FOOTBALL VIEWING CENTRES STRUGGLE AS RISING COSTS, MOBILE STREAMING SHRINK PATRONAGE. (PHOTO).

 Football Viewing Centres Struggle as Rising Costs, Mobile Streaming Shrink Patronage

Once vibrant hubs of football fandom across Nigeria, viewing centres that brought communities together to watch major football matches are facing an uncertain future as rising fuel prices, increasing pay-TV subscription costs, and the growing popularity of mobile streaming continue to erode patronage.

Operators in different parts of the country told Saturday PUNCH that businesses which once attracted large crowds and generated significant profits have witnessed sharp declines in attendance, leaving many struggling to stay afloat while others have shut down completely.

In Ibafo, Ogun State, football viewing centre operator Jide Ojo recalled how his centre was once packed with football lovers who gathered to watch English Premier League and UEFA Champions League matches.

According to him, securing a seat during major fixtures was once difficult due to the large turnout of fans. However, attendance has dropped significantly in recent years.

“When I started, I could get an average attendance of about 20 people. But now, attendance has dropped to a very low level. The difference is much if you compare it to the past,” Ojo said.

He attributed the decline to soaring operational costs, particularly fuel and television subscription fees. Ojo noted that petrol prices had risen from about N124 per litre to over N1,300 per litre, while the cost of subscribing to premium sports channels had also increased substantially.

“Two years ago, we were paying around N13,900 for DStv Premium and about N3,500 for Extra View. Now, if you want to subscribe to DStv Premium with Extra View, you’re paying around N52,000,” he said.

The operator explained that while viewing fees had increased from less than N100 per match to N400, dwindling attendance had significantly reduced profitability. He said his monthly earnings now average between N40,000 and N45,000 before maintenance and other operating expenses.

A similar experience was shared by Lagos-based operator Ezekiel Adenekan, who lamented the drastic reduction in patronage at his centre in Agege.

“There was a time when people used to come here hours before matches to reserve seats. Now the chairs are empty, and I barely get customers,” he said.

According to Adenekan, monthly profits that previously ranged between N100,000 and N200,000 have fallen to below N50,000 due to rising operational expenses and reduced customer turnout.

In Kano State, viewing centre operator Aliyu Abu also reported a sharp decline in attendance, saying major football fixtures that once attracted large crowds now draw only a handful of viewers.

“Even on Champions League nights, you can count the viewers on your fingers,” he said, describing the situation as painful for operators who once depended on the business for income.

Some operators have already exited the business.

A former viewing centre operator in Ibadan, Oyo State, Habeeb Oladehinde, said he shut down his centre before the start of the 2025 English Premier League season after years of mounting losses.

Oladehinde said the centre previously attracted between 150 and 200 viewers and generated profits of between N30,000 and N65,000 on busy weekends.

However, rising fuel costs and subscription fees, combined with declining attendance, made the business unsustainable.

“By the time I closed, even Champions League matches had started having fewer than 20 people despite charging N400 per head. There were days my total revenue was barely N8,000, yet I spent more than N10,000 on fuel, electricity, and subscriptions on a match day,” he said.

In Abia State, another former operator, Ifeanyi Uchendu, blamed the collapse of his viewing centre largely on the migration of football fans to mobile streaming platforms.

Uchendu said attendance at his centre dropped by more than 85 per cent between 2016 and 2024, despite increasing viewing fees several times.

“Many fans switched to watching matches on their phones, so I was left with almost nothing,” he said, adding that he eventually shut down the business after accumulating debts, including a N500,000 loan he had taken to sustain operations.

Football fans interviewed by newsmen cited security concerns, convenience, and affordability as reasons for abandoning viewing centres.

A football enthusiast, Olakunle Abdulmalik, said he preferred streaming matches on his phone from home, particularly for late-night fixtures.

He, however, admitted missing the atmosphere and social interactions associated with watching matches alongside fellow supporters.

“What I miss most is the atmosphere, the crowd, the noise, the excitement, and everything that comes with watching football with other fans, especially the banter,” he said.

Another fan, Segun Ibrahim, disclosed that he spends about N11,000 monthly on mobile data to stream matches and occasionally visits sports lounges for major football events.

Experts say the decline of viewing centres reflects broader technological and economic changes.

A Professor of Sociology at Bayero University, Kano, Fagge Aminu, noted that viewing centres have historically served as important social spaces where football fans from different backgrounds gathered to share experiences and build community ties.

“Beyond entertainment, they serve as a social outlet where both young and older members of the community can relieve stress and temporarily escape the pressures of daily life,” Aminu said.

A telecommunications expert, Chukwuka Madumere, attributed the trend to increased smartphone penetration and improved internet access, which have transformed football consumption patterns, particularly among younger audiences.

He noted, however, that viewing centres still offer a cost-sharing advantage and provide a communal football experience that individual streaming cannot replicate.

Also commenting, the Chief Economist at SPM Professionals, Paul Alaje, said viewing centres play a significant role in Nigeria’s grassroots economy by supporting informal commercial activities and employment.

According to him, inflation, rising subscription costs, increased competition, and technological disruption are placing considerable pressure on operators.

The Director-General of the National Sports Commission, Bukola Olopade, expressed concern over the decline of viewing centres, describing them as important platforms for community engagement and sports development.

He called for greater government attention to grassroots sports initiatives and community-based sports activities to preserve the social and economic benefits associated with football viewing centres.

Industry observers warn that unless operators adapt to changing consumer habits and economic realities, the once-thriving culture of communal football viewing may continue to fade across the country.

Credit: Punch Newspaper