Malaga has just under 13,000 subscribers. A figure quite far from the 20,000 that was proposed as a goal. In a city with 550,000 inhabitants there are only 2.3 fans with a subscription. The total number of people living in the province is 1.6 million, which brings the percentage of cards to 1.3.
Why does Malaga have so few subscribers? Analyzing the possible causes, we cannot attribute it to the lack of fidelity with the colors. The Blue and White fans have suffered in recent years a shameful descent to Second, the painful management of Abdullah Al Thani, a judicial intervention of the club, warnings of administrative relegation or two seasons with only 17 and 18 professional chips settled with miraculous permanence. And to top it all, the coronavirus pandemic from which we are slowly emerging, but which has changed habits and ways of life.
And it is at this point where we must stop. For more than a year the games have been played behind closed doors. Many fans, to help the club, decided to waive the refund of the season ticket. Málaga had to reinvent itself and innovate with formulas that attracted people despite the circumstances.
But going back to a football stadium, for the moment, has too many obstacles. Unexpected seat changes, social distance, the annoying and mandatory use of an FP2 mask as an added expense in family units, you can no longer eat or sandwiches in the stands and getting up to go to the toilets is quite an adventure. Not to mention the difficulty of accessing the stadium. Almost impossible to park in the surroundings and queues to access.
Fertilizer prices cannot be said to be expensive. The club has made an effort. But still it is not easy for families with three, four or five members in these times of crisis. It is not easy to be a subscriber at the same time for Málaga, Unicaja, Costa del Sol for handball and having to pay every month to watch football on Movistar TV.
If we analyze the tickets to La Rosaleda since the return of the spectators was allowed, we verify that they are not bad despite the circumstances. 6,519 against Mirandés, 6,884 against Alcorcón, 11,108 with Girona, 12,831 on the day of Fuenlabrada, 15,901 against Zaragoza and 14,980 against Lugo. ANDn total 68,223 people. Many of the tickets that have been dispatched have been paid. That is to say. People want to see Málaga and surely when the rules to be in a sports venue are less rigid and the team maintains its good feelings, there will be more subscribers.
Zaragoza, 22,000 subscribers.
Zaragoza is the Second team with the most subscribers. They are 22,000 in a city with a similar number of inhabitants to Malaga. Valladolid has 18,017 and Sporting, around 18,000. Oviedo has 15,000 Las Palmas exceeds 11,000 and Almería, 10,000 as well as Tenerife. Leganés is around 8,300 for Girona’s 9,000. Huesca has 8,100 with just 50,000 inhabitants. Or the 2,000 from Mirandés in a town with 35,000 inhabitants or the 3,500 from Lugo.
In other categories, there is the case of Deportivo, which has 17,000 subscribers in Primera RFEF. Córdoba has exceeded 8,000 in Second RFEF. The Recreativo thing is incredible. More than 9,000 in Third RFEF, the fifth category of Spanish football. Málaga hopes to continue engaging its fans to reach the dream figure of 20,000 mentioned above.