Play Nice 2023 Non AFL (or lower league) Sports Industry Discussion

[MelbourneGWS]

A good summary of the Asian Cup - realistically the most winnable of the 3 major international competitions (World Cup, Olympics and this) for our soccer team(s). Will be interesting to see the extent of interest in our male soccer team as the tournament progresses

Can the Socceroos win the Asian Cup? Here's everything you need to know

Who are these new players? Why are they back in Qatar? Can they actually win this thing? Samantha Lewis answers your Socceroos Asian Cup questions.

www.abc.net.au

 

[BobbyMorri]

It’s only the first day of Main Draw action at the Open, but the Summer of Tennis is in full swing – and fans can’t get enough in 2024.

The Aus Open heavily promoted ‘opening week’ this year – with cheap tickets for fans to watch qualifiers, a host of live entertainment options, and even handing out thousands of racquets to children.

It resulted in 89,894 fans coming through the gates from Monday to Saturday, breaking last year’s record of 63,120.

And there’s also been crowd records broken around the rest of the country, too.

The cumulative attendance of the other tournaments in the Australian Summer of Tennis – the United Cup in Perth and Sydney, plus the Brisbane, Hobart, and Adelaide Internationals – was 321,069.

That breaks the 2020 record of 314,085, and proves that the summer of tennis is well and truly back after being severely impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Aussie heartbreak in 5hr epic but one holds on; awful act terrifies ballkid — Aus Open Day 1 wrap

Aussie heartbreak in 5hr epic but one holds on; awful act terrifies ballkid — Aus Open Day 1 wrap

www.foxsports.com.au

It has been a good summer of tennis. Hobart had its biggest crowds including a record for the final of 1.2K IIRC. The Aus Open want to break a million people through the gates of Melbourne Park in 15 days of action. They will need good weather and a deep run by Alex and Novak for that to happen.

The first Sunday was packed and I wouldn't be surprised if they were touching 100K for that day alone. They were shocked by the crowd size and most courts were too full. it will be interesting to see if that will impact crowds today, in what is usually the first day of the open.

Edit: attendance for the first day was 58,623 fans. I was a bit off. Guessing the lack of on court action numberwise made crowds look way bigger than what it was.

 

[The_Wookie]

The 2023-24 #UniteRound was attended by 47,425 at an average of 3,952 per match (12% of capacity).

#ALW WUnited/SFC 4,039 at Allianz #ALW matches were attended by 11,222 at an average of 1,870 (7.36% of venue capacity). More than 108,000 people have attended #ALW standalone fixtures in 2023-24 at an average of 2,095 per game.

#ALM matches were attended by 36,203 at an average of 6,034 (16.95% of capacity). This is the second lowest total/average of the season behind round 6. 592,684 have attended the season to date at an average of 8,119.

It should be noted that the AFLs Gather Round was its lowest non bye round of the season.

Using the alternative metholdology (top attended match of the day and venue - 28,061 people attended #UniteRound at an average of 2,338 per match. The earlier method is the one now used by the AFL and NRL for Gather/Magic Round reporting. The latter is used

by @au_sport and others.

Attendance Data: http://aleagues.com.au, @joeylynchy
Capacity Data: http://austadiums.com (@au_sport)

 

[Walshawk]

The 2023-24 #UniteRound was attended by 47,425 at an average of 3,952 per match (12% of capacity).

#ALW WUnited/SFC 4,039 at Allianz #ALW matches were attended by 11,222 at an average of 1,870 (7.36% of venue capacity). More than 108,000 people have attended #ALW standalone fixtures in 2023-24 at an average of 2,095 per game.

#ALM matches were attended by 36,203 at an average of 6,034 (16.95% of capacity). This is the second lowest total/average of the season behind round 6. 592,684 have attended the season to date at an average of 8,119.

It should be noted that the AFLs Gather Round was its lowest non bye round of the season.

Using the alternative metholdology (top attended match of the day and venue - 28,061 people attended #UniteRound at an average of 2,338 per match. The earlier method is the one now used by the AFL and NRL for Gather/Magic Round reporting. The latter is used

by @au_sport and others.

Attendance Data: http://aleagues.com.au, @joeylynchy
Capacity Data: http://austadiums.com (@au_sport)

View attachment 1887216

View attachment 1887217

That is a disaster. Not unexpected, but horrible. Is it a once off?

 

[weewilly]

Aussie heartbreak in 5hr epic but one holds on; awful act terrifies ballkid — Aus Open Day 1 wrap

Aussie heartbreak in 5hr epic but one holds on; awful act terrifies ballkid — Aus Open Day 1 wrap

www.foxsports.com.au

It has been a good summer of tennis. Hobart had its biggest crowds including a record for the final of 1.2K IIRC. The Aus Open want to break a million people through the gates of Melbourne Park in 15 days of action. They will need good weather and a deep run by Alex and Novak for that to happen.

The first Sunday was packed and I wouldn't be surprised if they were touching 100K for that day alone. They were shocked by the crowd size and most courts were too full. it will be interesting to see if that will impact crowds today, in what is usually the first day of the open.

Edit: attendance for the first day was 58,623 fans. I was a bit off. Guessing the lack of on court action numberwise made crowds look way bigger than what it was.

The first day day and night had a total 87,705 (not 58,623) and day two 81,472.

The Open barring shocking weather should easily break the 1 million mark this year and if as mooted they start on Saturday next year the crowd will only get bigger.

With all the extra activities for families and kids and many new food outlets I feel the the Open has taken the place of the former big drawing Royal Show as the biggest local event in Melbourne now.

 

[weewilly]

Not looking good for the A League going forward = another National Soccer League failure and it is no wonder with failing crowds and dismal TV ratings.

Half of APL’s workforce to be made redundant amid A-League financial concerns

Around 50 per cent of staff at the Australian Professional Leagues, which runs the men’s and women’s domestic soccer competitions, have lost or will lose their jobs this week.

www.theage.com.au

Half of APL’s workforce to be made redundant amid A-League financial concerns​

By Vince Rugari The Age SMH​

January 16, 2024 — 1.12pm

Almost half of the workforce behind the A-Leagues are set to be made redundant amid concerns over the finances and future of the breakaway organisation responsible for running domestic soccer in Australia.
According to multiple sources, who requested anonymity in order to speak freely, close to 50 per cent of the 80-odd workers at the Australian Professional Leagues, the body which runs the A-Leagues, have lost or will lose their jobs this week.

Almost half of the workforce behind the A-Leagues are set to be made redundant, sources have told this masthead.
The move will stabilise the APL in the short term, the sources said, but it raises serious concerns over the direction of the club-run entity, which has operated the A-Leagues since securing their hard-fought independence from Football Australia at the start of 2021.
As part of the “restructure”, sources have indicated that KeepUp, the APL’s digital and content arm which sat at the core of the organisation’s strategy under previous CEO Danny Townsend, will effectively be closed down.

“In the three years since unbundling, APL has implemented a strategy that has seen a period of rapid growth across our business,” an APL spokesperson said in a statement. “With the original three-year strategy coming to an end, a planned full strategic and commercial review has taken place over the last several months.
“The review has identified significant opportunities to create efficiencies through consolidation and this necessitates an organisational restructure that is now underway.

The writing was on the wall regarding the APL’s perilous financial position when the controversial grand final deal with Destination NSW, largely driven by Townsend, was signed in late 2022. Lederer said that the time that “commercial realities” were behind the wildly unpopular decision, and the backlash from supporters was so fierce that the agreement was scrapped and replaced at short notice with Unite Round,

The A-Leagues’ version of the NRL’s Magic Round and AFL’s Gather Round, which was held in Sydney this past weekend had a total of only 47,425 people that watched the 12 games played across the men’s and women’s competitions.

 

[BobbyMorri]

The first day day and night had a total 87,705 (not 58,623) and day two 81,472.

The Open barring shocking weather should easily break the 1 million mark this year ans if as mooted they start on Saturday next year the crowd will only get bigger.

With all the extra activities for families and kids and many new food outlets I feel the the Open has taken the place of the former big drawing Royal Show as the biggest local event in Melbourne now.

they can't really start on a Saturday.

It would kill the Hobart and Adelaide International, plus the Auckland tennis tournaments the week before. heck, it would also hurt the first week tournaments. A Saurday play means Qualies would have go into the first week, which would affect the draws of the Brisbane, Hong Kong Auckland and United Cup depending on how they organise it.

They also don't need to extend it even further. They have qualies from monday to Friday already. They are free to enter and they got 50K in those days total. Plus Kooyong Exibition in Melbourne itself. The feedback on Sunday that it was too crowded.

In saying that, Tiley will do whatever he thinks. But it would be a very bad move and one which would attract opposition from the ATP/WTA and the wider tennis community.

 

[Rob]

Not looking good for the A League going forward = another National Soccer League failure and it is no wonder with failing crowds and dismal TV ratings.

Half of APL’s workforce to be made redundant amid A-League financial concerns

Around 50 per cent of staff at the Australian Professional Leagues, which runs the men’s and women’s domestic soccer competitions, have lost or will lose their jobs this week.

www.theage.com.au

Half of APL’s workforce to be made redundant amid A-League financial concerns​

By Vince Rugari The Age SMH​

January 16, 2024 — 1.12pm

Almost half of the workforce behind the A-Leagues are set to be made redundant amid concerns over the finances and future of the breakaway organisation responsible for running domestic soccer in Australia.
According to multiple sources, who requested anonymity in order to speak freely, close to 50 per cent of the 80-odd workers at the Australian Professional Leagues, the body which runs the A-Leagues, have lost or will lose their jobs this week.

Almost half of the workforce behind the A-Leagues are set to be made redundant, sources have told this masthead.
The move will stabilise the APL in the short term, the sources said, but it raises serious concerns over the direction of the club-run entity, which has operated the A-Leagues since securing their hard-fought independence from Football Australia at the start of 2021.
As part of the “restructure”, sources have indicated that KeepUp, the APL’s digital and content arm which sat at the core of the organisation’s strategy under previous CEO Danny Townsend, will effectively be closed down.

“In the three years since unbundling, APL has implemented a strategy that has seen a period of rapid growth across our business,” an APL spokesperson said in a statement. “With the original three-year strategy coming to an end, a planned full strategic and commercial review has taken place over the last several months.
“The review has identified significant opportunities to create efficiencies through consolidation and this necessitates an organisational restructure that is now underway.

The writing was on the wall regarding the APL’s perilous financial position when the controversial grand final deal with Destination NSW, largely driven by Townsend, was signed in late 2022. Lederer said that the time that “commercial realities” were behind the wildly unpopular decision, and the backlash from supporters was so fierce that the agreement was scrapped and replaced at short notice with Unite Round,

The A-Leagues’ version of the NRL’s Magic Round and AFL’s Gather Round, which was held in Sydney this past weekend had a total of only 47,425 people that watched the 12 games played across the men’s and women’s competitions.

That's bizarre. Didn't they get $140 million from Silver Lake 2 years ago?

Maybe that's why this is happening. The pressure's on to run a tight ship and make profits.

 

[weewilly]

they can't really start on a Saturday.

It would kill the Hobart and Adelaide International, plus the Auckland tennis tournaments the week before. heck, it would also hurt the first week tournaments. A Saurday play means Qualies would have go into the first week, which would affect the draws of the Brisbane, Hong Kong Auckland and United Cup depending on how they organise it.

They also don't need to extend it even further. They have qualies from monday to Friday already. They are free to enter and they got 50K in those days total. Plus Kooyong Exibition in Melbourne itself. The feedback on Sunday that it was too crowded.

In saying that, Tiley will do whatever he thinks. But it would be a very bad move and one which would attract opposition from the ATP/WTA and the wider tennis community.

Probably only Craig Tiley kite flying - he is a very good operator after all!

 

[MelbourneGWS]

Seems NRL is looking at buying the English Super League

https://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/nrl-mulls-shock-plan-to-buy-super-league-after-record-700m-year/news-story/9dd18ec18e9948053c828a1e53640e81

 

[Chief]

NRL is looking at buying the English Super League

AKA Rupert Murdoch.

 

[stmookeyj]

That is a disaster. Not unexpected, but horrible. Is it a once off?

It was created as a substitute for having the GF permanently in Sydney, which got them offside with pretty much everyone outside of Sydney (especially Melbourne and to a lesser extent Wellington).

 

[MelbourneGWS]

Whilst ALeagues have found another production company, they still have a lot of issues

Global Advance’s demise is the latest blow for the APL, which has lost millions of dollars this season, resulting in the collapse of its digital arm KeepUp as well as nearly 50 per cent of staff being made redundant.

There are also doubts about the future of the Newcastle Jets and Canberra United.

https://www.news.com.au/sport/football/the-apl-will-sign-new-production-deal-following-the-collapse-of-global-advance/news-story/5c517e90a00fdb4eeb74ffb309b1eb80

 

[threenewpadlocks]

Whilst ALeagues have found another production company, they still have a lot of issues

Global Advance’s demise is the latest blow for the APL, which has lost millions of dollars this season, resulting in the collapse of its digital arm KeepUp as well as nearly 50 per cent of staff being made redundant.

There are also doubts about the future of the Newcastle Jets and Canberra United.

https://www.news.com.au/sport/football/the-apl-will-sign-new-production-deal-following-the-collapse-of-global-advance/news-story/5c517e90a00fdb4eeb74ffb309b1eb80

Not new news, though