A-League The A-League Expansion Thread

A-League

Do you support expansion

  • Yes, for the good of the league

    Votes: 65 82.3%
  • No, the league is fine the way it is

    Votes: 14 17.7%

  • Total voters
    79
Jun 24, 2011
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Well they're on the verge of relegation, so... They might be building their own home base but they're certainly not in prime position anymore, business or onfield-wise. Look to the teams in the FFA Cup instead. Comets have/had Santos Stadium which is our state athletics Stadium and Olympic just signed a coaching mentoring deal with PAOK, the Greek Superleague winners so teams are now moving further and further ahead of the pack.
 
Jul 5, 2011
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A-League clubs to control expansion agenda
Tom Smithies Football Editor, The Daily Telegraph

A-LEAGUE bosses will dictate where new clubs will be established, rather than accept bids from hopeful franchises with their own bases, under plans to expand to a 16-team competition.
In a complete reversal from how the latest expansion sides Western United and Macarthur were chosen, the A-League will identify key markets driven by consumer numbers and TV eyeballs, and then invite bidders to pitch for licences in those geographical areas.
An “international investment roadshow” will be launched to invite funds for new and existing franchises, with existing club owners revealing their hopes of adding up to four new teams in the next broadcast cycle, after the current one expires in 2023.

After The Daily Telegraph revealed the owners’ plans for a 100-day push to reignite interest in the competition, now they have taken control of it away from Football Federation Australia, more detail has emerged of how and where expansion is planned, even before the 11th and 12th sides to be added have kicked a ball.

Western United will join this coming season and Macarthur FC the year after, the first additions to the league since Western Sydney Wanderers were created in 2012.

In a presentation to A-League CEOs, coaches and staff, the owners made clear they want to expand the league ultimately by a further third, but reversing the methodology the FFA used in adding Western United and Macarthur.


The owners said they would immediately start identifying markets for expansion, with a particular focus on creating more “rivalries” against existing teams and on key TV markets.

Consortiums would be invited to bid for these specific licences, rather than choose their own base, and be judged on a transparent list of criteria — including stadium plans and commercial viability.

Overseas investors will be targeted via the “roadshow”, for new clubs but also to provide clubs such as the Central Coast Mariners with extra capital.

The ultimate aim is to reach a 16-team competition where each team plays the other sides home and away, to reduce “viewer fatigue” at the current third round of games, with an expanded finals series.


Officials briefed on the plans said the current season length of early October to mid-May would likely be maintained, to avoid further clashes with other codes over ground availability and media interest.

Though the final legal points of the A-League’s separation from FFA’s control are still being worked through, the owners have effectively taken control of the competition and are rushing to overhaul its marketing and presentation ahead of the start of the new season October 11.

At a two-day summit at a hotel in Double Bay the owners have made clear the urgent need to put in place measures to address a 20 per cent fall in attendances since 2013, and a 40 per cent decline in TV viewers over the past three years.

 

Silent Alarm

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The Auckland hard-on they have is ludicrous.

AFC don't like it, the New Zealand federation don't care about it, and Sky pay nothing for rights and of course you miss out on the Australian pay and free-to-air metrics.

So ******* dumb. If they want a team, the NZ federation should start giving a lot more money to the Nix and this Auckland side and the Australian clubs should demand the equivalency of what a capital city team earns for the broadcast rights. Bring that and you're in. But they never will.

Wollongong Wolves and Tasmania.

Shift Western United to Dandenong when they inevitably collapse.

Next up is two of the best from: AFC ACT, Shire-St George or Northern Beaches, Brisbane Strikers.
 
Jul 5, 2011
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On the agenda again..

FFA confirms expansion may go beyond Canberra
FFA have confirmed that not only are Canberra in the running to have a new A-League club, but other currently unconfirmed consortiums as well.
Janakan Seemampillai Aug 25 2020 4:55PM
“Football Federation Australia (FFA) confirms that it has received several approaches from consortiums interested in acquiring a license to compete in the A-League – one of which is from the Canberra Region Football Collective,” said an FFA spokesperson.

“FFA will engage in confidence with consortiums and individuals interested in investing in the Australian football ecosystem, and will provide updates as applicable in due course.

“FFA is encouraged by the interest that exists in the market, and as stated in the recently released XI Principles for the future of Australian football discussion paper, expansion of Australia’s professional leagues is an ambition for the sport.”

FFA have declined to name the other interested consortiums but it is no secret that a number of other clubs would like to get into the A-League including former NSL giants South Melbourne and Wollongong. A team from South-East Melbourne dubbed Team 11, missed out in the December 2018 expansion announcement, but have not given up hope of getting into the A-League. The team was considering a base in Casey, a region where a brand new $8 million sporting hub was recently opened at Casey Fields

Meanwhile the 12th A-League club Macarthur FC have moved their training base from Campbelltown to Fairfield, after announcing last week they would train at the revamped Fairfield Showground. The Bulls were originally planning to train at Western Sydney University in Campbelltown, where a new multi million sports centre was supposed to house the Bulls as their main tenant from 2021. It is unknown if the Bulls will move back to Campbelltown once the facilities are complete.

The club’s indigenous program, The Charles Perkins Academy, which was introduced by former CEO Rabieh Krayem, appears to have shut its doors. The academy was supposed to be run by former Socceroos coach Frank Farina.

The club will still play games at Campbelltown Stadium where they have an excellent deal in place with Campbelltown Council.

Western United CEO Chris Pehlivanis has also confirmed there are no set plans for where the club will play home games next season. United who play Melbourne City for a spot in the Grand Final tomorrow night have been rumoured to be playing at Knights Stadium as they wait for their Joel ground at Tarneit to be built.


Seems a bit suss in these times through I suspec It was all in the works before the pandemic.

also no surprise that Western United are still Gypsies..
 

AJ_2000

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On the agenda again..

FFA confirms expansion may go beyond Canberra
FFA have confirmed that not only are Canberra in the running to have a new A-League club, but other currently unconfirmed consortiums as well.
Janakan Seemampillai Aug 25 2020 4:55PM
“Football Federation Australia (FFA) confirms that it has received several approaches from consortiums interested in acquiring a license to compete in the A-League – one of which is from the Canberra Region Football Collective,” said an FFA spokesperson.

“FFA will engage in confidence with consortiums and individuals interested in investing in the Australian football ecosystem, and will provide updates as applicable in due course.

“FFA is encouraged by the interest that exists in the market, and as stated in the recently released XI Principles for the future of Australian football discussion paper, expansion of Australia’s professional leagues is an ambition for the sport.”

FFA have declined to name the other interested consortiums but it is no secret that a number of other clubs would like to get into the A-League including former NSL giants South Melbourne and Wollongong. A team from South-East Melbourne dubbed Team 11, missed out in the December 2018 expansion announcement, but have not given up hope of getting into the A-League. The team was considering a base in Casey, a region where a brand new $8 million sporting hub was recently opened at Casey Fields

Meanwhile the 12th A-League club Macarthur FC have moved their training base from Campbelltown to Fairfield, after announcing last week they would train at the revamped Fairfield Showground. The Bulls were originally planning to train at Western Sydney University in Campbelltown, where a new multi million sports centre was supposed to house the Bulls as their main tenant from 2021. It is unknown if the Bulls will move back to Campbelltown once the facilities are complete.

The club’s indigenous program, The Charles Perkins Academy, which was introduced by former CEO Rabieh Krayem, appears to have shut its doors. The academy was supposed to be run by former Socceroos coach Frank Farina.

The club will still play games at Campbelltown Stadium where they have an excellent deal in place with Campbelltown Council.

Western United CEO Chris Pehlivanis has also confirmed there are no set plans for where the club will play home games next season. United who play Melbourne City for a spot in the Grand Final tomorrow night have been rumoured to be playing at Knights Stadium as they wait for their Joel ground at Tarneit to be built.


Seems a bit suss in these times through I suspec It was all in the works before the pandemic.

also no surprise that Western United are still Gypsies..

Can you see a purpose built privately owned stadium being built in the middle of a pandemic? me neither
 
Jul 5, 2011
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Clive Palmer's former club joins Canberra in race for A-League licence

Canberra's latest bid to join the A-League is already facing stiff competition, with two US-based investors keen to bring Clive Palmer's old club Gold Coast United back to the national stage.

The Canberra Region Football Collective (CRFC) went public on Tuesday, declaring it had made a formal offer to Football Federation Australia to either buy a new A-League licence or replace Central Coast if the Mariners can't find a suitable new owner.

FFA confirmed it had received an approach from Canberra but that it was just one of several parties interested in joining the A-League, which will expand to 12 teams next season with the addition of Macarthur FC.

Industry sources have indicated that Gold Coast United - who were booted from the A-League in 2012 but reformed three years ago in the Queensland NPL, without the involvement of maverick billionaire Palmer - have been in constant recent dialogue with FFA.

Like the CRFC bid, Gold Coast was overlooked in the last round of A-League expansion, but has retained the financial support of American investors Brett Johnson and Jordan Gardner, who have ownership ties to several clubs in the US and Europe.

"Our bid has never been taken off the table. We won't comment further," Gold Coast chairman Danny Maher told the Herald.

Gold Coast United were a success on the field, but lasted just three seasons in the A-League amid tension between owner Clive Palmer and then-FFA chairman Frank Lowy. Matt Roberts

A spokesperson for FFA said the federation was "encouraged" by the interest in the market and that further expansion of Australia's professional leagues was an ambition for the sport, as stated in the recent XI Principles discussion paper.

"FFA will engage in confidence with consortiums and individuals interested in investing in the Australian football ecosystem, and will provide updates as applicable in due course," the spokesperson said.

Both the FFA and the existing club owners are eager to grow the competition to 14 teams to enable a two-round home-and-away season - but while there is broad support for new franchises in locations like Canberra and Auckland, there are no formal plans in place for future expansion.

There is also huge uncertainty over the future of several clubs - particularly the Mariners and Newcastle Jets, who are both seeking new owners - not to mention the A-League as a whole, given the competition's broadcast deal…


Gold Coast again.. No thanks!
 
Apr 12, 2012
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Clive Palmer's former club joins Canberra in race for A-League licence

Canberra's latest bid to join the A-League is already facing stiff competition, with two US-based investors keen to bring Clive Palmer's old club Gold Coast United back to the national stage.

The Canberra Region Football Collective (CRFC) went public on Tuesday, declaring it had made a formal offer to Football Federation Australia to either buy a new A-League licence or replace Central Coast if the Mariners can't find a suitable new owner.

FFA confirmed it had received an approach from Canberra but that it was just one of several parties interested in joining the A-League, which will expand to 12 teams next season with the addition of Macarthur FC.

Industry sources have indicated that Gold Coast United - who were booted from the A-League in 2012 but reformed three years ago in the Queensland NPL, without the involvement of maverick billionaire Palmer - have been in constant recent dialogue with FFA.

Like the CRFC bid, Gold Coast was overlooked in the last round of A-League expansion, but has retained the financial support of American investors Brett Johnson and Jordan Gardner, who have ownership ties to several clubs in the US and Europe.

"Our bid has never been taken off the table. We won't comment further," Gold Coast chairman Danny Maher told the Herald.

Gold Coast United were a success on the field, but lasted just three seasons in the A-League amid tension between owner Clive Palmer and then-FFA chairman Frank Lowy. Matt Roberts

A spokesperson for FFA said the federation was "encouraged" by the interest in the market and that further expansion of Australia's professional leagues was an ambition for the sport, as stated in the recent XI Principles discussion paper.

"FFA will engage in confidence with consortiums and individuals interested in investing in the Australian football ecosystem, and will provide updates as applicable in due course," the spokesperson said.

Both the FFA and the existing club owners are eager to grow the competition to 14 teams to enable a two-round home-and-away season - but while there is broad support for new franchises in locations like Canberra and Auckland, there are no formal plans in place for future expansion.

There is also huge uncertainty over the future of several clubs - particularly the Mariners and Newcastle Jets, who are both seeking new owners - not to mention the A-League as a whole, given the competition's broadcast deal…


Gold Coast again.. No thanks!

Have no problem if they are in the 2nd division and work their way in. But the head start? No.
 
Gold Coast United will be a lot more successful a second time around without the Clive baggage.

People seem to forget they got 20000 to their first game which was double the Wanderers and were getting decent crowds for A-League standards at the time until Clive put his crowd cap in.

Have no problem if they are in the 2nd division and work their way in. But the head start? No.
They are competing in the NPL Queensland which is essentially a second division.
 
Apr 12, 2012
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Gold Coast United will be a lot more successful a second time around without the Clive baggage.

People seem to forget they got 20000 to their first game which was double the Wanderers and were getting decent crowds for A-League standards at the time until Clive put his crowd cap in.


They are competing in the NPL Queensland which is essentially a second division.

And? Rightly or wrongly they had a shot and blew it.

They can go into the national 2nd division, if it happens, and get promoted the old fashion way.
 

brucetiki

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And? Rightly or wrongly they had a shot and blew it.

They can go into the national 2nd division, if it happens, and get promoted the old fashion way.

Hard to blame the current admin on that though. First time around it was Palmer play toy. This time around they’re a more legit club.
 

nobbyiscool

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A Gold Coast bid shouldn't be penalised because GC1 was a ploy by Clive Palmer to boost his profile and notoriety ahead of his political ambitions (which furthered his own bank balance.)

A Gold Coast bid should be penalised on the basis that it's the Gold Coast, and it's a graveyeard for sporting teams. On the off chance you can find early success, your crowds evaporate during the tough times.
 
Apr 12, 2012
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Hard to blame the current admin on that though. First time around it was Palmer play toy. This time around they’re a more legit club.

With that as well as “it’s the Gold Coast” and there are many more locations more deserving of a club in the A-League before we get pro/rel(possibly) than them adds all up to it.
 

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Gold Coast United will be a lot more successful a second time around without the Clive baggage.

People seem to forget they got 20000 to their first game which was double the Wanderers and were getting decent crowds for A-League standards at the time until Clive put his crowd cap in.


They are competing in the NPL Queensland which is essentially a second division.

That first game was in Brisbane so against a local rival who was average 13-15k at the time. So really they only attracted 7k or so additional fans for its inaugural game.

The issue with Gold Coast is also the stupid stadiums deal they have up in Qld. I remember Clive stated he needed 15k or something ridiculous to break even and that would cripple any club.
The situation was very similar in Townsville for NQF and it also crippled their sustainability too.

The stupidest thing about it all is these were summer tenants bringing a dozen or so games to these venues per annum and now they just sit dormant in summer.
 

brucetiki

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Well they're on the verge of relegation, so... They might be building their own home base but they're certainly not in prime position anymore, business or onfield-wise. Look to the teams in the FFA Cup instead. Comets have/had Santos Stadium which is our state athletics Stadium and Olympic just signed a coaching mentoring deal with PAOK, the Greek Superleague winners so teams are now moving further and further ahead of the pack.

Are West Adelaide ever going to finish their new home? Been sitting there half built for years.
 
Jun 24, 2011
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brucetiki

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Here ya go! 😂

I knew the development was a disaster but I didn’t realise it was that bad.

It also seemed odd West Adelaide would build a new facility in Kilburn, which isn’t exactly in the western suburbs.
 
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I knew the development was a disaster but I didn’t realise it was that bad.

It also seemed odd West Adelaide would build a new facility in Kilburn, which isn’t exactly in the western suburbs.
Mismanagement.

Should have stayed at Adelaide Shores. At least then it was "West" of the CBD.
 

scottishfiction

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the weird hard-on for Gold Coast expansions over Wollongong Wolves, Canberra, Cronulla or St. George, North Sydney or Manly, and the big one they would've romped – Tasmania – is classic Australian football. never learning from mistakes just because it's easy.
 
Jul 5, 2011
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the weird hard-on for Gold Coast expansions over Wollongong Wolves, Canberra, Cronulla or St. George, North Sydney or Manly, and the big one they would've romped – Tasmania – is classic Australian football. never learning from mistakes just because it's easy.

Do you really think a Tassie team will work for the A-League?
 

scottishfiction

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Do you really think a Tassie team will work for the A-League?
football in Australia has been hampered by marketers.

it's also a bit stumped by history. the only hundred year old clubs still kicking are mostly in Newcastle and playing at a state level. the game isn't focused in some areas and totally ignored in others, as Sydney-centric as the administration is. Aussie Rules and the NRL have both of those. the clubs with intergenerational followings float the game while expansion markets are obvious. cricket succeeds because it's basically the exclusive summer sport and the exclusive Australia-wide game.

football needs some sort of edge but ends up going for the sanitised option. I say it again and again, but read the Crawford Report. see the blueprints and see what we got. the suggestion and trajectory of the competition was overruled by people from rugby union. rugby union: the sport that's been here for generations, of which the national team used to make World Cup finals in less than 20 years ago, and is now as b-grade as football. it's mental.

The Gold Coast suffers supporting sport for plenty of reasons. at some point you have to learn from the 10 rugby league teams they've had and the flatlined support the Suns have had in the AFL. yet it's never written off. this is in preference to Wollongong, a team connected one-to-three hours by train from five other A-League teams and with a population of 300,000 people, an established footballing club name (that's embracing of all), a rectangular ground in the middle of the town and right on a beach... it's mental.

Tasmania was the 'left field' experiment the game should have taken. the upside was far, far higher than North Queensland the Gold Coast. retrospect is one thing, but the reality is that any new team brought into the league is probably going to fold... three already have and Western United will as soon as the land's rezoned near the mythical never-arena and the shonky job's done.

Tasmania was ignored for years and though the basketball is going there, I just think Aussie Rules people are more inclined to watch an outdoor sport, in summer, at North Hobart Oval and Aurora, than they are an indoor game that's probably more niche to more people (being trendy for teenagers isn't the be-all and end-all).

it's got a sudden rivalry with Melbourne Victory and a close journey (relatively). there's no competition. Hobart is a popular spot for holidays these days (and most people are still put off by its winter reputation).

most new teams will probably fail. I think Canberra is too close to Gold Coast in terms of its demographic – Gold Coast has retirees, younger families with their own sport to go to, and most already follow another code while also having transplant parents; the ACT is a lot of single people, older professionals, and either traditional rusted on support to the AFL/NRL clubs or its residents are also originally from elsewhere in Australia.

the A-League could've been saved in its first seven or so years but it's too late now. they saw it as job done when the Wanderers went well.

it's a shame; the sport could have been served by a competition that knew its limits and need. instead it had illusions of being a popular television event (...on Fox...) and being the summer version of the AFL.

needed some lateral, bold thinking.

unfortunately, most of that disappeared when the 50s immigrants normalised into Australian society. we lost the mongrel and otherness, but we also lost the simple passion for the simple parts of football.
 
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Australia legend Moore joins Canberra A-League bid team | The World Game
By Dave Lewis

The former Australia skipper, who spent three years as Brisbane’s Roar’s director of football will work in tandem with the existing head of football Ron Smith to mastermind coaching, player development and elite pathways for the Capital Region Football Collective (CRFC).
Backed by wealthy local family interests and European-based investors, CRFC are in discussions with FFA over buying into the competition, even if that means buying and relocating the financially-stricken Central Mariners.
Undaunted by the current financial tsunami threatening to submerge the future viability of the competition, CRFC director Michael Caggiano has sold Moore, 44, on the vision of a long-awaited team in the ACT.
“There’s great potential in the Canberra region, and being involved for the foundation of a club will be quite an exciting adventure,” said Moore.
“There is probably a feeling amongst the local community that they are always missing out, I can see there’s a real hunger and desire to be successful.
“Canberra is renowned for producing top players, names like Ned Zelic, Tom Rogic, Josep Simunic and Carl Valeri (come to mind).
“Whilst at Brisbane Roar (between 2015-2018) I also recruited Kai Trewin who has already gone on to feature in the first team.
“It’s fair to say that we are all finding life a bit of a struggle at the moment with Australian football.
“It has had some really good times, but it is feeling a bit stale.
“Having the opportunity for a new club from a new region to come in, I think is something exciting that will enable a lot more interest in the game in general."
With TV rights holders Fox Sports to end their 15-year relationship with the A-League at the end of next season, and no obvious replacement in sight, Moore added: “In terms of broadcast rights and what that looks like moving forward, we need to offer something fresh and new to be able to get that interest in the game again.”
Moore jets to the UK this month, where he has a network of contacts amassed during his playing days with Rangers, Crystal Palace and Newcastle United, with a view to exploring opportunities for the project.
Capital Region FC co-director Bede Gahan said Moore’s appointment adds credence to CRFC’s ambitions.
“Craig is very highly regarded by Ron Smith so we are delighted to have someone of his experience and expertise on board,” Gahan said.
“I think this shows that we mean business, and we are continuing to build a world-class team of people to make sure that this club can be successful from day one.”
The ACT bid came close to landing a licence in the last round of expansion and is believed to have $5 million at its disposal to propel its bid to become the A-League’s 13th team.
It also has the backing of the ACT government with an in-principle agreement to provide up to 1.5 million in annual funding through cash and payroll tax exemptions.

 
Apr 12, 2012
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Australia legend Moore joins Canberra A-League bid team | The World Game
By Dave Lewis

The former Australia skipper, who spent three years as Brisbane’s Roar’s director of football will work in tandem with the existing head of football Ron Smith to mastermind coaching, player development and elite pathways for the Capital Region Football Collective (CRFC).
Backed by wealthy local family interests and European-based investors, CRFC are in discussions with FFA over buying into the competition, even if that means buying and relocating the financially-stricken Central Mariners.
Undaunted by the current financial tsunami threatening to submerge the future viability of the competition, CRFC director Michael Caggiano has sold Moore, 44, on the vision of a long-awaited team in the ACT.
“There’s great potential in the Canberra region, and being involved for the foundation of a club will be quite an exciting adventure,” said Moore.
“There is probably a feeling amongst the local community that they are always missing out, I can see there’s a real hunger and desire to be successful.
“Canberra is renowned for producing top players, names like Ned Zelic, Tom Rogic, Josep Simunic and Carl Valeri (come to mind).
“Whilst at Brisbane Roar (between 2015-2018) I also recruited Kai Trewin who has already gone on to feature in the first team.
“It’s fair to say that we are all finding life a bit of a struggle at the moment with Australian football.
“It has had some really good times, but it is feeling a bit stale.
“Having the opportunity for a new club from a new region to come in, I think is something exciting that will enable a lot more interest in the game in general."
With TV rights holders Fox Sports to end their 15-year relationship with the A-League at the end of next season, and no obvious replacement in sight, Moore added: “In terms of broadcast rights and what that looks like moving forward, we need to offer something fresh and new to be able to get that interest in the game again.”
Moore jets to the UK this month, where he has a network of contacts amassed during his playing days with Rangers, Crystal Palace and Newcastle United, with a view to exploring opportunities for the project.
Capital Region FC co-director Bede Gahan said Moore’s appointment adds credence to CRFC’s ambitions.
“Craig is very highly regarded by Ron Smith so we are delighted to have someone of his experience and expertise on board,” Gahan said.
“I think this shows that we mean business, and we are continuing to build a world-class team of people to make sure that this club can be successful from day one.”
The ACT bid came close to landing a licence in the last round of expansion and is believed to have $5 million at its disposal to propel its bid to become the A-League’s 13th team.
It also has the backing of the ACT government with an in-principle agreement to provide up to 1.5 million in annual funding through cash and payroll tax exemptions.


Let em in.
 
Jul 5, 2011
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Tassie back on the agender.


Soccer boss still working on A-League team for Tasmania and new soccer stadium for Hobart

TASMANIAN soccer boss Bob Gordon says the state’s push for an A-League team will ramp up next week when he meet with its financial backers and he is closing in on a greenfield site for a national-standard soccer stadium in Hobart.
President of Football Tasmania, Gordon said the coronavirus had shifted the landscape on Australian soccer but the pursuit of a Tasmanian team in the A-League was still on course.

It comes as the state secures a National Basketball League team to be based at a extensively refurbished Derwent Entertainment Centre and will start competing next year.

“I will be talking to the financial backers of the Tasmanian A-League team again next week, and they are still interested,” Gordon said.

“We are working proactively and cooperatively with the State Government about what needs to be done to make sure we’ve got the facilities where we could play A-League.”

Turning Launceston’s AFL venue UTas Stadium into a soccer-ready pitch was a priority.

“The first step is making sure York Park gets upgraded to rectangular stadium format like Marvel Stadium, where the seats come out into the ground so it’s rectangular,” Gordon said.

“That would allow us to play Matildas games in the lead up to the World Cup, as well as A-League games and Y-League games.

“It would be a lasting legacy for every sport that needs a rectangular stadium and it would also increase the seating for other sports as well.

“We will not get the World Cup unless we have a rectangular format stadium.

“We are still working on an option for a rectangular stadium for Hobart.”

A-League games would be played at both ends of the state.

“The proponents are keen on playing games in Hobart and Launceston, just from sheer economics, you get good crowds at both,” Gordon said.

“But we do need a rectangular stadium in Hobart and it wouldn’t just be for the A-League.

“It could be a concert venue for 12,000 or 13,000 people, and we’ve had an international rugby game down here and we occasionally get an NRL game, and it would be used for events like that.

“But you don’t get those unless you’ve got the facilities.”

Gordon said the A-League group identified seven potential sites for a Hobart soccer venue, and the shortlist had been reduced to three.

“It would be quite a modest investment compared with the billion dollars that’s been spent on York Park and Blundstone Arena,” he said.

“We’ve got three locations and we are still working through that process.”

 
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