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Expansion Canberra

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I meant to post this one earlier. Cricket ACT and ACT Chief Minister want a BBL team for Canberra.

And a big part of that would involve Manuka getting upgraded.

Chief Minister Andrew Barr outlines Big Bash vision Manuka Oval​

ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr has challenged the federal government to support his vision to redevelop Manuka Oval and establish a Canberra Big Bash team.

Barr recently met with Cricket Australia officials in Melbourne to outline his plan for cricket in the region.

The Chief Minister has dual goals of attracting more Test matches to Canberra and setting up men's and women's Big Bash teams.

The region currently hosts two Sydney Thunder games a summer, but there is a desire for an ACT team of our own.

Barr is eager to redevelop Manuka Oval, but said that is dependent on securing a BBL licence.


Barr is confident Manuka Oval can be redeveloped while a new rectangular stadium is built in Bruce and pointed to Tasmania for a way the territory and federal governments can combine to build infrastructure.

"There'd be two projects in the stadium space," Barr said.

"[That would mirror] what happened in Tasmania where the Commonwealth invested both in the Hobart new facility and in improving the Launceston one.

"We would be asking for a co-investment in the new rectangular stadium and a co-investment in partnership with the territory government at Manuka Oval. Underpinning that is having a Big Bash team, so that's our number-one priority with Cricket ACT."
 

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Is Barr a footy fan? Very clever way to go about it to avoid sooking from the rugby conglomerate.
There's nothing clever about it when he's made the same move about half a dozen times in the last decade.

Barr's been using empty promises of a new rectangular stadium, which, like it or not, Canberra desperately needs, to gain support for his agenda for over a decade at this point. He's pulled off this con so many times that the Raiders, Brumbies, Capital Football, and general public that cares enough to pay attention, know it, expect it, and have seen through it for a long time now.

Anybody that's been paying attention knows that once push comes to shove talk about the rectangular stadium will dry up, then the government will push for a "multipurpose" sighting the costs of building and maintaining two stadiums, at which point the rectangular sports and other stakeholders will revolt and the whole project will dissolve as a result of the infighting. That's if this federal funding materialises at all and isn't redirected to his tram, which is a massive if.

The rectangular sports shouldn't accept an upgrade or rebuild at Bruce anyway. Bruce is a dead end, there's no future in that suburban hellscape, and it'd be beneficial for all stakeholders and the general pubic if it was built in one of the city centres.

Frankly Barr is a POS, the damage he and his cronies have done to this city is unforgiveable, and given the history and circumstances it'd be an insult to all fair minded people if he abused his position to get an oval stadium over the line before, or instead of, a rectangular one because of his personal biases.
 
There's nothing clever about it when he's made the same move about half a dozen times in the last decade.

Barr's been using empty promises of a new rectangular stadium, which, like it or not, Canberra desperately needs, to gain support for his agenda for over a decade at this point. He's pulled off this con so many times that the Raiders, Brumbies, Capital Football, and general public that cares enough to pay attention, know it, expect it, and have seen through it for a long time now.

Anybody that's been paying attention knows that once push comes to shove talk about the rectangular stadium will dry up, then the government will push for a "multipurpose" sighting the costs of building and maintaining two stadiums, at which point the rectangular sports and other stakeholders will revolt and the whole project will dissolve as a result of the infighting. That's if this federal funding materialises at all and isn't redirected to his tram, which is a massive if.

The rectangular sports shouldn't accept an upgrade or rebuild at Bruce anyway. Bruce is a dead end, there's no future in that suburban hellscape, and it'd be beneficial for all stakeholders and the general pubic if it was built in one of the city centres.

Frankly Barr is a POS, the damage he and his cronies have done to this city is unforgiveable, and given the history and circumstances it'd be an insult to all fair minded people if he abused his position to get an oval stadium over the line before, or instead of, a rectangular one because of his personal biases.

You logged into your Bigfooty account instead of your league unlimited account by accident mate 🤣
 
Just watching the NFL and remembered that Washington changed their name to the Commanders, indicative of their capital status.

I think it could be a name possibility being the Canberra Commanders, seeings as Australia sports like to often emulate American ones and it's a pretty original name in world sports.
 
Was the name of our NBL team.

Will probably be the same when we get an NBL team again (which will likely be the next few years).
Where would they play? At 4000 seats the AIS is too small. Barr's planning for his hybrid indoor entertainment pavilion slash convention centre is nowhere (although he has optimistically identified construction start in 26-27 on a yet to be identified site in the City).
 
Where would they play? At 4000 seats the AIS is too small. Barr's planning for his hybrid indoor entertainment pavilion slash convention centre is nowhere (although he has optimistically identified construction start in 26-27 on a yet to be identified site in the City).

I hadn't been paying enough attention to the detail sorry. I'd heard it spoken about like it was a done deal, but it looks like they'd still need an AIS upgrade to get it done.

Regardless, I'd say it still rules put the Cannons for an AFL team name.
 

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Behind the Canberra Times paywall, but essentially still no decision about the Canberra Men’s Aleague soccer team that is to play in the 2024-25 season. The “deadline” for the inclusion of a Canberra team in the Aleague Men’s competition has been extended repeatedly, with the last deadline being end of 2023. Auckland, which had been announced as the other expansion location, has already been awarded the 13th licence.

 
Behind the Canberra Times paywall, but essentially still no decision about the Canberra Men’s Aleague soccer team that is to play in the 2024-25 season. The “deadline” for the inclusion of a Canberra team in the Aleague Men’s competition has been extended repeatedly, with the last deadline being end of 2023. Auckland, which had been announced as the other expansion location, has already been awarded the 13th licence.


The reddit comments indicate it's likely to get pushed to the 2025-26 season. They're having trouble with an investor. They had investors for previous bids, but investors are less keen after multiple knocked back bids.
 
Seems the ALeague is still planning for a Canberra soccer men’s team to enter and be ready for the 2025-25 season. Will be interesting as time is literally running out, and also the amount of funding Barr gives them

 
Seems the ALeague is still planning for a Canberra soccer men’s team to enter and be ready for the 2025-25 season. Will be interesting as time is literally running out, and also the amount of funding Barr gives them


Why would he give any funding, the team will bring in literally zero travelers from other states for games.
 

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Others may have a more recent source but this is from a mid 2022 article in the context of our government’s funding for horse raising

This year, the ACT government will provide $2.6 million in yearly funding to the Canberra Raiders, $1.78 million in yearly funding to the Brumbies and $1.6 million over four years to the Canberra Capitals and Canberra United," she said.

 
Others may have a more recent source but this is from a mid 2022 article in the context of our government’s funding for horse raising

This year, the ACT government will provide $2.6 million in yearly funding to the Canberra Raiders, $1.78 million in yearly funding to the Brumbies and $1.6 million over four years to the Canberra Capitals and Canberra United," she said.


Yeah so it's probably done on pro rata as to how many traveling fans a club gets. A Canberra AFL team would comfortably get the most.
 
Who here would switch their support to Canberra if they joined the league?
AFL Team: No, I didn't switch from Parramatta to the Raiders when they entered in 1982 and I won't for the AFL.

A-League: I don't support a team in the A-League Men's because I have been waiting for a Canberra team to enter the league, I do support Canberra United in the A-League Women's and get out to 2 or 3 games a season.

NBL: Haven't supported a team since the Cannons were kicked out, and would follow a Canberra team if they were reinstated. The family has been season ticket holders for The Capitals since the mid 90's.
 

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Expansion Canberra

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