Expansion Can't all the codes just get along??

[vinnie]

People are also forgetting that country towns will also benefit greatly from the world cup by having teams training and living there, like the Aust team were camped in Kaiserslaudlen in Germany.

How great would this be for the people of country towns/regional cities like Newcastle, Geelong, Albury, Gold Coast etc to have a team for a month?

let's focus on the positives, not the negatives of the world cup.

 

[genghiskhan]

To all the bleading hearts out there that want us all to love one another .

This is about very big sporting business with millions of dollars at stake as the old Jewish saying goes "business is WAR" and you take no prisoners.

Yeah. It's like asking people to share the premiership on grand final day. You play the game to win.

 

[littleduck]

To all the bleading hearts out there that want us all to love one another .

This is about very big sporting business with millions of dollars at stake as the old Jewish saying goes "business is WAR" and you take no prisoners.

Its not like an all-out war between big business such as coles and woolies. You cant shop at both at once. Its mutually exclusive. One or the other.

Football following is not mutually exclusive and so the adversarial approach is unnecessary and a real turn off. Melbourne Storm have been embraced by Melbourne because Victorians now accept they aren't a threat to their preferred game. Same should apply to Western Sydney. A new AFL should slip in quietly garnering all the goodwill it can and try to show the locals they aren't out to threaten their preferred game... they just want you to support and love them too.

 

[genghiskhan]

Its not like an all-out war between big business such as coles and woolies. You cant shop at both at once. Its mutually exclusive. One or the other.

Football following is not mutually exclusive and so the adversarial approach is unnecessary and a real turn off. Melbourne Storm have been embraced by Melbourne because Victorians now accept they aren't a threat to their preferred game. Same should apply to Western Sydney. A new AFL should slip in quietly garnering all the goodwill it can and try to show the locals they aren't out to threaten their preferred game... they just want you to support and love them too.

Indeed customers can choose between the Woolies and Coles, but the shareholders of both companies demand that the respective boards try to increase their market share. Likewise, football fans can indeed enjoy the many codes, and I am a fan of rugby league, Aussie rules and sometimes I'll watch soccer, but if the executive of any of the codes decided to live in harmony rather than expand, they just wouldn't be doing their job and I could not respect them.

 

[littleduck]

Indeed customers can choose between the Woolies and Coles, but the shareholders of both companies demand that the respective boards try to increase their market share. Likewise, football fans can indeed enjoy the many codes, and I am a fan of rugby league, Aussie rules and sometimes I'll watch soccer,

No, not likewise. One is mutually exclusive. One is not. Big difference.

.. but if the executive of any of the codes decided to live in harmony rather than expand, they just wouldn't be doing their job and I could not respect them.

The executives of all the codes should be trying to grow the key performance indicators in their own brand of football while taking into account the strategic direction of rival brands which lead to change in the dynamics of the football market space within which they operate.

***** me, I feel like I'm writing a university business/marketing assignment again with all them bullshit words and phrases..*

 

[genghiskhan]

No, not likewise. One is mutually exclusive. One is not. Big difference.

The executives of all the codes should be trying to grow the key performance indicators in their own brand of football while taking into account the strategic direction of rival brands which lead to change in the dynamics of the football market space within which they operate.

***** me, I feel like I'm writing a university business/marketing assignment again with all them bullshit words and phrases..*

I am not arguing with you grocery stores or football clubs being mutually exclusive for customers. They are not. If you want to shop at Coles one and Woolies the next, that is fine. Likewise, if you want to watch soccer one day and rugby league the next that is fine. Likewise, if you want to follow South Sydney one week, then Wests Tigers the next, then Parra the next that is fine as well. However, you would not be the ideal customer, or the customer that the boards of all these businesses would be trying to cultivate. They want to shape you so that you show more loyalty and passion for them.

 

[Professor Knowall]

Melbourne Storm have been embraced by Melbourne because Victorians now accept they aren't a threat to their preferred game. Same should apply to Western Sydney. A new AFL should slip in quietly garnering all the goodwill it can and try to show the locals they aren't out to threaten their preferred game... they just want you to support and love them too.

Fair enough - except there's a problem with Melbourne Storm I just posted in another thread - its not a football club, its simply a News Ltd franchise, and "has been embraced" by only a very few in Melbourne. As per the other thread - "the hapless efforts by the News Ltd Herald Sun to try and get us interested in its private little franchise called the Storm. But most of us are way too smart - after 10 years, 2 premierships and constant Herald Sun exposure, we still don't give a toss about this dirty little News Ltd franchise, and never will (its not a football club, just another corporate arm of News Ltd). But Melbourne Victory - now that's another story".

 

[genghiskhan]

Fair enough - except there's a problem with Melbourne Storm I just posted in another thread - its not a football club, its simply a News Ltd franchise, and "has been embraced" by only a very few in Melbourne. As per the other thread - "the hapless efforts by the News Ltd Herald Sun to try and get us interested in its private little franchise called the Storm. But most of us are way too smart - after 10 years, 2 premierships and constant Herald Sun exposure, we still don't give a toss about this dirty little News Ltd franchise, and never will (its not a football club, just another corporate arm of News Ltd). But Melbourne Victory - now that's another story".

I think soccer is really benefitting from this rivalry between football and rugby league much like rugby league benefitted from the rivalry between Australian football and rugby union at the turn of the century. Australian football and union were at each other's throats in Sydney and rugby league slipped under the radar to defeat both of them.

Ironically, both League and Aussie rules have more to fear from soccer than each other. In the southern states, soccer can offer international competition which football can't. In the northern states, it is able to compete with rugby league for corporate dollars in regional areas like Gosford, Newcastle and Townsville where football can't.

 

[jackmac7]

I think soccer is really benefitting from this rivalry between football and rugby league much like rugby league benefitted from the rivalry between Australian football and rugby union at the turn of the century. Australian football and union were at each other's throats in Sydney and rugby league slipped under the radar to defeat both of them.

Ironically, both League and Aussie rules have more to fear from soccer than each other. In the southern states, soccer can offer international competition which football can't. In the northern states, it is able to compete with rugby league for corporate dollars in regional areas like Gosford, Newcastle and Townsville where football can't.

Soccer plays in the summer hear remember and they field 8 sides. I don't understand why people would fear soccer. Ok the Socceroos are going well but that's our national team. The A-league delivers the same quality as the MLS and their crowds have gone from 17,000 in their first year to 16,000 this past year. If you can't deliver the quality or the big guns to any proffessional league then you can't expect success. Anything the A-league is experiencing now is only short term after all the hype following Germany and the new league starting up. What will the A-league look like in 10 or 15 years when all the hype wears off?

Can it survive on Substance?

 

[genghiskhan]

Soccer plays in the summer hear remember and they field 8 sides. I don't understand why people would fear soccer. Ok the Socceroos are going well but that's our national team. The A-league delivers the same quality as the MLS and their crowds have gone from 17,000 in their first year to 16,000 this past year. If you can't deliver the quality or the big guns to any proffessional league then you can't expect success. Anything the A-league is experiencing now is only short term after all the hype following Germany and the new league starting up. What will the A-league look like in 10 or 15 years when all the hype wears off?

Can it survive on Substance?

Personally I think it is likely to go the same way as basketball in Australia, which has even more global popularity that the "world game". In the 90s I heard all the talk that basketball would take over, but look at it now.

As for different seasons, soccer is not really a summer sport. If it got popular it would mover to winter or extend its season into winter.

 

[Rob]

Newcastle needs a 40K stadium.

Possibly the biggest overstatement of all time.

They can't even fill the one they've got.

 

[Dogs Of War]

Possibly the biggest overstatement of all time.

They can't even fill the one they've got.

Have you been there? You would understand that they would if it was good.

 

[The Frederick]

Personally I think it is likely to go the same way as basketball in Australia, which has even more global popularity that the "world game". In the 90s I heard all the talk that basketball would take over, but look at it now.

That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard.

As for different seasons, soccer is not really a summer sport. If it got popular it would mover to winter or extend its season into winter.

AFC is already in winter, A-League season will expand into autumn and winter when it expands more.

 

[jackmac7]

That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard.



AFC is already in winter, A-League season will expand into autumn and winter when it expands more.

If the NSL never made it what makes you think the A-league will?

You can carry on about expanding into winter and Asia but the A-league will be the same old shit, just a different year. You can't fix it, just ask the MLS.

I give it about 10 years before people get fed up with watching crap soccer in Australia every year. You might average 16,000 over 10 teams if your lucky. Hate to be the one to break it to you buddy but it will happen.

Who's Victory playing this week again? Bangkok FC......... Should be a thriller!

 

[The Frederick]

If the NSL never made it what makes you think the A-league will?

You can carry on about expanding into winter and Asia but the A-league will be the same old shit, just a different year. You can't fix it, just ask the MLS.

I give it about 10 years before people get fed up with watching crap soccer in Australia every year. You might average 16,000 over 10 teams if your lucky. Hate to be the one to break it to you buddy but it will happen.

Who's Victory playing this week again? Bangkok FC......... Should be a thriller!

Chunnam Dragons, actually. You should watch; you'll never see your loser Saints play a team from another country.

 

[Chuq]

I'd love it if all the codes could just get along, but when you see shit like this published...

http://blogs.theaustralian.news.com...payers_should_not_be_used_to_back_soccer_bid/

... It paints AFL supporters as complete *********. Yes, I know most of you aren't, but this is the kind of representation people see.

 

[Chuq]

Soccer plays in the summer hear remember and they field 8 sides. I don't understand why people would fear soccer. Ok the Socceroos are going well but that's our national team. The A-league delivers the same quality as the MLS and their crowds have gone from 17,000 in their first year to 16,000 this past year. If you can't deliver the quality or the big guns to any proffessional league then you can't expect success. Anything the A-league is experiencing now is only short term after all the hype following Germany and the new league starting up. What will the A-league look like in 10 or 15 years when all the hype wears off?

Can it survive on Substance?

What, you mean the first year.. BEORE we had qualified for Germany.. when the crowds were averaging almost 11000, about 3 times what NSL crowds were?

The following season where average crowds went to 12900 you might put down to World Cup success...

But what about the most recent season, where we performed abysmally at the Asian Cup... yet our crowd average went up to 14600?

Another jump like that next season and we will be ahead of NRL crowds.

 

[genghiskhan]

That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard.

.

There are almost as many people in China as there are in Europe and Africa combined, and basketball is much more popular than soccer in China. Basketball is reasonably popular in Europe, South America and Africa not to mention north America. I saw a poll a few years back showing more people around the world had an interest in basketball than in soccer.

Then you also have India where another 1.5 billion live, and where soccer is relatively insignificant as well.

There is an exageration about soccer's popularity. Personally, whether soccer was watched by the entire world or just a few villages wouldn't matter to me, but it seems really important to soccer fans.

 

[The Frederick]

There are almost as many people in China as there are in Europe and Africa combined, and basketball is much more popular than soccer in China. Basketball is reasonably popular in Europe, South America and Africa not to mention north America. I saw a poll a few years back showing more people around the world had an interest in basketball than in soccer.

Then you also have India where another 1.5 billion live, and where soccer is relatively insignificant as well.

There is an exageration about soccer's popularity. Personally, whether soccer was watched by the entire world or just a few villages wouldn't matter to me, but it seems really important to soccer fans.

Actually, assoc. football is the most watched sport on PRC television. Basketball has nothing on football in Europe or SA. Assoc. football is already strong in Africa and is growing. Indians only care about cricket.

Next.

 

[Rob]

Have you been there? You would understand that they would if it was good.

Ah yes, the catchcry of the rugby league follower.

'We'd fill our grounds if they were decent'

Subiaco is the biggest shitbox in the country, and it's pretty much full every week. Find another bloody excuse.

 

[Dogs Of War]

Ah yes, the catchcry of the rugby league follower.

'We'd fill our grounds if they were decent'

Subiaco is the biggest shitbox in the country, and it's pretty much full every week. Find another bloody excuse.

Mate, crowds aren't everything. Compared to the rest of the world, Rugby League does fine averaging the crowds we do.

 

[genghiskhan]

Actually, assoc. football is the most watched sport on PRC television. Basketball has nothing on football in Europe or SA. Assoc. football is already strong in Africa and is growing. Indians only care about cricket.

Next.

I don't know where you are getting your figures from. By all means post them if you have them. I live in China. I see plenty of people playing basketball and hope to emulate Yao Ming, and meet plenty of Chinese tell me that soccer is not very popular. Surely if soccer was as popular as you say it is, a country with almost a billion and a half people could do a better job in qualifying for the world cup.

Anyway, I know its comforting for soccer fans to think that everyone outside Australia loves soccer, and if that makes you happy, keep yourself in denial.

 

[littleduck]

Possibly the biggest overstatement of all time.

They can't even fill the one they've got.

Do some homework and you'll find the Knights packed the place out for years when Andrew Johns was playing.... now onfield performances are down, so too have crowds dipped.

 

[Rob]

Do some homework and you'll find the Knights packed the place out for years when Andrew Johns was playing.... now onfield performances are down, so too have crowds dipped.

They've averaged over 20k once this century.

They sure need that 40k stadium.......

 

[genghiskhan]

They've averaged over 20k once this century.

They sure need that 40k stadium.......

Rugby league has an odd relationship with their stadiums. When they've got small stadiums they want big ones, and when they get big ones they want to move back to the small ones. For example, you had the Storm in Melbourne saying that it needed a high-tech rectangular stadium, so the idea of the Docklands was conceived. They played one year on it then moved back to Olympic park. In Canberra, the Raiders said their crowds would improve if Bruce stadium was redeveloped. It was redeveloped and their crowds dropped. In Brisbane, the Broncos moved to ANZ stadium from Lang Park, found out that they couldn't fill it so moved back to Lang Park. In Sydney, there is the Sydney Football stadium and Homebush that the League teams have never really wanted to play on. At one stage, Balmain moved from Leichart to Parramatta stadium as it was bigger, then moved back to Leichart. South Sydney was even talking of redeveloping Redfern oval rather than play at the SFS which is right next to it.

Investing in stadiums for rugby league teams really seems like producing a chain of white elephants. It would probably be a safer bet building grounds for Australian football and cricket, and letting rugby league play on them.