsistencies and errors "plagued another weekend of games." O'Rourke said, "The VAR is set to be introduced in more global leagues around the world next year and it is a case of getting it right rather than walking away from the trial" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 12/17).
