The article discusses the Saudi Women's Premier League (SWPL) and its current state. The league, which was established in 2022, is facing challenges in terms of attendance and fan engagement. The article highlights that attendances are sparse, with most stadiums having a capacity less than 15,000, and that there is a lack of community initiatives to get children attending games with their families.
The article also mentions that the league has made progress in terms of infrastructure and facilities, with many clubs having adapted to the arrival of women's football since 2023. However, it notes that there is still much work to be done to improve the standard of play and attract more fans.
One player quoted in the article, Ellen White, reflects on the challenges faced by women's football in Saudi Arabia, saying: "We don't have many fans... I think it's because we're still developing the game and we need more people to come and watch us."
The article concludes by noting that hosting a Women's World Cup in the near future is unlikely due to the current state of the league. Instead, it suggests that a more realistic approach would be to focus on improving the standard of play and building a strong foundation for women's football in Saudi Arabia.
Overall, the article provides an insightful look at the challenges faced by the SWPL and highlights the need for continued investment and support to improve the game and attract more fans.
The article also mentions that the league has made progress in terms of infrastructure and facilities, with many clubs having adapted to the arrival of women's football since 2023. However, it notes that there is still much work to be done to improve the standard of play and attract more fans.
One player quoted in the article, Ellen White, reflects on the challenges faced by women's football in Saudi Arabia, saying: "We don't have many fans... I think it's because we're still developing the game and we need more people to come and watch us."
The article concludes by noting that hosting a Women's World Cup in the near future is unlikely due to the current state of the league. Instead, it suggests that a more realistic approach would be to focus on improving the standard of play and building a strong foundation for women's football in Saudi Arabia.
Overall, the article provides an insightful look at the challenges faced by the SWPL and highlights the need for continued investment and support to improve the game and attract more fans.
. I thought it was gonna be a slam dunk for women's football in Saudi Arabia, but I guess there's still work to be done 
. But, on a brighter note, at least they're making progress on the infrastructure side - that's something to build on! 
And who knows, maybe Ellen White is right and more fans will come once the game improves? 
We should also give credit to the players who are paving the way for future generations of female footballers. It's not gonna be easy, but I'm optimistic about Saudi Arabia's football future 
I feel so bad for the Saudi Women's Premier League (SWPL) right now! Like, I know it was only established in 2022 but you'd think it would have a bigger following by now 
. It's crazy that most stadiums are under 15k capacity - where's the energy?! 
And yeah Ellen White makes some valid points about needing more fans to develop the game... like, I know Saudi Arabia has invested in infrastructure and facilities but standard play needs work too 
Maybe focusing on building up the foundation of women's football first is the way to go? Like, let's get the basics down before we start aiming for big goals 
.
It seems like we're focusing on the symptoms rather than the root cause of the problem. What if instead of trying to lure in fans with empty seats and lackluster games, we were investing in programs that taught girls how to play football in the first place? 
That's where the real growth happens, you know? And what about Ellen White's comment... "we're still developing the game"? Yeah, I feel like that's a pretty diplomatic way of saying it. We need to stop pretending like we already have it figured out and start acknowledging the struggles. 
. I mean, it's been like two years since the league started and still, attendance is super low? Like, we know women's football is gaining traction globally, so why not Saudi Arabia too?! It's gotta be tough for the players and clubs to keep going when no one shows up 
They're doing some cool stuff with the infrastructure and all, but it's just not enough right now.
. The fact that most stadiums only hold 15k people is pretty low 
. I mean, 15k capacity is basically empty seats 
. And honestly, I think Ellen White hits the nail on the head when she says we need more fans to develop the game 
. I think they need to focus on building that grassroots thing and making women's football more accessible to everyone, not just the few who already care 
.
It's all about the community, you know? Making it fun for families to watch games together. That's where the real magic happens 
.
. Maybe it's not the best idea to host a World Cup just yet... let's focus on building a solid foundation first? 
. I guess the thing is, women's football still needs to get out there and raise awareness - like, let's face it, most people aren't even aware it exists... 
It's all about building a community, you know? Getting the kids involved, making it fun for families... that kind of thing 
. Let's focus on building a solid foundation first, and then we can start talking about big-time tournaments 
. It's all about taking it one step at a time and seeing what works for us here. 
. It's like they're trying to light a fire without fueling it 
.
. With time, patience, and our support, they can turn things around and make the SWPL shine 
!
.
.
.
. I mean, I know women's football is still kinda new in Saudi Arabia, but 15k capacity stadiums? That's like, not even a full house for most US NFL games 
. And Ellen White saying they need more fans? Yeah no kidding 
i mean i'm all for empowering women and sports and all that but 15k capacity stadiums is kinda meh lol like what's the point if no one shows up 
anyway i heard some of these clubs have been doing community initiatives to get families involved but like, that's not enough yet 
maybe with more investment & community initiatives they can get more fans & improve the game 