And this is allowing for them still being in contention for the finals
my my .... this on top of the Crows , Port ... the Eagles ... Dockers.. Lions , the Suns very average reception on the GC in comparison to the Titans first year
it seems the only place boggerball isn't stinking up the joint is Victoria
& we all know theres something massively wrong with that lot
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/ ... 6117017064
THE Sydney Swans are facing up to $500,000 ticketing revenue shortfall in 2011 because of a massive 15 per cent drop in crowds - leading the club to their worst average attendances in almost a decade.
Sydney's average home crowd in 2011 is 26,669, which is only marginally stronger than their 26,614 figure in 2002 and the first time in nine years the Swans have dipped below the 30,000 mark.
With almost 4000 fewer fans per game this year the Swans are counting the cost of a year of indifferent form, a poor home record and some horrendous Sydney weather.
With more rain forecast ahead of Sunday's St Kilda clash at ANZ Stadium the Swans are cursing their luck which has seen them suffer through the wettest July in more than 60 years, two blockbuster washouts and a clash with the royal wedding.
Swans CEO Andrew Ireland said the low crowds were not such a financial nightmare given pre-sales were usually strong and many empty seats belonged to paid ticketed members.
"It is just one of those years and it's driving everyone nuts," said Ireland.
"The part that is probably most galling is that sales early in the season were really strong and in fact we got very close to budget in our sales even though it was wet.
"It was more what it might have been had it not rained.
"The Carlton game we think we would have nearly sold out had it not rained.
"We don't think those people are lost to us."
Sydney's last SCG game against Western Bulldogs was the lowest attended game at the stadium since 2002.
Two Sunday afternoon games have been tested at ANZ Stadium in 2011 but the first instalment, against Essendon in round two, produced the worst regular season crowd at the Olympic venue, with 28,082 fans.While poor weather can help explain the 15 per cent drop in crowds, there is no logical reason behind Sydney's small drop in ticketed membership from 28,671 in 2010 to just 27,106 in 2011.
Sydney were one of seven AFL clubs to record a membership drop this year, which must be concerning to all involved in the game ahead of the GWS arrival next season.
So the question must be asked: Are Sydney's just fair- weather football fans?
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