No Ronaldo, no audience

On August 19, the stadium in Causeway Bay exploded into a sea of people, 30,000 spectators crammed together to catch a glimpse of one of the world’s biggest football icons. But just 24 hours later, the scene was in stark contrast: sparse stands, sporadic sound, and an atmosphere that was unbelievably bland for a tournament that had been heavily promoted.

The Ronaldo Effect - The Difference That Can't Be Hidden

Ronaldo’s appeal was expected, but the large gap between the two days shows that the tournament has yet to escape his shadow. On the day Ronaldo is present, the whole city is in a festival, with barriers, crowds and the yellow and green shirts of Al-Nassr covering every corner. On the day Ronaldo is absent, the barriers are just “remnants”, and the audience is so small that people can doubt whether there will be any match going on.

The organizers initially announced that there were more than 20,000 people, then adjusted it down to more than 16,000, but the actual number in the stadium was only a few thousand. That number not only reflects the "difference" between the report and reality, but also shows that the tournament is still relying too much on the image of a single star.

In the stands, only about 50 enthusiastic Al-Ahli fans kept the real football atmosphere, with drums and loudspeakers. Without them, the silence was enough to hear the calls in the stadium. The rest of the stands were almost deserted, a heartbreaking contrast to the “Ronaldo fever” of the previous day.

On the pitch, the match was quickly decided. Al-Ahli, with their multi-million pound stars such as Mahrez, Ivan Toney and Mendy, were simply too strong for the inexperienced Al-Qadsiah. After just 31 minutes, the scoreboard was 3-1. The first half ended with a 4-1 gap, with Christopher Bonsu Baah sent off. In the second half, Nacho Fernandez's own goal only deepened Al-Qadsiah's disappointment.

The second semi-final of the Saudi Arabian Super Cup was played behind closed doors.

It is worth noting that the audience came to the stadium today not only for football. Some people flew in from Khobar to cheer and hope for a miracle for Al-Qadsiah. Some came from Jeddah, but the main purpose was to attend business meetings in Guangzhou, conveniently combining it with watching football and then returning if the home team reached the final. Football, here, seemed to have become an “additional entertainment” to work.

It’s an interesting look at how Saudi Arabian football is exporting its image. But if the audience comes for the commercial rather than the passion, is the message the tournament is trying to send intact?

The difference between “star” and “collective”

Al-Ahli have clearly shown their superiority, and it is no wonder they are considered the leading candidate for the championship. But the bigger question lies off the field: How can this tournament survive without a name like Ronaldo?

The image of a student from Shenzhen sharing that he gave his Ronaldo ticket to his friend, and only went to the next match to watch Mahrez, is a clear proof. Ronaldo is still the only focus that can attract audiences from the mainland, while other stars, no matter how high-class, are still just "supporting roles" in the eyes of many Asian fans.

The Saudi Pro League and Saudi Arabian clubs have spent big to bring the tournament to the world. Hong Kong was chosen as the destination not only to promote it, but also to test its appeal. And reality is showing a lesson: sustainable appeal cannot depend on one individual, even if that person is Ronaldo.

With Ronaldo there, it's like a festival.

If they want the audience to come to the stadium for the tournament itself, the organizers need to build a stronger collective brand, create entertainment value and a competitive spirit that is attractive enough. Otherwise, the days without Ronaldo will continue to witness the same cold, deserted scene as the second semi-final.

Al-Ahli’s 5-1 win over Al-Qadsiah can easily be forgotten, with only a harsh comparison to the day before. A tournament that wants to go global cannot depend on a single superstar. The Saudi Arabian Super Cup in Hong Kong, over two days of contrast, exposed that truth clearly.

Source: https://znews.vn/khong-ronaldo-khong-khan-gia-post1578790.html