A-League needs better marketing and promotion, not cheap gimmicks

The A-League’s plan to get young fans and families to the game is as foolhardy as Scomo’s disastrous attempt to stay hip.

The A-League needs to attract real fans, not hip-hoppers who get bored at the drop of a hat. Picture: AAP

It seems some at Football Federation Australia did not learn anything from Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s embarrassing attempt at portraying a youthful persona last week.

The PM’s bid to appeal to a wider, more youthful audience via a video clip showing Government MPs raising their hands in synch to rapper Fatman Scoop’s Be Faithful went down like a lead balloon.

It was a valuable lesson that should be heeded by FFA.

For context, this is the video: pic.twitter.com/kqLpVqhnLW

— Simon Cullen (@Simon_Cullen) September 13, 2018

A report yesterday suggests the head body, concerned by dwindling attendances, is looking to embark on a campaign designed to attract more youngsters and families to A-League games this season by providing the controlled letting off of smoke (flares) in the stands at some venues and allowing lights, videos and music during goal kicks, corners and substitutions.

According to A-League boss Greg O’Rourke: “Football globally has about 30 minutes when the ball is stopped or out of play. Some of those gaps can be filled.”

So, think Melbourne Victory goalkeeper Lawrence Thomas in last season’s grand final, head swathed in bandages, taking a run up to boot the ball long from a goal kick to the soundtrack of The Mummy.

Or, Western Sydney striker Oriol Riera, angry at being subbed - as he was during a game last season - coming off to Limp Bizkit’s Break Stuff (Ok, so I have never heard of it and I googled angry songs!)

How about when goals are scored? A bit of Twist and Shout by The Beatles would work a treat. Then again, that could turn to mud if the video assistant referee (VAR) intervenes and rules no goal? Queue Men At Work’s It’s A Mistake.

You get the picture.

Victory goalkeeper Lawrence Thomas during last season’s grand final. Picture: AAP

Understandably, the purists are up in arms with FFA’s idea hitting a raw nerve. And with good reason.

The A-League doesn’t need gimmicks.

It needs to be fixed from the bottom up. Expansion first and foremost, better marketing and promotion. How about promoting the exciting foreign players the league has attracted this season?

People want to go to games to watch great players and good football.

If you want to do something positive then how about reducing ticket prices? How about getting better food deals for the fans.

They don’t want crappy music aimed at the hip-hoppers who get bored at the drop of a hat and would only turn up for a few games before moving on. They aren’t real fans. They don’t understand the game.

The real fans are the ones who buy memberships and follow through thick and thin.

Leave the bells and whistles to basketball and the Big Bash.