Women's Soccer WK League Leaves Ji So-yeon, But the Goal is still 'Box Office Success'
Coach Yoon Deok-yeo says, "It's time for us to do our part to attract many fans."
Suggestions to each team's coaches regarding ways to increase box office success, such as paying spectators and weekend games.
“Now we are in a situation where we have to play our part so that many people can come to the stadium, said Yoon Deok-yeo, coach of Sejong Sports Toto, a women’s professional soccer WK league, at the opening of the ‘Divellon WK League 2024’ held at the Soccer Center in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 12th.
At Media Day, it was suggested that it was time for the league to aim for ‘box office success’” 바카라사이트
In addition to Coach Yoon, the coaches of the seven teams who visited the site that day also agreed that we should look for ways to make the league a success in earnest.
The biggest positive news that recently came to the WK League was the joining of women's soccer star Ji So-yeon (Seattle Reign).
Ji So-yeon said she played for Chelsea in the English Women's Super League and then came to Korea to revive the WK League in 2022.
However, ahead of the opening of this season, Ji So-yeon left for the U.S. women's professional soccer team.
With the departure of Ji So-yeon, who she thought would be a huge hit, the concerns of the Korean Women's Football Federation, which runs the WK League, have deepened.
The head coach of each team heading into the 2024 season pointed out that ‘the league will continue’ even without Ji So-yeon.
Suwon FC coach Park Gil-young, who sent Ji So-yeon away, said, "Ji So-yeon cried a lot during the farewell party.
It was because she had a lot of regrets from last year's season," and added, "It would be a lie if I said (Ji So-yeon's departure) was not a problem."
At the same time, he emphasized that even if Ji So-yeon leaves, the 'paid spectator' policy implemented by Suwon FC should continue.
Suwon FC has been accepting paid spectators since 2022 under the pretext of developing women's soccer and improving the viewing environment.
Coach Park said, “When it was a free audience, the fans left midway through the game.
When it was a paid audience, I felt like I was playing with the fans.”
He added, “The paid spectator policy must be spread so that everyone can take responsibility and try to play a better game.”
Coach Park believed that the club’s own efforts, such as public relations, were also important.
He explained, "We have men's and women's teams together.
No matter how good the players are, if the fans don't know about them, they won't come to the stadium.
When they play men's games, they do a good job of promoting them.
I think publicity is very important."
Coach Yoon said, "Good performance is important, but there are tasks such as publicizing it through the media.
This is not just a problem for the players and coaches.
The same goes for the Korea Women's Football Federation, the reporters here, and the fans when we are together.
“I think people will come to the playground more,” he said.
At the same time, he emphasized, "Ultimately, we have to arouse the interest of fans," and "It is our responsibility to ensure that those who have come once continue to come."
Yoo Young-sil, coach of Seoul City Hall, said, "There are parts where the speed is slower than men's soccer, but there is a cute charm unique to women's soccer.
If you feel that charm, you will want to come watch the game again."
At the same time, he said, “I have something I would like to carefully convey to the chairman of the Seoul City Hall team supporters.
Last year’s home game performance was not good, and I and the players did our best, but I am disappointed and sorry that it did not meet expectations.”
“I want to show it to you.
I hope you will come and support me this year,” he added.
The ‘weekend games’ implemented by the K League are the dream of the WK League.
The situation is different from the K-League, where each club has its own stadium, so it is difficult to regularly schedule weekend games.
This season, out of 28 rounds, there will be three weekend games and three public holiday games.
Kim Eun-sook, coach of Incheon Hyundai Steel, a representative team that has won 11 consecutive championships, said, "It's good for us if we do it on the weekend.
Our families can come to the stadium.
We are the only ones using Incheon Namdong Stadium, but unfortunately, we are not the only ones using it.
Rugby games are held there." said.
He added, “We were told by the club that a format like a weekend game would be difficult to operate.”
Mungyeong Sangmu's Coach Lee Mi-yeon said, "I know that it is quite difficult for teams in the metropolitan area due to the stadium conditions," but added, "We need to try games this year on weekends and check for any problems that appear.
It would be good to think about whether crowding in crowds is actually possible and how to do it.
“It’s the same,” he said.