A-Leagues ‘drinks breaks’ for ads are a killjoy but so is the football they interrupt | Joey Lynch
20-Feb-2022 16:30:08 | The Guardian
Seeing a game deliberately paused for the benefit of an advertiser is a new one even for long-suffering supporters
When does keeping a low profile transition into being forgotten? How much are supporters willing to endure? Can you promote your way into a good product? After a week in which it felt like several tipping points were reached at once, these appear to be the metaphysical predicaments confronting the A-Leagues and its handlers, the Australian Professional Leagues.
On Wednesday, the latest symbolic reminder of said malaise was delivered in Sydney’s west at a stadium devoid of fans, colour or atmosphere for Western Sydney Wanderers’ 2-0 A-League Men win over Melbourne Victory. In previous years, this fixture was a bewitching spectacle which consumed supporters and neutrals alike and drove the 22 men on the field to strive for more. But mid-week, two of the league’s most well-supported clubs could attract only 4,231 fans to attend a contest reports described as an “ordeal”. The Wanderers are bad right now, but not that bad.
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