John GrochowskiSerie A’s ageing stadiums are crowded with seats empty during many of their fixtures. This has a direct effect on the market value of TV rights, which is in turn affecting Serie A’s appeal to the international market.
What is the time frame to reverse this trend? Let’s take a look at the underlying causes and possible solution.
League Table
The Serie A standings reflect the twenty teams currently competing within the top division of Italian football. The league was created in 1929, and it is the most prestigious of Italy’s national football leagues. The team that ranks first in the Serie A table is crowned champion of Italy and awarded the coveted Scudetto. The league briefly reverted to regional structures following World War II before returning to the current structure.
Four teams in the top 4 of Serie A qualify directly for the Champions League group stage. The fifth-placed team and the winners at the Coppa Italia (if not already a Serie A participant) also qualify for Group Stage.
The league is known for its tactical style of play and its emphasis on defence However, there have been accusations of being overly physical and not producing the best players on the planet. In spite of this, it has been home to some of the world’s most well-known names in football like Diego Maradona, Michel Platini, and Marco Van Basten.
Impact of Standings on Fan Attendance
The 2022-2023 season of the Serie A (officially Serie A TIM due to sponsorship) located in Italy was the most prestigious league for Italian soccer clubs. The winner of the league is awarded the prized scudetto, and is eligible for qualifying for the UEFA Champions League. Teams that finish in the bottom three are automatically relegated into Serie B.
Other than relegation or scudetto The list of variables which influence fan-attendance during the season. Some of these determinants are more impactful in comparison to others.
The most notable instance of this is the impact of home win probability on fan attendance. This is a significant factor for the East/West, Ultras as well as the Away sector and suggests that fans in the area tend to be attracted by games that have more likely home wins.
Serie A Title Races
Last season, Serie A produced one of the most exciting, thrilling championship races ever seen of European soccer. The winners were announced at the beginning of the Bundesliga, La Liga and Ligue 1, Milan, Inter and Napoli were legitimate contenders to win the Scudetto during the course of the season.
Inter are two points clear of the reigning champions Juventus following a good debut to the campaign that featured a 5-0 rout of city counterparts Milan at the weekend. The victory has prompted reports in Italy’s top-flight papers saying that the league could be in the midst of a race between Simone Izaghi’s Inter as well as Massimiliano Allegri’s Juve.
The top four teams in Serie A qualify directly for the Champions League, while the team that finishes fifth, or winning the Coppa Italia, or a sixth-placed team (depending on the methodology used by UEFA to rank teams) will be eligible to play vo dich quoc gia y in this stage of the Europa League group stage. Teams finishing lower than the relegation zone are relegated into Serie B. The playoffs took place when teams were tied on points in positions that would decide whether they would be promoted or not.
Challenges in Serie A Fan Attendance
While the idea of a Super League has been mooted as part of the cure for Serie A’s ill health however, it is likely to be more harmful than helpful. The impact would be catastrophic for other clubs, reducing their valuation which could cause them to be even worse off.
The problem is not confined the area of Serie A, however. The issue is prevalent across Europe and can be attributed to numerous problems. Like former Italy director Arrigo Sacchi pointed out in a column published in today’s Gazzetta Dello Sport, the situation is too complicated to pin it on a sole reason. Sacchi mentions stadiums that are “tired, obsolete, inhospitable and structured like the Colosseum” as well as an increasing presence of violent, racist Ultras who make life miserable for those who enjoy moderate fandom and “never have a place in civilized Europe”.
This means that average spectators are turning away towards Italian football. This is an outrage and a significant blow to the league’s standing.