North want to play 2 home games in WA next season

[Hawkk]

Why even bother playing them? No one is going to turn up unless it is against a big Vic club. North v Richmond might be the only game that could draw a crowd

North's fifth awkward second market finale will be a sight to behold.

Fingers crossed, things work out better for them in WA.

 

[LordLucifer]

Just move them interstate permanently !!!

 

[Rob]

Gotta give North credit for this deal....avoiding any away trips to Perth. Course that means other clubs pick up the slack for that.

It's a bit like free agency compo....the real losers are every other club that pays for it.

 

[McIvor]

Why wouldn't they, if their deal in Tasmania is coming to an end, due to the entry of the 19th club?


Did they? Did they really?


And why would North do that?

Aren’t North a Melbourne club and really both them and Hawthorn should be playing their homes in Melbourne? North will be essentially gifting Freo and West Coast another win so that in of itself is illogical if they were actually serious about being a relevant club.

So there was no merger agreement or merger?

They won’t, but they should. Too many teams in Victoria and largely irrelevant so why not to go with Gold Coast being soulless and a ridiculous name. Could think of many other reasons too.

 

[Canberra Pear]

Gotta give North credit for this deal....avoiding any away trips to Perth. Course that means other clubs pick up the slack for that.

It's a bit like free agency compo....the real losers are every other club that pays for it.

If they finish in the same third as West Coast or Freo, won't they play them twice?

Based on this year's ladder, I'd assume two games against West Coast in 2025, so three games in WA.

 

[Outtatym]

North's fifth awkward second market finale will be a sight to behold.

Fingers crossed, things work out better for them in WA.

I'm sure everyone will get over it - Tas fans glad to get their team and north glad to get 2 games back in Melbourne.

What are Hawthorn doing? I heard rumours of Darwin or FNQ?

 

[Roylion]

Aren’t North a Melbourne club and really both them and Hawthorn should be playing their homes in Melbourne?

If they can get a better financial return playing a couple of home games in Western Australia per year why not.

Collingwood were reported in mid 2024 as being in talks to move one of their 2025 home games scheduled for Marvel Stadium to the Gold Coast in order to further grow their supporter base. Aren't Collingwood also a Melbourne based club?

North will be essentially gifting Freo and West Coast another win

Teams playing away from home do win games. North have won three of their past five games at Optus Stadium.

so that in of itself is illogical if they were actually serious about being a relevant club.

A "relevant" club? What does this mean exactly?

So there was no merger agreement or merger?

I've gone through this elsewhere, but no. The Bears rebranded.

They won’t, but they should.

Why should they?

Too many teams in Victoria

That's debatable.

and largely irrelevant

In terms of what? Profitable in 2023 with a 12th consecutive profit. Multi-million dollar redevelopment of the Arden Street precinct with AFL quality training and admin facilities. Net assets of $19.2m. Record membership in 2023. Debt free.

Gold Coast being soulless and a ridiculous name

Not really a good reason to relocate.

Could think of many other reasons too.

None of them relevant.

 

[Rob]

If they finish in the same third as West Coast or Freo, won't they play them twice?

Based on this year's ladder, I'd assume two games against West Coast in 2025, so three games in WA.

You don't play everyone in your third twice.

We will be certain in a couple of hours, but the story is that the AFL have agreed not to fixture North for any away games in Perth.

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

You don't play everyone in your third twice.

We will be certain in a couple of hours, but the story is that the AFL have agreed not to fixture North for any away games in Perth.

Only for 2025, from what I saw. We'll likely be doing four WA trips after that, you know, once winning the odd game hopefully becomes a possibility.
Which would be fine, if it was away to four WA based teams. No problem with the travel, just making home advantage an away disadvantage should not be allowed (and, yes, I know its a completely separate city a couple of hours drive from Perth).

 

[Rich01]

North Melbourne announces three-year Western Australia agreement

North Melbourne has secured its post-Tasmania future after finalising an agreement to play two home matches in Western Australia

www.nmfc.com.au

Securing its post Tasmania future is a bit of a stretch from the NM in house copywriters. It’s just two games a season for the next three years.

Hardly a road map for the long term.

 

[Roylion]

Securing its post Tasmania future is a bit of a stretch from the NM in house copywriters. It’s just two games a season for the next three years.

Hardly a road map for the long term.

The road map for the long term is to continue as a stand alone entity based primarily in Melbourne. Selling a couple of home games outside Victoria is helping to maintain that goal.

 

[Rich01]

The road map for the long term is to continue as a stand alone entity based primarily in Melbourne. Selling a couple of home games outside Victoria is helping to maintain that goal.

That’s an objective. A roadmap is an action plan detailing to how the objective is achieved. Apart from selling more home games in the short term, what are the other steps required?

 

[Forward Press]

Securing its post Tasmania future is a bit of a stretch from the NM in house copywriters. It’s just two games a season for the next three years.

Hardly a road map for the long term.

If those six games turn a healthy profit (and there is every chance they will), then I don't see how this arrangement does not continue, especially after Tasmania itself enters the competition.

We love footy here in WA.

 

[Roylion]

That’s an objective. A roadmap is an action plan detailing to how the objective is achieved. Apart from selling more home games in the short term, what are the other steps required?

Replacing the four games in Tasmania is essentially their roadmap to that goal. As I've said, North are profitable with a 12th consecutive profit in 2023. They've just had a multi-million dollar re-development of the Arden Street precinct with AFL quality training and admin facilities. They have net assets of $19.2m. They had record membership in 2023. They were debt free in 2023.

They have to exit Tasmania where they have played four home games. They've started the process by playing two of those home games in Western Australia for the next three years. Obviously they also need to improve on-field which will likely improve membership and crowd attendance. They may try to find a replacement for their remaining two Tasmanian home games, as the process of exiting Tasmania before the advent of the Tasmania Devils, continues.

I'm not sure what else is expected. North have been working towards their long term goal of remaining in Melbourne since rejecting the Gold Coast relocation proposal in 2008.

 

[Rich01]

Replacing the four games in Tasmania is essentially their roadmap to that goal. As I've said, North are profitable with a 12th consecutive profit in 2023. They've just had a multi-million dollar re-development of the Arden Street precinct with AFL quality training and admin facilities. They have net assets of $19.2m. They had record membership in 2023. They were debt free in 2023.

They have to exit Tasmania where they have played four home games. They've started the process by playing two of those home games in Western Australia for the next three years. Obviously they also need to improve on-field which will likely improve membership and crowd attendance. They may try to find a replacement for their remaining two Tasmanian home games, as the process of exiting Tasmania before the advent of the Tasmania Devils, continues.

I'm not sure what else is expected. North have been working towards their long term goal of remaining in Melbourne since rejecting the Gold Coast relocation proposal in 2008.

How will playing games in WA improve their membership revenue long term? And attract and optimise their sponsorship potential? Particularly when selling games interstate and getting unfavourable timeslots for tv viewing because of poor crowd attendances? And have they got a full gamit of sponsors at the moment? If not, what’s this ‘roadmap’ doing to rectify it?

And being profitable is one thing, but doing so by cutting back so thin on your football dept resources your list management team is understaffed, the development coach is sub optimal and impacting the futures of young draftees and assistant coaches are brought over and put on the rookie list just to save a buck. All the while getting more handouts than most other clubs.

Selling games to WA isn’t a roadmap for their future and a panacea to all their problems. It’s a quick cash grab and tactic to implement before they work out and execute their long term plan.

 

[kranky al]

I remember they tried this years ago but the AFL blocked it, saying you can’t sell your home games to a location that already has an AFL team.

Could the AFL have changed their tune in the hunt for money?

Would seem a bit of a dangerous precedent where rich clubs could buy home games.

You mean like how Collingwood play “away” games at the mcg to Essendon and Carlton

 

[McIvor]

If they can get a better financial return playing a couple of home games in Western Australia per year why not.

Collingwood were reported in mid 2024 as being in talks to move one of their 2025 home games scheduled for Marvel Stadium to the Gold Coast in order to further grow their supporter base. Aren't Collingwood also a Melbourne based club?



Teams playing away from home do win games. North have won three of their past five games at Optus Stadium.


A "relevant" club? What does this mean exactly?


I've gone through this elsewhere, but no. The Bears rebranded.


Why should they?


That's debatable.


In terms of what? Profitable in 2023 with a 12th consecutive profit. Multi-million dollar redevelopment of the Arden Street precinct with AFL quality training and admin facilities. Net assets of $19.2m. Record membership in 2023. Debt free.




Not really a good reason to relocate.


None of them relevant.

You’ve changed your tune.

You’ve posted many posts talking about the Bears and Fitzroy merging, the merger agreement and now it’s a Bears re-brand.

Also didn’t take you for a North fan given what an apologist you are for them but anyway.

Will leave it there.

 

[Roylion]

You’ve posted many posts talking about the Bears and Fitzroy merging, the merger agreement and now it’s a Bears re-brand.

There's no doubt that the Brisbane Lions have made a very good effort to commemorate and celebrate Fitzroy's VFL-AFL history in the AFL. That's why I've been a member since 1997. However the Lions themselves argued and accepted that Fitzroy and the Brisbane Bears / Lions were separate existing clubs. The Supreme Court of Victoria agreed with them.

Also didn’t take you for a North fan given what an apologist you are for them but anyway.

Never supported North. However any desire to relocate them to the Gold Coast or anywhere else is pure fantasy.

 

[Roylion]

How will playing games in WA improve their membership revenue long term?

Short term it provides an injection of funds. Also offers North to offer something more to any WA supporters that they have in the same manner as non Victorian clubs offer interstate memberships to their Victorian supporters.

And attract and optimise their sponsorship potential?

A greater range of sponsorship is also a possibilty. For example North was sponsored by Spirit of Tasmania.

Yiou said in May that North ".....have to work on losing a sponsor, losing significant Tassie govt dollars, and the logistics of where they are going to play.

They should be well under way of developing up a plan to build an appealing business proposition for two new major sponsors in an incredibly tough market."

That's exactly what they are doing.

Particularly when selling games interstate and getting unfavourable timeslots for tv viewing because of poor crowd attendances?

But North will be getting a guaranteed injection of $7.5 million ($2.5 million a year), irrespective of crowds from 2025-2027. And just one away trip to Western Australia in 2025. From 2026 there will be two more home games in Melbourne bringing it to nine home games in Melbourne. North Melbourne’s largest non-Victorian supporter base is also in Perth.

The capacity for the Bunbury game will be between 10,000-15,000. The WA government has also committed $20 million to upgrade the Oval and an additional $5.7 million to import additional seating, lighting and broadcast facilities.

So reduced overall travel, a very good financial model and two games back in their Melbourne heartland in 12 months time.

And have they got a full gamit of sponsors at the moment?

No idea. Perhaps as a concerned football follower you should find out.

If not, what’s this ‘roadmap’ doing to rectify it?

I'm sure the North board are always looking for opportunities for new sponsors.

And being profitable is one thing, but doing so by cutting back so thin on your football dept resources your list management team is understaffed, the development coach is sub optimal and impacting the futures of young draftees and assistant coaches are brought over and put on the rookie list just to save a buck.

And an extra $7.5 million injection in the next three years will certainly help in that regard.

All the while getting more handouts than most other clubs.

Many other clubs certainly. The point has already been made that variable funding to North, Dogs, Demons, Saints and the smaller non-Victorian clubs is compensation for not having as much access to the marquee time-slots and blockbuster status bequeathed upon the bigger clubs.

Selling games to WA....and a panacea to all their problems.

Where was this said?

It’s a quick cash grab and tactic to implement before they work out and execute their long term plan.

Yes? And?

 

[Rich01]

Short term it provides an injection of funds. Also offers North to offer something more to any WA supporters that they have in the same manner as non Victorian clubs offer interstate memberships to their Victorian supporters.



A greater range of sponsorship is also a possibilty. For example North was sponsored by Spirit of Tasmania.

Yiou said in May that North ".....have to work on losing a sponsor, losing significant Tassie govt dollars, and the logistics of where they are going to play.

They should be well under way of developing up a plan to build an appealing business proposition for two new major sponsors in an incredibly tough market."

That's exactly what they are doing.


But North will be getting a guaranteed injection of $7.5 million ($2.5 million a year), irrespective of crowds from 2025-2027. And just one away trip to Western Australia in 2025. From 2026 there will be two more home games in Melbourne bringing it to nine home games in Melbourne. North Melbourne’s largest non-Victorian supporter base is also in Perth.

The capacity for the Bunbury game will be between 10,000-15,000. The WA government has also committed $20 million to upgrade the Oval and an additional $5.7 million to import additional seating, lighting and broadcast facilities.

So reduced overall travel, a very good financial model and two games back in their Melbourne heartland in 12 months time.


No idea. Perhaps as a concerned football follower you should find out.


I'm sure the North board are always looking for opportunities for new sponsors.


And an extra $7.5 million injection in the next three years will certainly help in that regard.





Where was this said?


Yes? And?

Great. So from all that we can both agree this is a good short term opportunity to grab some $$$.

You haven’t addressed how this addresses their longer term strategy or even what that is, so I’ll assume you just don’t know, like the rest of us.

 

[Roylion]

Great. So from all that we can both agree this is a good short term opportunity to grab some $$$.

Yep. To replace their Tasmania arrangement. Its a good deal for North.

You haven’t addressed how this addresses their longer term strategy or even what that is,

What do you think it is? Increase revenue and sponsorship opportunities to maintain their long term future in Melbourne? And experience some on-field success with hopefully resultant rises in membership and crowd attendance?

so I’ll assume you just don’t know, like the rest of us.

I don't know exactly what else the North board has in store for the future. They'll move from 7 to 9 home games in Melbourne from 2026 onwards. They'll gain $7.5 million over the next three years by playing two home games in WA. They've had their Arden Street HQ upgraded in a $17 million upgrading of the precinct by the Victorian government.

The North board has been working to maintain and increase revenue opportunities to maintain their long term future in Melbourne, ever since they rejected a relocation to the Gold Coast. There's no reason to suggest that effort won't continue.

 

[Rich01]

What do you think it is? Increase revenue and sponsorship opportunities to maintain their long term future in Melbourne? And experience some on-field success with hopefully resultant rises in membership and crowd attendance?

These sound like day to day tasks that every club has. Geez how inspiring…

Stay alive, eventually play all your games in Melbourne, and with some luck it will all come together onfield and the sponsors and crowd will come running.

Hopefully their current CEO isn’t as blasé when setting the clubs direction as you have been. Then again we haven’t heard boo from her in regards to this so for all we know you might be on the money.

 

[edie]

Hopefully their current CEO isn’t as blasé when setting the clubs direction as you have been. Then again we haven’t heard boo from her in regards to this so for all we know you might be on the money.

She spoke to SEN about it:

Jen Watt on SEN - November 13, 2024 - Roos on Radio

North Melbourne CEO Jen Watt joined SEN to discuss the three-year deal to play six home games in WA

omny.fm

Also spoke to 3AW about it:

'I don't agree with you': North Melbourne CEO grilled over decision to sell home games

North Melbourne CEO Jen Watt and Wide World of Sports host Sam McClure have clashed over the club’s call to sell two home games to Western Australia from next season. The Roos will play ‘home’ games against West Coast and Fremantle in Bunbury in 2025, while in 2026 will completely withdrawal...

www.3aw.com.au

And did a press conference:

 

[BallaratBulldog]

She spoke to SEN about it:

Jen Watt on SEN - November 13, 2024 - Roos on Radio

North Melbourne CEO Jen Watt joined SEN to discuss the three-year deal to play six home games in WA

omny.fm

Also spoke to 3AW about it:

'I don't agree with you': North Melbourne CEO grilled over decision to sell home games

North Melbourne CEO Jen Watt and Wide World of Sports host Sam McClure have clashed over the club’s call to sell two home games to Western Australia from next season. The Roos will play ‘home’ games against West Coast and Fremantle in Bunbury in 2025, while in 2026 will completely withdrawal...

www.3aw.com.au

And did a press conference:

I think if Sam McClure is the one against it, it means it’s good for North and the comp.

 

[Lockyer24]

Not hard to see why they haven’t improved - the leadership has no idea

A shame as they have so much exceptional young talent now