Tuesday, July 05, 2016
Indonesian Crowds Fall Over Fasting Month
Arema 15,320
Bali United 10,889
Barito Putera 4,883
Bhayangkara Surabaya United 5,721
Madura United 5,269
Mitra Kukar 6,707
Gresik United 10,093
Persela 8,086
Perseru 4,641
Persib 19,741
Persiba 3,699
Persija 43,416
Persipura 10,378
PS TNI 6,680
PSM 9,772
Pusamania 3,257
Semen Padang 6,175
Sriwijaya 14,563
Notes
Madura United average for four games. I have found no attendance for home game v Persiba
Gresik United average does not include alleged 1,200 PS TNI fans who entered without paying
Persija average for three games. I have found no attendance for home game v Sriwijaya
Persib played first three home games at Si Jalak Harapat, two at GBLA Stadium
PS TNI played two home games at Siliwangi Stadium, two at Pakansari Stadium
Two lowest average attendances are from teams in East Kalimantan
Crowds across the Indonesia Soccer Championship fell off drastically over the fasting month. For example Arema's last two home games saw a combined 15,167 attend the games while 47,000+ attended their first two home games of the season.
From an opening day high of 8,178 v BS United, Barito Putera have seen their attendances decline in every home game before reaching the lowest, 2,037, last time out v Perseru. And yet they are the great entertainers with their nine games featuring 34 goals.
Persipura's first game of the season saw 21,000 watch them play Persija. Their third home game saw 2,500 for their local derby v Perseru!
Credit to PSM and Persela fans who have continued to support their team in numbers despite poor starts to the season.
Nearly 30,000 saw Arema host BS United in their second home game of the season. Last time out, against Semen Padang, just 5,021 turned out. For the table toppers!
The average crowd on Match Day 3 was 14,524. Last weekend, Match Day 9, saw an average of
5,404 watch games across the country despite the likes of Arema, Persib and Sriwijaya playing at home.
Given the fall off in attendances over the fasting month, despite the later kick offs, the organisers may want to reconsider the idea of playing in Ramadan. Many fans have their eyes on other matters during the fasting month and last weekend, Match Day 9, saw many Indonesians setting off for their home villages.
It is a tough shout. The ISC may have thought by allowing the games to continue as normal clubs could at least have some cash flow through what is traditionally an expensive month but then the ISC B stopped and Malaysia also halts the league. Would it be better to stop the football for the last two weeks of Ramadan and the holiday after?
# posted by Me @ 11:39 AM 
