Beira-Mar were the same as Guimarães or Braga, even after they went down they had loads of fans. More matches on TV = less people on the stadiums, it has nothing to do with the TV money and it was like that for a long time. Go and take a look at the history of literally every single league of our size in Europe, it’s the exact same. We live in a small country, Lisbon is 4-5 hours away and a train ride is just 10 Euros.
Of course people are going to support the club of their family, what are you on about? That’s how it is everywhere. I live in the north of Portugal, I support Sporting and I always have since I can remember. There wasn’t any decision to be made, my grandfather supported Sporting, my father and uncles support Sporting so I support Sporting. I go to Alvalade as often as I can and there are loads of away matches close by.
Can you imagine being born in Coimbra, supporting Académica, moving to Braga, having a kid and then making the kid support Braga because it’s his local club? That’s not how it works. Anywhere.
Instead of blaming the evil big clubs for not wanting to kill themselves in order to improve others, maybe these clubs should take some responsibility for their terrible management over the years and for failing to make a connection with the people of their city. Guimarães and Braga pulled it off. Chaves always have plenty of fans, I go to Vila Real matches and it’s always full in the distrital.
England and Germany don’t get loads of people in the stadiums because of the TV deals.