Okay, the user is asking why the Suzhou Super League (苏超) has a higher attendance rate than the Chinese Super League (中超). Let me go through the search results I have to find the key reasons.
First, looking at the data, SuCha's average attendance in the fourth round was 25,802, surpassing the Chinese Super League's average of 24,756. That's a significant difference. The articles mention several factors contributing to this phenomenon.
One major factor is the low ticket prices. SuCha teams like连云港 and 宿迁 offer free tickets, while others like 南通 and 徐州 charge only 1 yuan. Even bigger cities like 南京 have tickets as low as 30 yuan. This affordability draws huge crowds, especially when compared to中超's higher prices - Beijing Guoan's cheapest ticket is 260 yuan. The cheap tickets act as a "traffic hook," similar to free eggs given to retirees, to get people in the door.
The tournament's structure also plays a role. It's branded as江苏省城市足球联赛, pitting different cities against each other. This "one city, one team" approach creates strong local rivalries and gives fans a sense of urban identity. The "江苏十三太保" meme has been cleverly used in marketing, generating buzz on social media.
There's also a strong cultural and tourism integration. Matches are scheduled during peak tourism seasons, with special train services and local food markets around the stadiums. For example, in Huai'an, they set up a festival-like market with local snacks. This transforms a football match into a full day-out experience for families.
From the funding side, SuCha attracted 19 sponsors quickly, including big names like JD.com and KFC, totaling around 50 million yuan. This financial backing allows them to maintain low ticket prices while still making money through ancillary consumption.
In contrast, the Chinese Super League has higher operational costs and relies more on ticket sales. Their fan base is concentrated in a few strong teams like Dalian and Beijing, whereas SuCha has more balanced attendance across all matches. Also, SuCha benefits from government support, being part of Jiangsu's cultural development plans.
The media coverage difference is stark too. SuCha leveraged trending topics and social media effectively, while中超 has broader but more scattered coverage. The amateur nature of SuCha also gives it a "grassroots" appeal that resonates in today's digital age.
Putting it all together, SuCha's success comes from smart pricing, cultural relevance, tourism integration, strong sponsorship, and social media savviness. It shows how a regional league can thrive by understanding its local context, unlike the more commercialized top-tier league.
