A-League The A-League Expansion Thread

[jd2010]

South Melbourne in the A-League doesn’t automatically mean every Greek in Melbourne is going to start supporting them. Besides ain’t South Melbourne saying they are no longer Greek? or is that just another smoke screen? I’m or for South to come into the A-League but this idea that they will take a majority of fans away from Victory and City is nonsense. If anything South will need to look at new ways of attracting new support apart from the old bitter Greeks leftover.

South got how many people to games back in the day? If not all of them switch back how are they sustainable? They can say all that they want they aren’t a Greek side but how do they actually get people who aren’t Greek to support them? South Melbourne the area isn’t that massive?

 

[Andonis1997]

I'm with giggler99 . Yes, they'll get new fans, but those overly patriotic Greeks (mainly Gen X) who support Victory or City would give it all up for South.

Take it from me, a Greek.

P.S. No, I'm not going to support South.

 

[Colonial]

I'm with giggler99 . Yes, they'll get new fans, but those overly patriotic Greeks (mainly Gen X) who support Victory or City would give it all up for South.

Take it from me, a Greek.

P.S. No, I'm not going to support South.

Shouldnt you be a happy Andonis right now?
Crowd doesnt look bad?

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[Andonis1997]

Shouldnt you be a happy Andonis right now?
Crowd doesnt look bad?

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Oh don't worry I am! Over at least 8k.
Just stating my experience with Greeks after living with my father for 20 years

 

[jd2010]

Oh don't worry I am! Over at least 8k.
Just stating my experience with Greeks after living with my father for 20 years

Over 9k I heard. Looks worse in the massive cake tin. In a 15-20k seat stadium it’d be fine

 

[Andonis1997]

Over 9k I heard. Looks worse in the massive cake tin. In a 15-20k seat stadium it’d be fine

Yeah, 9100. Solid, tentative crowd
That's the case with us, but I've heard there's no where to really build a 20k stadium?

 

[Colonial]

Yeah, 9100. Solid, tentative crowd
That's the case with us, but I've heard there's no where to really build a 20k stadium?

So no rectangle stadium anywhere in Wellington?

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[Andonis1997]

So no rectangle stadium anywhere in Wellington?

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Well yes, but.. it's probably best to build a new one haha, as far as I know. For some of the 'travelling circus' games, places like Hutt Rec were on makeshift stands! There were plans to upgrade a rectangular stand in 2013 in Petone, but 'NIMBY's were against it.
(Off-topic but) if we get that independent A-League and have a future we can plan one.

 

[jd2010]

Yeah, 9100. Solid, tentative crowd
That's the case with us, but I've heard there's no where to really build a 20k stadium?

Not too sure if there's nowhere or no appetite for a new stadium in the city. There is talks of a harbourside rectangular stadium being built in Auckland which is a must but not sure that will impact the 'Nix or the A-League at all

 

[Andonis1997]

Not too sure if there's nowhere or no appetite for a new stadium in the city. There is talks of a harbourside rectangular stadium being built in Auckland which is a must but not sure that will impact the 'Nix or the A-League at all

Isn't North Harbour viable anymore?

Nix do need a boutique stadium though, but if they keep playing well and fighting hard we'll get the 10k we need to have those "metrics" up and running.

 

[jd2010]

Isn't North Harbour viable anymore?

Nix do need a boutique stadium though, but if they keep playing well and fighting hard we'll get the 10k we need to have those "metrics" up and running.

Nah North Harbour was never viable imo. Too far out of the city

North of the harbour bridge with transport that makes Waverley park look decent.

 

[AJ_2000]

South Melbourne in the A-League doesn’t automatically mean every Greek in Melbourne is going to start supporting them. Besides ain’t South Melbourne saying they are no longer Greek? or is that just another smoke screen? I’m or for South to come into the A-League but this idea that they will take a majority of fans away from Victory and City is nonsense. If anything South will need to look at new ways of attracting new support apart from the old bitter Greeks leftover.

The poweres that be will like the idea of untapped areas like team 11 or WTF that bid is from the west. South are a solid prospect - but they don't have a history of going with what makes sense.

 

[giggler99]

Cashed-up Southern Expansion urge FFA not to delay
By Dave Lewis

Doubts are growing that the FFA board, to be elected late next month by a newly-minted Congress, will sanction expansion because - as one source put it - “every bid is flawed” and “time is running out”.

Should the new board share that view, then the hopes of the six remaining bidders would be dashed until 2020-2021 at least.

All the bidders agree that would be a retrograde step, with Southern Expansion CEO Chris Gardiner insisting: “All of the stakeholders are now saying this has to be resolved in November because we need to grow the league without further delay.

“I’m pretty comfortable that we’re going to get a decision in November from the new board, with the existing shortlist that has been presented to them by the current board and Deloitte.

“I think the biggest risk the board could take would be to hold off now, and jeopardise all the momentum that’s been built up.

“If you don’t do it for next season, you lose another whole season with everybody left waiting.

“It would be a cloud over this season and next.

“The question of ‘why?’ would be raised. If it’s a case of them saying there’s not enough information then that’s wrong. Of course there is. There is all the information you need.

“I think the biggest gamble would be to not go ahead because everybody is expecting expansion and everybody thinks it should happen immediately.”

Gardiner challenged football’s new rulers, in the post-Steven Lowy age, to eschew caution and grow the competition to 14 clubs within two years.

“I think a big question for them is to be more adventurous and expand and to say: ‘We’ve got two teams coming in next year and two more the following season,’ he said.

“That, in my view, would be the best way forward.”

With in excess of $25 million in the bank, Chinese-backed Southern Expansion, who aim to play out of two venues in Sydney’s south and one in Wollongong, have put more money on the table than any other bidder.

“The FFA are going to have an a huge unbudgeted windfall if anybody else is able to put up the money we have,” Gardiner said.

“But it’s not just about the money. We wrote a letter to the FFA last week to remind them of the strength of our bid.

“It stated that on the assumption they're objective about this - and don’t take any club in fear or favour - and accept that the league needs an immediate success, then we're the best club.

“Sydney FC are opposed to us but Western Sydney have every reason to be just as opposed to the Sydney South West bid. So I think they neutralise each other.

“Our bid is based on football logic. We have the best governance, the biggest player base (40,000 registrations), three stadia (Jubilee Oval, Shark Park and WIN Stadium), four local councils, and three associations (St George, Sutherland and South Coast) all behind us.”

https://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/cas...bdLfNJJrt36xuX7nugZU12D5QNh7yNoVnl5l1mH_XFw_4

 

[Colonial]

Cashed-up Southern Expansion urge FFA not to delay
By Dave Lewis

Doubts are growing that the FFA board, to be elected late next month by a newly-minted Congress, will sanction expansion because - as one source put it - “every bid is flawed” and “time is running out”.

Should the new board share that view, then the hopes of the six remaining bidders would be dashed until 2020-2021 at least.

All the bidders agree that would be a retrograde step, with Southern Expansion CEO Chris Gardiner insisting: “All of the stakeholders are now saying this has to be resolved in November because we need to grow the league without further delay.

“I’m pretty comfortable that we’re going to get a decision in November from the new board, with the existing shortlist that has been presented to them by the current board and Deloitte.

“I think the biggest risk the board could take would be to hold off now, and jeopardise all the momentum that’s been built up.

“If you don’t do it for next season, you lose another whole season with everybody left waiting.

“It would be a cloud over this season and next.

“The question of ‘why?’ would be raised. If it’s a case of them saying there’s not enough information then that’s wrong. Of course there is. There is all the information you need.

“I think the biggest gamble would be to not go ahead because everybody is expecting expansion and everybody thinks it should happen immediately.”

Gardiner challenged football’s new rulers, in the post-Steven Lowy age, to eschew caution and grow the competition to 14 clubs within two years.

“I think a big question for them is to be more adventurous and expand and to say: ‘We’ve got two teams coming in next year and two more the following season,’ he said.

“That, in my view, would be the best way forward.”

With in excess of $25 million in the bank, Chinese-backed Southern Expansion, who aim to play out of two venues in Sydney’s south and one in Wollongong, have put more money on the table than any other bidder.

“The FFA are going to have an a huge unbudgeted windfall if anybody else is able to put up the money we have,” Gardiner said.

“But it’s not just about the money. We wrote a letter to the FFA last week to remind them of the strength of our bid.

“It stated that on the assumption they're objective about this - and don’t take any club in fear or favour - and accept that the league needs an immediate success, then we're the best club.

“Sydney FC are opposed to us but Western Sydney have every reason to be just as opposed to the Sydney South West bid. So I think they neutralise each other.

“Our bid is based on football logic. We have the best governance, the biggest player base (40,000 registrations), three stadia (Jubilee Oval, Shark Park and WIN Stadium), four local councils, and three associations (St George, Sutherland and South Coast) all behind us.”

https://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/cas...bdLfNJJrt36xuX7nugZU12D5QNh7yNoVnl5l1mH_XFw_4

Southern can * right off.

They are nothing like the Sth West bid.

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[giggler99]

Southern can **** right off.

They are nothing like the Sth West bid.

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I agree how can you have a team playing out of three venues? The People of Wolloingong should tell them to F*ck Off!

 

[Colonial]

I agree how can you have a team playing out of three venues? The People of Wolloingong should tell them to F*ck Off!

1 off them being the Sky Blues heartland.

At least past Sth West is some distance away from Parra hell it has 1 ground and is on a train line.
Wanderers have inner west Parra to Penrith locked up.



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[AJ_2000]

3 stadiums... That'll be successful. Clubs struggle to find their identity in one place, but the should throw Canberra in to mix and make it 4.

 

[Andonis1997]

I hope the bid dies a slow, painful death

 

[Colonial]

I hope the bid dies a slow, painful death

I'm in a charitable mood. Kill 'em quick

 

[giggler99]

Looks like expansion will have a whole new process.

New FFA board poised to delay A-League expansion until 2020-21 season | The World Game
By Dave Lewis
While football’s stakeholders are united in the commitment to grow the competition from 10 to 12 teams, sooner rather than later, the prevailing wisdom is that a new board - to be finalised at an FFA AGM on November 15 - will want to perform its own due diligence on the would-be entrants.

The existing board, whose chairman Steven Lowy will stand down next month, had planned to name the two successful bidders today (October 31) for entry into the league in 2019-20.

But, in a split decision, they instead opted to pass the ball to their successors, with all indications now that aspirants Canberra, Southern Expansion, Macarthur South West Sydney, Team 11, Western Melbourne Group and South Melbourne will have to wait on the sidelines for longer than they had hoped.

“Nobody is strong enough to be nominated at this stage,” said an influential source.

“It will require a different approach, a preferred bidder approach.

“Everybody wants expansion but the whole football family needs to come together to get the bids up. Nobody wants to set teams up for failure.”

The expectant six clubs are hoping that if there is a delay, the new board will at least announce the two successful bidders before Christmas. But there are no guarantees that will happen either.

The ambitious Western Melbourne Group, for one, insist they are “ready to go” for next year but acknowledge they would also benefit from extra time to gear up for success.

Frontman, and former Socceroos defender, Steve Horvat said: “A delay would give everybody the opportunity to go about doing everything the right way.

“It might not be that bad of an outcome. From our point of view, we are ready to go now.

“But we are not going to walk away if it is delayed by 12 months.

“I think the marjority of the bids all have sound business cases, and I’m sure they’ll also be there still knocking on the door if there is a hold up.

“Of course, it’s frustrating to wait because expansion can’t come quickly enough.

“But I think overall, there’s a feeling of excitement and expectation out there about new teams and new colours.

“Obviously a new board is coming in and you have to give things time. While we don’t like the thought of it (a delay), if there is one you will have to accept it.

“It would give new clubs more time to build a supporter base, fan engagement and community engagement and like everything in life, the more time you have to prepare the better the outcome will be.”

While sharing the frustration that a hold up would bring, South West Sydney co-chairman Gino Marra said his bid wasn’t going away either.

“We’ve already invested a significant amount of money and of course, we want a decision sooner rather than later,” Marra said.

“We’re committed to the area and we’re committed to bringing football to the south west, so we will continue knocking on the door - whether there is a delay, whether we get knocked back - until we get a team in the area.”

https://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/new...ERXUbWASA05FQSDueW5KSG0ruOBL8PYFebJncjSIw-f2U

 

[TommyD13]

No Southern Expansion or Team 11 for me. Any two of the other four and I’ll be happy!


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[AJ_2000]

Sounds like the whole process will start again.

 

[Andonis1997]

Wolves are like an STD to the FFA. Just won't go away, and I love it

 

[Andonis1997]

Also I feel like this is an apt Simpsons reference for most of this whole process.

 

[Mitchell54]

I'd love a Wollongong Team to come in.

I think a soccer team would be embraced.

WIN stadium is a great ground to watch sport at.

Very underutilized stadium as it is.