Fear of Success

[Matt_r]

My Thai is terrible.  Many of the fans I meet speak no English.  I love the fact that language doesn’t matter.  A beer shared and a conversation using a language that is mutually incomprehensible breaks down all the barriers when you know you are each sharing your passion for footy.  That’s why a small part of me jealously guards this situation.
More expats will undoubtedly get hooked, as we have.  Crowds will continue to expand and television will get more interested.  But, as I see executive boxes being built and car parks filling with expensive cars, a niggle at the back of my mind starts to build. What if we are pricing out the loyal Thai fans and moving to an aping of the English Premier League?
Maybe it is because things are happening just so quickly.  We are all on uncharted ground.  What I would hate to see is a separation of fans from the same team based only on whether they are Thai or non Thai.  Let’s immerse ourselves in everything Thai and follow their league, not try to create our own.  There will be mistakes along the way and frustrations with referees or changing kick off times, but that is part of the glorious journey we are now on. 

[SriRachaShark]

I don't think that there is much to worry about re pricing fans out of the game. And the amount of clubs with executive boxes, and people to fill them, will be few.

To be honest, I don't care who goes to the match - Thai, English, German or Martian. Football is a universal game and it shouldn't matter where you come from or how much you earn. We're extremely lucky here that admission to grounds is low enough to enable virtually everyone to go to many games - I've been to three in seven days, not something I could afford to do in England.

I think that FAT will be smart enough to realise that the key to filling grounds is by keeping ticket prices affordable.

We've discussed in another thread about what we consider to be a reasonable ticket price. I'll post the link when I can find it.

[SriRachaShark]

The discussion is here :

http://www.thaifootball.com/webboard/index.php?topic=20.50

Reply #60 onwards.

[vitocorleone]

i did agree with SRS that Football is a universal game..

However, Thai Leauge is just starting to booming as in this year!!! everything is faster and faster which even Thai Premoer Leauge Company doesn't prepare for many things..

Even English Premier League has to take over 100 years to build the fans and be a part of their life but Thai doesn't, just a few...

At BKK stadium, i saw many expat their to cheer BKK United and they are very friendly between thai fan and them...you can check from BKK United website, first page, they posted expat clip on..

[Vinnie]

However, Thai Leauge is just starting to booming as in this year!!! everything is faster and faster which even Thai Premoer Leauge Company doesn't prepare for many things..

Even English Premier League has to take over 100 years to build the fans and be a part of their life but Thai doesn't, just a few...

I agree. There will be mistakes along the way but Thai league football is entering a golden age.

[SriRachaShark]

This is not intended as a criticism or as a "I was a Punk before you were a Punk" type boast but I'm genuinely interested in the reply. What were all these new converts doing on Saturday and Sunday (and Wednesday!!) afternoons prior to this season?

For years I've watched matches in virtually empty stadiums but all of a sudden the same grounds are packed to the rafters. Where has everyone come from?

Don't get me wrong, I much prefer it this way. I'm just curious.

I'd be particularly interested to read what a lot of the new fans who post on here have to say.

[Vinnie]

It's an interesting one. I suspect many will say that they weren't aware of the league or the clubs until recently but then again neither was I when I first started coming to Thailand which is why I made it my business to find out. That's why I wrote the slightly facetious "what's wrong with Bangkok Bravo?" comment in the Bangkok Utd thread. 

[vitocorleone]

About Bangkok Bravo, i have no idea why they are not do promote or even let people knows, they established before BKK United and also they are orginally Bangkok team. But u know that we have another "Bangkok" under the name of "Bangkok" still playing in D2.

I thing that bangkok is a big city that why they have many team and also able to use "Bangkok" word in their team... also as i was at BKK United game, i saw many players from Bangkok Bravo watched that game then i myself think that maybe they should be a affiliate team

[Vinnie]

I guess that could happen. Frankly, there are two many teams from Bangkok in the league. This isn't some anti-Bangkok sentiment from someone who spends all his time in the provinces (although, I do). I just think there are far too many teams from the capital, which causes a problem for those teams as the potentially vast number of supporters are spread over 25-odd clubs (I think there are about 25 teams from the city itself in the TPL, Div 1 and, of course, Div 2: Bangkok. That figure doesn't include those that are virtually in Bangkok like Samut Prakan and TTM). I can't offer a solution. One can't force clubs out of business or force then to merge but the quantity of teams from the capital is an issue.

[vitocorleone]

umm i agree with Vinnie, bangkok has many teams in TPL, D1 and D2 and also it has to take time for province teams to grow up and promote to higher and higher leauge position. I believe they do!!! they have many supporters just like Chonburi, Nakornpratom, Rachanave Rayong or TTM and also next year Osotsapa will locate at SarBuri. They are growing up and up and i'm delight to see our Football better and better...

[wolfman]

This is not intended as a criticism or as a "I was a Punk before you were a Punk" type boast but I'm genuinely interested in the reply. What were all these new converts doing on Saturday and Sunday (and Wednesday!!) afternoons prior to this season?

For years I've watched matches in virtually empty stadiums but all of a sudden the same grounds are packed to the rafters. Where has everyone come from?

Don't get me wrong, I much prefer it this way. I'm just curious.

I'd be particularly interested to read what a lot of the new fans who post on here have to say.

When I first moved here in late 1999, the league was Bangkok based - I wasn't. The only games I watched in those 18 months were one the local Rajabhat played, and a local provincial side taking on a team of TV stars other assorted celebrities. I wasn't really aware of other games going on.
In a year in the UK, I went to one Cambridge Utd match (v Wigan in what is now League One [or was it Two?])
I attended about a dozen K-League games in 2002-03, and a couple of World Cup games.
When I lived here in 2004, I didn't really think about the Thai league, as I assumed the status quo remained. Went to Thailand v Germany though.
Nothing in 2005
Between 2006-2008 I was a season ticket holder at a K-League club, and went on a number of away trips with the fans. I also attended the Asian Cup in Thailand.
I returned to Thailand last year, discovered the revamped league, and got to 3 games and a cup tie and an international.
So far in 2010, have been to maybe a dozen or so TPL, Div 1, Cup and AFC games, plus an international.

[bon-nirnam]

Thai Football League began sometime ago and play amongst Banks and other government subsidised agencies. It meant to promote their business by business names exposure. Those agency are considered rather elite ones so they are something general public can identify themselves with. This resulting in club football being a closed market attended and supported by workers within those agencies only or outside who admired and wish to work for them at best. I am talking about when Chonburi, Glass Organization and Osotsapa were the new bread while Bec Tero has yet to conceive and Tobacco Mono., was only good for BKK Metro Cup.