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The Rational Ref | Why inaugural Hong Kong Premier League seems like more of the same

With the inaugural Premier League over, it's like nothing's different - but let's wait before judging

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Kitchee Fernando Recio stumbles in a clash against South China's Nakamura Yuto during a Hong Kong Premier League match at Mong Kok Stadium. Photo: Felix Wong

It was the year when professionalism came to Hong Kong soccer, when more money than ever was invested, and when everything would be better. So how did the inaugural 2014-15 Hong Kong Premier League play out?

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As with any stakeholder of a business organisation, progress is seen through publicly available results and measured by revenue or other key performance indicators.

By looking at the facts and figures - available from the HKFA website - we know there were nine teams in the BOCG Life Hong Kong Premier League that played 72 league matches with an average attendance of 1,047. Television coverage was also available on ATV's free-to-air channels, albeit mostly broadcast in the early hours of the morning.

Kitchee usually spend more than HK$20 million per season and other teams in the Premier League cannot compete. Photo: K.Y.Cheng
Kitchee usually spend more than HK$20 million per season and other teams in the Premier League cannot compete. Photo: K.Y.Cheng

Compared with the previous season, 12 teams competed in the RedMR Hong Kong First Division. However, due to match-fixing allegations midway through that season, Happy Valley and Tuen Mun were suspended, so officially 10 teams played 90 matches. The average crowd attendance was 933. Matches were also broadcast live, and repeated, by subscription-based company NOW TV.

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In terms of attendance figures, there was a 12 per cent increase, but the HKFA and clubs can do more to encourage fans, youth players, family members, community groups and the underprivileged to attend matches.

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