Well Done GC17

[Beaussie]

35,000 supporters in six months with a new target set of 40,000. Add to that 108 local business partners and a naming rights sponsor not far away. Congratulations GC17 team. :thumbsu:

Now 30 days and counting for Gold Coast AFL bid
Nick Smart

September 13th, 2008

IT is 30 days until `D-Day' in the GC17 bid team's quest to be granted the AFL's 17th national licence.

In a month's time the team will fly to Melbourne to present their case to the AFL Commission.

They have been asked to meet the AFL's strict set criteria, which includes signing up 20,000 supporters and $5 million worth of sponsorship before October 13.

With the presentation around the corner, the end is in sight for GC17 bid team leader John Witheriff.

They still need to find a training and administration base for the club and are yet to settle on a community project the club will tackle. Overall, it looks like they may be there.

After almost six months of hard work, Witheriff said he was confident they would be granted the licence -- which would mean the Gold Coast Football Club will enter the AFL in 2011.

"We have the bulk of it done, but we still have a hell of a lot of work to get through in the next three weeks," he said.

"We are quietly confident but recognise we are going to have to burn the midnight oil between now and the beginning of October, because we have to have the deals done and our submission in place by October 7."

Part of the criteria that caused the bid team a lot of stress was signing up 20,000 supporters in six months. With a month to go, they have just signed up their 35,000th supporter -- last year's Miss Indy Kate Hockly, who was more than happy to sign on under the watchful eye of GC17 player signings Jesse Haberfield and Jack Stanlake.

While he talked tough early in the piece, Witheriff admitted he thought the job might have been beyond them.

"Not in my wildest dreams (did I think we would reach 35,000)," he said. "I put on a brave face in April and May and talked it up like it would be relatively easy. But I thought there was a real risk we wouldn't make it, and it all came back to the level of engagement with the community.

"And I think the fact we haven't hesitated to be at the opening of an envelope effectively -- which is really evident of the fact that this is all about the Gold Coast."

Now they have a new target -- 40,000 signed up supporters at http://www.gc17/.

com.au by 'D-Day.'

"We are desperate to get to 40,000 because we think that will send a very large message to potential sponsors and the AFL," he said. "And at the moment, that is a very important thing for us."

The bid team have also signed up the required 100 local business partners, with 108 on board as of yesterday. Witheriff also said they were 'pretty advanced' in their search for a naming rights sponsor.

http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2008/09/13/16262_gold-coast-afl.html

[Subprime]

Its a lot more than I expected and they seem to have done very well on the sponsorship front too.

Still I doubt the good news will sway the doomsayers.

I expect they will roll up soon.

[Siege]

Its a lot more than I expected and they seem to have done very well on the sponsorship front too.

Still I doubt the good news will sway the doomsayers.

I expect they will roll up soon.

Bring em' on!:thumbsu::thumbsu::thumbsu:

[Father Jack]

Looking forward to buying a membership next year.

[dylan123]

since they have already got 35,000 members do u think that will mean brisbanes will drop?

[Junior Boy]

Carn The Gold Coast :D:thumbsu::D

Premiers 2014

[Poiderr]

35,000 supporters in six months with a new target set of 40,000. Add to that 108 local business partners and a naming rights sponsor not far away. Congratulations GC17 team. :thumbsu:

Great results, just a question... These 35,000 are they just signatures on paper? people interested? what is the likelyhood of money changing hands & bums on seats?

[RussellEbertHandball]

since they have already got 35,000 members do u think that will mean brisbanes will drop?

A supporter doesn't equal a member. The article said, "Part of the criteria that caused the bid team a lot of stress was signing up 20,000 supporters in six months. With a month to go, they have just signed up their 35,000th supporter."

My brother in law signed up as a supporter, but he's not sure if he will sign up and pay for a membership/season ticket. He is an Essendon supporter and has some sort of interstate membership with them.

[hot_pies81]

Great results, just a question... These 35,000 are they just signatures on paper? people interested? what is the likelyhood of money changing hands & bums on seats?

Just supporters atm. Everyone who registers is under no obligation to become an eventual member, but I don't see how they won't end up with at least 25K members in their first year in the AFL. My family always buy annual passses to the different theme parks around the coast every year, but from 2011 onwards it's GCFC memberships instead. I'm sure many other families will do something similar. It is a very exciting prospect knowing that we will be (already are) part of something like this from its inception, regardless of the debate over mascots, nicknames, colours etc.

Furthermore, I see some of the more fickle Brisbane Lions supporters living on the GC switching teams. I mean, half of them don't even know what Fitzroy is anyway:)

[Siege]

Just supporters atm. Everyone who registers is under no obligation to become an eventual member, but I don't see how they won't end up with at least 25K members in their first year in the AFL. My family always buy annual passses to the different theme parks around the coast every year, but from 2011 onwards it's GCFC memberships instead. I'm sure many other families will do something similar. It is a very exciting prospect knowing that we will be (already are) part of something like this from its inception, regardless of the debate over mascots, nicknames, colours etc.

Furthermore, I see some of the more fickle Brisbane Lions supporters living on the GC switching teams. I mean, half of them don't even know what Fitzroy is anyway:)

Even after 3 flags Brisbane supporters don't really give a shit about AFL.

All aboard the GC!:thumbsu:

[Rohan25]

I'm one of those signatures and I only did it so I could give my opinion on the team name (which they didn't take).

They send me a lot of surveys and stuff now that I tend to delete.

[hot_pies81]

I'm one of those signatures and I only did it so I could give my opinion on the team name (which they didn't take).

They send me a lot of surveys and stuff now that I tend to delete.

That's all well-and-good, and there will be people such as yourself who have a genuine interest in the proceedings but no further intention (which is fine). I think I may have even been the first one to officially post the name "Marlins" on the GC17 board, but that disappointment aside I'm still very excited. So will tens of thousands of others who put their name down.

It's actually quite promising that there are people such as yourself - people are talking about it (just look at the threads on the subject). This in itself creates more interest, which will bring more sponsors, more supporters and more $$$$. :D

[Snig Master]

I signed the papyrus as a supporter type as I need to influence those in positions of authority to generate the GC17 licence the way a generation of players can decide if the time has come for them to settle a few scores.

[fairdinkum]

Just supporters atm. Everyone who registers is under no obligation to become an eventual member, but I don't see how they won't end up with at least 25K members in their first year in the AFL.

Furthermore, I see some of the more fickle Brisbane Lions supporters living on the GC switching teams. I mean, half of them don't even know what Fitzroy is anyway:)

Uh, Brisbane (who have been in SEQ for 20 years) had 23,000 members this year - thousands of whom live in Victoria.

I'm glad you agree with my sentiments that this new team may cause some to switch from Brisbane to the GC, eroding Brisbane's already low member base.

[Ant_]

Even after 3 flags Brisbane supporters don't really give a shit about AFL.

All aboard the GC!:thumbsu:

You know all that from Geelong hey?

[Stereophonic]

Well done GC, lets drop the 17 though hey! Im glad I put my signature down months ago when there was bugger all members, who would have thought that there would be so muh response.

I guess you could pin it down to

Those with an insatiable appetite for the new team!
Those who want to get down to a game or two who dont necessarily want a membership, but thought signing would be a sure fire way to get another team in
Those who want to see the game expand; and
Kangaroos supporters!

Looking forward to the last minor hurdle of the AFL rubber stamping next month and then getting on board. Im excited about this team and much will be learnt from the Brisbane Bears in that I think this team will be built with stability on the ground level. It seems to have a competent admin group behind it (John Witherall is managing partner of Minter Ellison for gods sake)

Well done to everyone who signed up!

[CoastBhoy]

Just supporters atm. Everyone who registers is under no obligation to become an eventual member, but I don't see how they won't end up with at least 25K members in their first year in the AFL. :)

I really hope your right but i think it will start way below that , reasons being are , for the first 2 seasons we will be playing out of Carrara which can only hold 12k , being a first year club we will not have that historical base to draw from , and even though the GC has a very large support up here , a lot of people will still be aligned to there 'other' AFL club.

[CoastBhoy]

Well done GC, lets drop the 17 though hey! Im glad I put my signature down months ago when there was bugger all members, who would have thought that there would be so muh response.

I guess you could pin it down to

Those with an insatiable appetite for the new team!
Those who want to get down to a game or two who dont necessarily want a membership, but thought signing would be a sure fire way to get another team in
Those who want to see the game expand; and
Kangaroos supporters!

Looking forward to the last minor hurdle of the AFL rubber stamping next month and then getting on board. Im excited about this team and much will be learnt from the Brisbane Bears in that I think this team will be built with stability on the ground level. It seems to have a competent admin group behind it (John Witherall is managing partner of Minter Ellison for gods sake)

Well done to everyone who signed up!

I think they have done well promoting it through junior and local AFL ranks , some huges numbers have signed on there , also been told that John Witheriff will not be president once the club has been established , just president for the bid team , which is a good thing as he knows very little of the game , but is very passionate in promoting Gold Coast whenever he can.

[Stereophonic]

I think they have done well promoting it through junior and local AFL ranks , some huges numbers have signed on there , also been told that John Witheriff will not be president once the club has been established , just president for the bid team , which is a good thing as he knows very little of the game , but is very passionate in promoting Gold Coast whenever he can.

Is that right, probably need someone to be a president who has a huge profile which can draw people to a club. Like Eddie McGuire or Jeff Kennett, any thoughts on who could fill that role?

[fairdinkum]

I guess you could pin it down to
...
Kangaroos supporters!

Yes, I did sign up. Thank me later.

Looking forward to the last minor hurdle of the AFL rubber stamping next month and then getting on board.

Last hurdle? You jest, surely.

There are still the matters of:

1) Getting the QLD Gov to officially allow the AFL to weasel out of the 2015 Gabba clause.

2) Finding a suitable venue to build a new stadium

3) Finding somebody foolish enough to pump hundreds of millions of dollars into a stadium that will be used at the top level perhaps 8 times per year (in a credit crunch environment).

4) Finding and keeping enough supporters to help avoid a repeat of the Bears debacle.

5) Convincing the rest of the league that they should give up top 10 or top 20 draft picks (and other concessions) without creating a mutiny.

6) Convincing AFL-ready players to take a year off the big time (potentially curtailing career development) and go and play with the kids at under-18 level for an another year or two.

Yeah, apart from those 6 things I just mentioned, I suppose you could say that the Gold Coast FC is only one minor hurdle away from success. :rolleyes:

[CoastBhoy]

Is that right, probably need someone to be a president who has a huge profile which can draw people to a club. Like Eddie McGuire or Jeff Kennett, any thoughts on who could fill that role?

For President i could'nt even begin to think who the candidates could be.

[Stereophonic]

Seriously, I am not going to respond to all those points you make and they are good points dont get me wrong, but all clubs when they are introduced contend with all those issues, and they normally always pass with flying colours.

The point I was referring to is that there is one more formal requirement with the AFL. As far as opposition terms accepting the draft concessions for GC17, it is a non-issue, everyone has voted for the club to enter they will live with the consequences. There is nothing stopping clubs from trading players for picks now and developing key stock for 2010-11.

[RussellEbertHandball]

For President i could'nt even begin to think who the candidates could be.

Surely Dr Alan Mackenzie would make a good president.

http://gc17.com.au/index.php?id=8

Dr. Alan Mackenzie

A life-time servant of Australian Football, he has been president of Southport Football Club for more than 34 years after a distinguished playing career and has also served the code with distinction as a volunteer medical officer, coach, selector and administrator. The No.1 authority on Gold Coast football.

A born and bred Queenslander, he was a foundation junior player with Sherwood and played 110 Queensland Australian Football League games with neighbouring Western Districts (1964-1970). Represented Queensland at 19 and Captained Wests at 23 before an injury-forced retirement the next year.

Graduated in medicine from the University of Queensland in 1969, and after moving to the Gold Coast in 1972 has operated a full-time general practice in Surfers Paradise for 36 years.

Was elected Southport president in November 1973 aged 27 after the club’s executive committee resigned suddenly and has overseen the growth of arguably Australia’s No.1 domestic football operation. Under his direction the former Southport Magpies, a powerhouse in the Gold Coast competition, stepped up as the Southport Sharks into the now AFL Queensland State League in 1983. In 34 years as president he has seen his club play in 28 senior grand finals for 17 premierships while the licensed club has grown into a much-admired $20million business.

He served the Brisbane Bears/Lions for six years (1992-98) as club doctor, selector and match committee chairman, and has filled countless similar roles with the Allies State of Origin side, Queensland Open and junior representative teams, and Gold Coast representative teams.

A Life Member of AFL Queensland, he received the Australian Sports Medal (2000), the AFL Merit Award (2003) and was the inaugural recipient of the Gold Coast Bulletin Sports Award (2003).

Then there is Graeme Downie who was on Brisbane's board for 16 years and chairman between 2000-06 and is on the GC17 team.

You only need loud mouths for president in Melbourne as it is so competitive to get publicity with 9 teams plus Geelong. Most of the non Vic presidents/chairmans have a very low profile and it's more important to be a very competent businessmen. Then again it is the Gold Coast and glitz and glamour go well with part of the city.

Who heard of Graeme Downie when Brisbane were dominating?

[CoastBhoy]

1) Getting the QLD Gov to officially allow the AFL to weasel out of the 2015 Gabba clause.:

Agreed , though i think something will be sorted.


2) Finding a suitable venue to build a new stadium.:

You obviously have'nt been reading this forum much , there is a thread on where the AFL want the stadium.

3) Finding somebody foolish enough to pump hundreds of millions of dollars into a stadium that will be used at the top level perhaps 8 times per year (in a credit crunch environment)..:

Every club has stadium issues , look at your team the Roos and there deal with Telstra dome.

4) Finding and keeping enough supporters to help avoid a repeat of the Bears debacle.)..:

Of all people a North supporter , come on mate you are better than that.


5) Convincing the rest of the league that they should give up top 10 or top 20 draft picks (and other concessions) without creating a mutiny..)..:

Thats been out for a week now , and whos complained ?? sorry creating a mutiny ??


6) Convincing AFL-ready players to take a year off the big time (potentially curtailing career development) and go and play with the kids at under-18 level for an another year or two...)..:

Yep , will be a problem , though we have signed 5 up already with one turning us down in Beams.


:[/QUOTE]

[Stereophonic]

Yep , will be a problem , though we have signed 5 up already with one turning us down in Beams.



I dont think the kids will have an issue in this, I think they would be happy to stay up here and be part of the inaugral team, at best they can play TAC next year and develop.

[Subprime]

Yes, I did sign up. Thank me later.



Last hurdle? You jest, surely.

There are still the matters of:

1) Getting the QLD Gov to officially allow the AFL to weasel out of the 2015 Gabba clause.

2) Finding a suitable venue to build a new stadium

3) Finding somebody foolish enough to pump hundreds of millions of dollars into a stadium that will be used at the top level perhaps 8 times per year (in a credit crunch environment).

4) Finding and keeping enough supporters to help avoid a repeat of the Bears debacle.

5) Convincing the rest of the league that they should give up top 10 or top 20 draft picks (and other concessions) without creating a mutiny.

6) Convincing AFL-ready players to take a year off the big time (potentially curtailing career development) and go and play with the kids at under-18 level for an another year or two.

Yeah, apart from those 6 things I just mentioned, I suppose you could say that the Gold Coast FC is only one minor hurdle away from success. :rolleyes:

Points 1, 2 & 3 are responsibilities of the AFL not the GCFC.

The player rules have already been released by the AFL after they were set out by a committee made up of a number of club representatives. So there is no chance of point 5 occuring.

A number (5 or 6) of players have already signed on so the GCFC is well on the way to dispelling point 6.

Point 4 is what this thread is about.

[CoastBhoy]

I dont think the kids will have an issue in this, I think they would be happy to stay up here and be part of the inaugral team, at best they can play TAC next year and develop.

I guess it will depend on there development , if they think they are ready for next year and they are touted as top draft pick , we may have some trouble , but i guess thats going to be a rare case and only for nexy year.

[fairdinkum]

Agreed , though i think something will be sorted.

Why?

You obviously have'nt been reading this forum much , there is a thread on where the AFL want the stadium.

I try to avoid this forum (there are so many idiots in it).

But as for the stadium, the AFL have not settled on a venue to the best of my knowledge.

Every club has stadium issues , look at your team the Roos and there deal with Telstra dome.

You aren't seriously comparing our situation to yours, are you? :eek:

Of all people a North supporter , come on mate you are better than that.

When did the NMFC merge with another AFL team?

Thats been out for a week now , and whos complained ?? sorry creating a mutiny ??

Fair enough. I didn't realise the issue had been settled. If it has, then good. :thumbsu:

Yep , will be a problem

I think so, too.

[fairdinkum]

Points 1, 2 & 3 are responsibilities of the AFL not the GCFC.

Oh, I know. That is why this whole 'process' has been a farce from day dot.

[Father Jack]

I personally think the GC has a brighter future than the Kangaroos. All those issues will be sorted out, we still have a couple of years before the GC ruckman goes up for the first bounce in the AFL, so I wouldn't be pressing the panic button just yet. The fact that they have smashed the original supporter target and have the business's signed up means they are off to a good start. There is still plenty of work to do, but I see a bright future.

As for the Bears, that situation was so different that it really has nothing to do with the current AFL bid.

[mediumsizered]

I personally think the GC has a brighter future than the Kangaroos. All those issues will be sorted out, we still have a couple of years before the GC ruckman goes up for the first bounce in the AFL, so I wouldn't be pressing the panic button just yet. The fact that they have smashed the original supporter target and have the business's signed up means they are off to a good start. There is still plenty of work to do, but I see a bright future.

As for the Bears, that situation was so different that it really has nothing to do with the current AFL bid.

Dead right! The Bears were literally 'cobbled' together overnight, with the VFL failing to ensure the club would have access to enough viable players to make the club competitive.

The VFL erred in awarding the licence to Christopher Skase, who then failed to ensure he had enough 'football' people around him to put the foundations in place for long-term viability. The piecing together of the Bears was an example of how not to put a football club together from 'scratch'.

In contrast, the Gold Coast Football Club is being built from the ground up, over 3 years, with the AFL providing their own administrators to facilitate the process & ensuring the club has access to quality draft picks & quality uncontracted players, rather than the discards from clubs, many of whom had no intention of playing for the Bears (Michael Aitken from Carlton being a prime example).

The only comparison that can be made between the Bears & the Gold Coast Football Club is that they will have both begun their footy lives playing out of Carrara. Otherwise the similarity ends right there.

[Rob]

They do seem to be a very professionally run outfit. If they've got decent support early on with no name and no team, then it gives them a fair bit of political clout. Governments aren't going to want to piss off 40,000 people for the sake of it.

[hot_pies81]

Surely Dr Alan Mackenzie would make a good president.

http://gc17.com.au/index.php?id=8


Couldn't agree more with "the Doc". He is the perfect candidate.

[Siege]

You know all that from Geelong hey?

I lived up there during their 'Glory' years.

Talk about a bunch of bandwagon supporters

[fishmonger]

35,000 supporters doesn't mean much.

According to surveys, the Melbourne Storm has 769,000 supporters and the Sydney Swans have over a million.

Doesn't guarantee bums on seats or revenue.

[1903]

Doesn't guarantee bums on seats or revenue.

No guarentees whatsoever, but very ecouraging don't you think.

35,000 supporters doesn't mean much.

Yes it does.
It means that a percentage of that will be turned into bums on seats .

According to surveys, the Melbourne Storm has 769,000 supporters and the Sydney Swans have over a million.

Obviously not the same "support". That survey is worded as to determine who vaguely follows the fortunes of, not who is actively thinks they might show up for a game or to and thus actively support the club or at least watch the games on TV and be a number in the ratings.

[PDJohnson]

I'm one of those signatures and I only did it so I could give my opinion on the team name (which they didn't take).

They send me a lot of surveys and stuff now that I tend to delete.

Ditto, ditto, ditto. That's what my reasoning was, and I bet your ideas were a sight better than the rubbish they have delivered so far.
Only one difference - my GC17 mail is now automatcally JUNK mail!

[PDJohnson]

Last hurdle? You jest, surely.

There are still the matters of:

1) Getting the QLD Gov to officially allow the AFL to weasel out of the 2015 Gabba clause.

2) Finding a suitable venue to build a new stadium

3) Finding somebody foolish enough to pump hundreds of millions of dollars into a stadium that will be used at the top level perhaps 8 times per year (in a credit crunch environment).

4) Finding and keeping enough supporters to help avoid a repeat of the Bears debacle.

5) Convincing the rest of the league that they should give up top 10 or top 20 draft picks (and other concessions) without creating a mutiny.

6) Convincing AFL-ready players to take a year off the big time (potentially curtailing career development) and go and play with the kids at under-18 level for an another year or two.

Yeah, apart from those 6 things I just mentioned, I suppose you could say that the Gold Coast FC is only one minor hurdle away from success. :rolleyes:

Sarcastic, negative, bitter, brutal ....... and 100% CORRECT!

[fishmonger]

Obviously not the same "support". That survey is worded as to determine who vaguely follows the fortunes of, not who is actively thinks they might show up for a game or to and thus actively support the club or at least watch the games on TV and be a number in the ratings.

What is the difference.

I filled in their form and I live in another state. I'll never even go to one of this stupid club's games.

GC17 have used dubious tactics to get people to sign up.

I signed up on their website because they said if you did, you'd get a say in their nickname. I never so much as got a follow-up email.

They just took my signature and ran with it. No doubt there are at least a few thousand other non-QLD footy fans who fell into exactly the same trap. :rolleyes:

[magic_johnson!]

What is the difference.

I filled in their form and I live in another state. I'll never even go to one of this stupid club's games.

GC17 have used dubious tactics to get people to sign up.

I signed up on their website because they said if you did, you'd get a say in their nickname. I never so much as got a follow-up email.

They just took my signature and ran with it. No doubt there are at least a few thousand other non-QLD footy fans who fell into exactly the same trap. :rolleyes:
a few thousand of 35,000 aint bad

[RussellEbertHandball]

If you look at the Roy Morgan surveys over the last decade you know that turning 10% to 15% of your supporters into actual club members is a bloody good effort.

The GC and WS whenever they get a team, will need a hell of a lot more than 35,000 supporters to start off with. Mind you they both will be getting a subsidy of between $6mil to $10mil per year over the first decade if not longer from the AFL.

http://www.roymorgan.com/news/press-releases/2008/783/

http://www.roymorgan.com/news/press-releases/2007/649/

[SweetLeftFoot]

Well done GC, lets drop the 17 though hey! Im glad I put my signature down months ago when there was bugger all members, who would have thought that there would be so muh response.

I guess you could pin it down to

Those with an insatiable appetite for the new team!
Those who want to get down to a game or two who dont necessarily want a membership, but thought signing would be a sure fire way to get another team in
Those who want to see the game expand; and
Kangaroos supporters!



Please don't assume all North supporters are anti GC.

I have always said I'm in favour of expansion to the GC as long as its not my team doing it, and the expansion is successful and sustainable, not a decades long money pit requiring massive concessions like Sydney and Brisbane.

It appears the Gc team is doing Ok on this front. Good stuff.

[Stereophonic]

Yep fair enough they are valid points.

I shouldnt be so quick to assume, it was on the premise that Kangaroos fans must be relieved to not have to relocate.

[Black Falcon]

Ditto, ditto, ditto. That's what my reasoning was, and I bet your ideas were a sight better than the rubbish they have delivered so far.
Only one difference - my GC17 mail is now automatcally JUNK mail!

I'm also having trouble reconciling the 'GC17 presentation' and those surveys they send out now. Like a lot of folks, I needed something more concrete to believe in then a red neon sign flashing GC and a gazza mascot.

I feel I did my supporter bit, but they haven't come to the party, hedging their bets for future developments.:rolleyes:

As for memberships, there'll be some reshuffling of priorities. Won't be surprised if both GC and BL begin 2011 with 20,000 members each, which will only increase once the rivalry begins in earnest. At the end of the day, AFL will have 20,000 new members and a new team.

[Beaussie]

I filled in their form and I live in another state. I'll never even go to one of this stupid club's games.

GC17 have used dubious tactics to get people to sign up.

I signed up on their website because they said if you did, you'd get a say in their nickname. I never so much as got a follow-up email.

I don't understand why someone such as yourself, who is anti-AFL and expansion into the northern states, would sign up as a supporter of GC17. :confused:

[tonk]

I don't understand why someone such as yourself, who is anti-AFL and expansion into the northern states, would sign up as a supporter of GC17. :confused:

I was wondering about that myself?

[Siege]

What is the difference.

I filled in their form and I live in another state. I'll never even go to one of this stupid club's games.

GC17 have used dubious tactics to get people to sign up.

I signed up on their website because they said if you did, you'd get a say in their nickname. I never so much as got a follow-up email.

They just took my signature and ran with it. No doubt there are at least a few thousand other non-QLD footy fans who fell into exactly the same trap. :rolleyes:

Ah what would you know you don't even list your team.

Weak and pathetic:thumbsd:

[fairdinkum]

Won't be surprised if both GC and BL begin 2011 with 20,000 members each, which will only increase once the rivalry begins in earnest. At the end of the day, AFL will have 20,000 new members and a new team.

20,000 each? :eek:

Lunacy.

[1903]

I signed up on their website because they said if you did, you'd get a say in their nickname. I never so much as got a follow-up email.


fishmonger has used dubious tactics to sign in.


GC17 have used dubious tactics to get people to sign up.


No , you're obviously NOT a supporter. Shouldn't be there.

[AngelEyes]

I think the need for large levels of support at the beginning are over stated.

The club will likely get say $5m a year from the AFL which equates to over 33,000 members. Even if they only get 12,000 members they will be looking at having the financial clout of say a club with 45,000 members. Thats significant straight away. It goes a long way to solving one of the crucial issues in AFL clubs being membership/match day revenue.

In terms of corporate sponsorship the Gold Coast will get flogged by the AFL in order to promote it so I wouldn't think that corporate support due to high exposure will be an issue. Already, with a bit of work, the Gold Coast Football Club is looking at keeping up in the areas of match revenue and sponsorship. The main area of concern I see is the non-football revenue that clubs rely on.

The Gold Coast's greatest hardship will be building businesses that aren't related to football in order to match the Victorian clubs. There is a rumour that the AFL will have a business park in the Gold Coast stadium design so perhaps thats to help the new club survive off non-football revenue.

I think there is not as much doom and gloom as people say. The Gold Coast has the ability to structure themselves for success from early on. Of course they may rely on the AFL to begin with but its a price that in the long term may be worth paying. Its not like flogging a dead horse with the debt laden strugglers in Melbourne. It has potential.

[Thewlis Dish]

Shut up Micketts.

[SweetLeftFoot]

Yep fair enough they are valid points.

I shouldnt be so quick to assume, it was on the premise that Kangaroos fans must be relieved to not have to relocate.

Fair enough.

If the Gold Coast teams turns out like West Coast or Adelaide in terms of stability/success: then good.

My fear, and you have to agree this is a justified fear given the precedents, is that it will turn out like the Bears or Sydney.

I hope it doesn't.

I suppose one good thing is that you guys will enter the competition with a fully formed enemy club in us.

That said, I do shudder at what horrendous label the AFL is going to put on the GC v Brisbane games. I honestly think it can't be more cringeworthy than 'Showdown, but I kn ow it will be.

Anyway, good work on this.

[SweetLeftFoot]

I don't understand why someone such as yourself, who is anti-AFL and expansion into the northern states, would sign up as a supporter of GC17. :confused:

LOL.

The old 'if you aren't with us, you are against us'.

I'm pro AFL. In fact, I'm so pro-AFL I don't want to the competition waste money puring it into dodgy ventures.

[Black Falcon]

Could it be that fishmonger is a slippery slitherin fish........? :)

[Black Falcon]

BLions v GC = the Queensland RODEO

Could do worse!! ;)

[Stereophonic]

BLions v GC = the Queensland RODEO

Could do worse!! ;)

Love it!:eek::thumbsu::confused:

[SweetLeftFoot]

BLions v GC = the Queensland RODEO

Could do worse!! ;)

That's so bloody bad it could just work!

[fairdinkum]

The Face-off.

You know you love it. :thumbsu:

[fishmonger]

West Coast Eagles vs Fremantle Dockers = "The Western Derby"
Adelaide Crows vs Port Power = "The Showdown"
Brisbane Lions vs Gold Coast Football Club = .... "The Non-Event" ;)

[fishmonger]

If you look at the Roy Morgan surveys over the last decade you know that turning 10% to 15% of your supporters into actual club members is a bloody good effort.

The GC and WS whenever they get a team, will need a hell of a lot more than 35,000 supporters to start off with. Mind you they both will be getting a subsidy of between $6mil to $10mil per year over the first decade if not longer from the AFL.

http://www.roymorgan.com/news/press-releases/2008/783/

http://www.roymorgan.com/news/press-releases/2007/649/

Good point.

Based on those conversion rate statistics, the Gold Coast Football CLub can expect somewhere between 350 and 700 paid up members (1-2% conversion similar to but smaller than the Swans or Lions). :eek:

[fishmonger]

I don't understand why someone such as yourself, who is anti-AFL and expansion into the northern states, would sign up as a supporter of GC17. :confused:

For the 1,000th time Bearsie I'm not anti-expansion into the northern states.

I just reckon that to make it work, the AFL should have done it back in 2002 or in 1996 in Sydney. Instead they missed the boat by 6-12 years !!! Read my lips - failure-to-capitalise. They dicked around with the Kangaroos on both counts. :rolleyes: To use a football parallel, they are playing "catch up football" and lost the premiership quarter - GAME OVER. And they will continue to make the same sorts of mistakes as long as the same dufuses are running AFL House.

[SweetLeftFoot]

And they will continue to make the same sorts of mistakes as long as the same dufuses are running AFL House.

I believe the plural of dufus is 'dufii'

[Black Falcon]

More possibly, dufi

[Black Falcon]

Love it!:eek::thumbsu::confused:

JTGM, we have reached detente :thumbsu: I believe this is the cause for a new thread !!! GC v Lions = Qld Rodeo

[Stereophonic]

JTGM, we have reached detente :thumbsu: I believe this is the cause for a new thread !!! GC v Lions = Qld Rodeo

Crank it up mate, Ill support you!!!:thumbsu:

[Beaussie]

For the 1,000th time Bearsie I'm not anti-expansion into the northern states.

I just reckon that to make it work, the AFL should have done it back in 2002 or in 1996 in Sydney. Instead they missed the boat by 6-12 years !!! Read my lips - failure-to-capitalise. They dicked around with the Kangaroos on both counts. :rolleyes: To use a football parallel, they are playing "catch up football" and lost the premiership quarter - GAME OVER. And they will continue to make the same sorts of mistakes as long as the same dufuses are running AFL House.

Can't say I disagree with the above re: the Kangaroos in Sydney, Canberra and the Gold Coast. I can still remember seeing the Kangaroos on the news with the NRL Bulldogs talking about the now failed, Oasis Stadium at Liverpool being a joint home ground.:D

Anyway, expansion is still, better late than never and hardly catch up when the AFL is pressing ahead in Western Sydney before the A-League and Australian Rugby Union.

As with Western Sydney, I have no doubt that GC17 will also be more popular than any soccer, rugby or basketball team . GC17 already have rugby league worried - you just have to read Gold Coast Titans CEO Searle's comments to work that one out. :thumbsu:

[cos789]

I just reckon that to make it work, the AFL should have done it back in 2002 or in 1996 in Sydney. Instead they missed the boat by 6-12 years !!! Read my lips - failure-to-capitalise.

You seem to have a logic bypass of the most basic processes.
To have another AFL team in Sydney they would have had to start before 1998. All well in good to say it in hindsight or when the games going well but it takes time to establish a team from the ground up so the AFL did do the logical and practical thing at the time it offered relocation didn't it.

They dicked around with the Kangaroos on both counts. .

It's always the AFL's fault with you .The AFL offered relocation incentives and in the end it virtually threatened North with removing future funding.
Never have I seen a team stuff their future up so much .
Three times they said we'll look at moving and experimented.
Three times they said we're definately not moving at the onset.
If only they'd had the guts to make a decion earlier.

:(

[Gibbke]

What club would move to another state if they were told that a condition of receiving the money was to hand over control of their club to the AFL? Never mind the absence of a stadium...?

This little fact is conveniently overlooked, and there is not a single club who would willingly say "here's the keys to our club - do as you wish". The AFL is investing a dumptruck full of money in the GC and WS sides, and they do not want it run by clubs or the local hicks. Why do you think that Southport has never gotten a look in to launch a bid? You'll remember right here last year that many were calling for exactly this, on the back of Southport's 50000 members, yadda yadda...but the AFL were never going to seriously entertain this because they wanted to run the club themselves - their own team. Same deal with North - but the AFL still wanted to run their project by themselves, using ready made North as the vehicle for half the price of a new team...and don't forget that part of the GC17 deal is that the AFL has the overriding presence on the board, as undoubtedly the WS side will too...no other club has this set up...

North has done the right thing by themselves, and for footy as a whole, by not whoring themselves and dying off. That's good for all of us, because all of the sides have seen the precedent that says they do not have to bend over and take it just because the AFL assures them it won't hurt...those guys make a lot of mistakes, but one mistake from a club and they are doomed forever...

[Black Falcon]

Gibbke, the fact that AFL want to run the GC club was borne out beautifully, by that weak as piss presentation on Sep 4.

If it was truly to be a corporate player in its own right, then GC17 will get killed in the business world. But sugar daddy Andrew holds all the keys, including obviously the naming rights and logo.

Thanks for illuminating all us plebs on 'how things really are'. :o

[Gibbke]

Well, gotta fill the void somewhere bud, because you sure as hell can't!

[Black Falcon]

Well, gotta fill the void somewhere bud, because you sure as hell can't!


Thats why we need straight shooters like you......:D

[cos789]

This little fact is conveniently overlooked,

What that they are owned by shareholders?
The argument is over North will live and die by there own sword now.
Their fate is in their hands. No excuses or handouts.