The Hundred, after its postponed start, followed the double header model with the women’s and men’s franchise teams playing one after the other. The unity within clubs is apparent but most importantly, it has increased the crowds watching women’s cricket at a domestic level.
In 2022, the overall attendance reached over 500,000 – most of these fans arriving to watch the women’s game ahead of the men’s game. The average attendance taken at half way through the women’s matches was 10,400. This figure is significantly higher than the average attendance for many football Women’s Super League Clubs.
Recently, Tottenham Hotspur FC announced a ‘double header’ where Spurs men will face Brentford FC at 12.30pm and then Spurs women will play Reading women, with kick off set to be at 4.15pm.
A statement from the club read: ‘The Club is delighted to confirm we will host our first-ever Premier League/Barclays Women’s Super League (WSL) double-header at the Spurs Stadium on Saturday 20th May’.
The success that the double header format has had in cricket makes this decision seem valid and progressive. However, the successful model which the Hundred has used is far from the situation here.
Firstly, an issue which cricket had experienced with double headers, prior to the Hundred was the large gap between games. Fans would leave between games and not return because often gaps were a few hours – too long to spend in the stadium with no play.
If the first of two Hundred matches starts at 3pm, the second starts at 6.30. The toss would happen about 6pm, with atmosphere really building then. Realistically, this means that the gap between games is around an hour, often even less.
In the case of the Spurs double header, the gap will be almost two hours. Although the new stadium is packed with food and drink outlets, this is a significant amount of time for Spurs men’s fans to stay to watch Spurs women play.
Another issue that has come to light by fans. In the club’s statement it said that ‘all tickets for the Premier League fixture will now be inclusive of the WSL fixture, giving regular followers of our Men’s team a fantastic opportunity to make a day of it at the stadium and show their support for Spurs Women in what is set to be a crucial match in the fight for top-flight survival’.
The statement added that ‘further ticketing information for the WSL match, including how Women’s Season Ticket Holders can secure their ticket, will be communicated in due course’.
Fans – particularly those of the women’s team – have been left in the dark. Will they have to pay Premier League prices to watch their women’s team who normally they would not pay more than £10 to see regardless of the stadium?
This has been received by some fans as a demonstration of the ‘one club’ mentality. However, this seems to be a poorly planned decision which could end up ostracising regular attendees of the women’s games. This is an issue that the Hundred has avoided. From the start, one ticket costing on average about £15 for adults.
A recent development on the ticketing situation has created even more of a stir. Tickets solely for the women's game are unreserved seating and holders for the women's game will only be given access to the stadium from 3.15pm. However, those with tickets for the men's game can go to both. This means that in fact, it is not quite a double header - certainly for those who do not have tickets to see the men. Does this really fulfil that 'one club' mentality or has the women's game just been lumped on for the sake of it?
The final problem is that the match is in 15 days time. Women’s football journalist, Tom Garry, highlighted this on Twitter. He said ‘A #BarclaysWSL fixture has just been moved from its original date with 15 days notice. That feels like nowhere near enough notice for fans, not forgetting media and other stakeholders’.
Women’s football – particularly clubs lower down the table with smaller average attendances – could benefit from the double header model which has enjoyed so much success in women’s cricket. It has to be down right though. That comes from better planning and more than 15 days notice!
Comentarii