Expansion 3rd Western Australian club

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SgtSchulz

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Apr 24, 2014
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Perth population ~ 2,100,000 @ +2.5% P.A.

Having three WA teams would result in a population share of 700k per team in 2015 (600k per Vic team).

Doubling up games with Fremantle and West Coast would save one of the existing clubs up to 4 flights to and from eastern states each year.

Looking at demographics the most likely region of Perth to gain a team would be in the Northern suburbs.

It will be interesting to see how successful Perth Stadium turns out to be.

map.jpg
 

bombersfan4000

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Jun 30, 2014
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Perth population ~ 2,100,000 @ +2.5% P.A.

Having three WA teams would result in a population share of 700k per team in 2015 (600k per Vic team).

Doubling up games with Fremantle and West Coast would save one of the existing clubs up to 4 flights to and from eastern states each year.

Looking at demographics the most likely region of Perth to gain a team would be in the Northern suburbs.

It will be interesting to see how successful Perth Stadium turns out to be.

View attachment 241406
Wonder if the WA government would help push it as it would be more games at the new stadiums meaning more money
 

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Garlic muncher

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I am constantly amazed at how aged the WCE membership is, I do work at retirement villages all over Perth and the amount of retirees that are WCE members is amazing and they will not give up their memberships - which of course is there right, they will not sell back seats when not there for fear of offending people around them that they have known for 20 years.

It is quite the closed shop.
 

telsor

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Perth population ~ 2,100,000 @ +2.5% P.A.

Having three WA teams would result in a population share of 700k per team in 2015 (600k per Vic team).

Doubling up games with Fremantle and West Coast would save one of the existing clubs up to 4 flights to and from eastern states each year.

Looking at demographics the most likely region of Perth to gain a team would be in the Northern suburbs.

It will be interesting to see how successful Perth Stadium turns out to be.

I agree there should be a 3rd WA team (and probably a 4th in time), but the argument against is usually that there is nowhere to put it, although if people think a team can be based across the entirety of Tasmania, then I don't see why a team can't be based across the entirety of Perth (or WA more generally).

It would run into big opposition from the vested interests though...The WA clubs of course (and their fans) who are afraid of competition, but it would also run into issues with the dynamic between WAFC & AFL over ownership, finances and control (both of the club and the game).

BTW...700K per team in Perth V 600K per team in Vic...You're comparing a state to a city...the difference is even bigger.
 

telsor

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Who would leave the dockers or eagles to follow a new club? Some obviously, but enough to pack out stadiums?

People who want to see games live, but can't?

They shouldn't need to 'pack out' the stadium either...Having seats available would help attract people and grow their fanbase. Consider a WCE member who has never been able to seen a game live in 30 years and goes to a game or two out of curiosity and likes the experience.. Decides 'team 3' is his '2nd team' and goes more often, and gradually his allegiance shifts.

That they could/would also noticeably charge less for memberships/entry, especially during the establishment phase would also help (and that's what scares the current WA clubs...the notion that if the supply starts catching up with demand, they wont be able to rort their fans so badly)
 

mxett

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People who want to see games live, but can't?

They shouldn't need to 'pack out' the stadium either...Having seats available would help attract people and grow their fanbase. Consider a WCE member who has never been able to seen a game live in 30 years and goes to a game or two out of curiosity and likes the experience.. Decides 'team 3' is his '2nd team' and goes more often, and gradually his allegiance shifts.

That they could/would also noticeably charge less for memberships/entry, especially during the establishment phase would also help (and that's what scares the current WA clubs...the notion that if the supply starts catching up with demand, they wont be able to rort their fans so badly)
fair call. They would still be the 'runt' of the Perth pack for years to come though
 

kid_a

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I am constantly amazed at how aged the WCE membership is, I do work at retirement villages all over Perth and the amount of retirees that are WCE members is amazing and they will not give up their memberships - which of course is there right, they will not sell back seats when not there for fear of offending people around them that they have known for 20 years.

It is quite the closed shop.
ha yeah, at subi its quite amazing how many oldies make up the crowd.
If you're at a pub watching the eagles over here, its mostly younger bogans.
 

kid_a

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New WA side wouldn't be considered til at very earliest 2030, at that's just considered not admitted.
Joondalup seems the most likely option for a new club.
 

telsor

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fair call. They would still be the 'runt' of the Perth pack for years to come though

Of course...First in gets the lions share, but there should still be enough left for at least 1 more.
 

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telsor

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New WA side wouldn't be considered til at very earliest 2030, at that's just considered not admitted.
Joondalup seems the most likely option for a new club.

Why?

The longer they wait the harder it would be.
 

telsor

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well I think we all know the AFL don't like taking action 'quickly'.

Don't they?

They put GC & GWS together pretty quickly after North turned down a move to GC. Using that time frame, we'd be looking at early 2020s. Maybe sooner as there would be less work to do as there would be more infrastructure in place already.
 

The_Reaper

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Jan 26, 2006
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People who want to see games live, but can't?

They shouldn't need to 'pack out' the stadium either...Having seats available would help attract people and grow their fanbase. Consider a WCE member who has never been able to seen a game live in 30 years and goes to a game or two out of curiosity and likes the experience.. Decides 'team 3' is his '2nd team' and goes more often, and gradually his allegiance shifts.

That they could/would also noticeably charge less for memberships/entry, especially during the establishment phase would also help (and that's what scares the current WA clubs...the notion that if the supply starts catching up with demand, they wont be able to rort their fans so badly)

People have become used to become tv fans
 

Docker Alyssa

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Sep 25, 2010
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I don't understand why this "needs" to happen? Sydney won't get a 3rd team off the ground, and are a significant population (20% of nation)

I'd say the natural amount of Aussie Rules supporters in WA support either Freo or WCE, with membership or TV viewing. It's not like the WAFL memberships are sky rocketing and were seeing state league crowds of 10-15K because the big bad established clubs are closing out this market opportunity.

If a West Perth (based in the "proposed" Joondalup) was attracting significant crowds in the 6000+ range your argument could be bolstered. Or if Subiaco, who is doing well, and playing at a 15K capacity stadium were getting half filled turn outs consistently. But they're just not.
 

Kwality

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Perth population ~ 2,100,000 @ +2.5% P.A.

Having three WA teams would result in a population share of 700k per team in 2015 (600k per Vic team).

Doubling up games with Fremantle and West Coast would save one of the existing clubs up to 4 flights to and from eastern states each year.

Looking at demographics the most likely region of Perth to gain a team would be in the Northern suburbs.

It will be interesting to see how successful Perth Stadium turns out to be.

View attachment 241406

Which 2nd tier team is going to provide the players?
Do you suggest the AFL strip a current club of its licence?
Why is X00 population a valid measure of expansion?
Are there too many players of AFL standard NOW - Freo is short a few, so too are the Tigers !!
Most current lists are shallow - see excuses based around injury.
Why does a team need to have a region attached?
Who is going to pay?
Where are the fans to join this new club?

Doggy do!!
 

Kwality

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If you haven't heard there is a new larger stadium being built here opening in 2018.

And although the season ticket membership is full even atm you can still easily get a seat to every Fremantle game in Perth .

Seats aren't available according to telsor, he's tried/trying !!

Tigers fans converting to Hawks members to see a Grand Final (even a flag) in their lifetime !! NIL at last count.
 

bradrowe#32

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So who here that lives in Perth would ever consider changing to a new team?

I wouldn't.

Maybe neutrals would support it? A lot of people have moved over from east in the past few years and stayed here. Maybe they support Victorian clubs and want to support a new club that doesn't have the history of the two WA clubs. It's possible I guess.
 

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