A-League The A-League Expansion Thread

[Punt Road Feral]

Wollongong a dead cert and so it should be. Wouldn't mind either Canberra or Tassie with the latter a good option seeing as the AFL are currently treating it like a ginger step child.

Doubt Geelong region could sustain a team.

Are you sure?
While i'm all for it they arn't in Sydney's tv zone so i'm unsure how keen foxtel would be to have them in and grow their subscription base.

The bean counters will be chasing the metrics of crowd numbers & tv ratings

 

[Jazny]

I'm really cynical about the FFA's announcement last week. I think it probably has more to do with their ongoing barney with grass roots clubs and with the FFA than the FFA actually believing in expansion. I still don't think it's going to happen. If FIFA turf out the FFA administration - which they should - then it'll be back to square 1, again, in terms of expansion.

The other problem they have is that we don't have any new bids that are ready to go. So if we are going to expand, in ~18 months, it's going to be clubs that the FFA have made clear they don't want, like South Melbourne, Wollongong Wolves or Brisbane Strikers.

In my view, the "right" answer is definitely Canberra.

The other "right" answer, if the FFA has half a brain, is to commit some funds and some development and take advantage of the basket case that the AFL has created for itself in Tasmania. No doubt this is the native Tasmanian in me influencing this, but I've long believed that Tasmanians will follow almost anything that has a Tasmanian brand attached. If the aim of an A-League club is still "only" to build local support, grow the game among kids, and to be able to average 10k to their games - which most current teams can't do - I think Tasmania is can't miss. The only thing that it's really missing is the start up capital, which is where the FFA should step in.

I would stop watching AFL and support Tasmania if we had a team in the A league

 

[Colonial]

I would stop watching AFL and support Tasmania if we had a team in the A league

You would have a boring winter.

Never got the "can only watch one sport" thing.

On [device_name] using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[giggler99]

Cronulla Sharks join forces with A-League expansion bid
If their application to join an enlarged 12-team A-League in 2019-20 is successful, Southern Expansion would split games between three different venues.

The others are within the two other local football associations the bid aims to represent - Jubilee Oval in Kogarah and WIN Stadium in Wollongong.

Sharks chairman Dino Mezzatesta, meanwhile, has also pledged the club's "full support" to Southern Expansion's bid.

A-League to call for expansion bidders

A formal call for expressions of interest from A-League expansion aspirants is set to be made before the end of the month as Football Federation Australia plots a revival of the ailing competition.

Former NSW premier Morris Iemma, who has succeeded the late Les Murray as Southern Expansion's chairman, welcomed the cross-code agreement.

"We are focused on grassroots engagement with our local community and this Memorandum of Understanding means we can work with the Sharks in order to best utilise the stadium and provide our local fans and visitors with a complete match-day experience when they come to watch Southern," Iemma said.

Southern Expansion is backed by Hong Kong property conglomerate JiaYuan Group and received council approval late last year to build a 30,000-seat stadium in Loftus and a football academy in Barden Ridge.

JiaYuan has reportedly pledged $300 million to fund the new stadium, which would presumably become the full-time home of the A-League team.

AAFC to push national second tier with FIFA, AFC

A-League expansion may be officially on the way but the lobby group pushing for a national second division is intent on making sure their ambitions stay firmly on FIFA's radar.

Southern Expansion chief executive Chris Gardiner said: "Our research suggests that football supporters in each of the three areas in our region - the Shire, St George and Wollongong - want a club for the region and will travel to their local stadia to watch games."

Southern Expansion are considered one of the favourites to be granted a spot in the A-League, with formal expressions of interest set to be called by Football Federation Australia in the next two weeks.

Former NSL champions Wollongong Wolves have also indicated their intention to bid for an expansion licence as a stand-alone Illawarra side.

https://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/article/2018/03/16/cronulla-sharks-join-forces-league-expansion-bid

So much wrong with this, I would rather a stand alone Wollongong team than this regurgitated concept.

 

[Andonis1997]

Let's all give up. The league will officially be pronounced DEAD if Sharks get in.

The only teams from NSW/ACT I will accept are Canberra and/or Wollongong. All this bullshit about "having Wollongong's support". No. No no. No. They have their own side, their own stadium, an undiscernable link to an ethnic population (if that's still a thing nowadays). They deserve it.

 

[giggler99]

Let's all give up. The league will officially be pronounced DEAD if Sharks get in.

The only teams from NSW/ACT I will accept are Canberra and/or Wollongong. All this bullshit about "having Wollongong's support". No. No no. No. They have their own side, their own stadium, an undiscernable link to an ethnic population (if that's still a thing nowadays). They deserve it.

Just shows how out of touch the FFA are. They think by plunking a team in the south of Sydney will create another WSW, huh.. no chance!

 

[craigos]

Why can't these idiots understand that a 30,000 seat stadium is too big? AAMI Park is 30,000 and it feels empty with anything less than 15k.

 

[Established1870]

Just shows how out of touch the FFA are. They think by plunking a team in the south of Sydney will create another WSW, huh.. no chance!

Sydney FC and most journos who cover the A-League have said it will take a fair chunk of their support away too. If South Sydney happens then it shows just how much the FFA lack in their fans and the game here in general.

Gold Coast United have also applied to rejoin the A-League and whilst I feel it's too early for them to come back in, I think eventually they should get back in. Wollongong and Tassie/Canberra/South Melbourne should who come in next.

 

[Kangapirate]

It will be south sydney gimmick roadshow and Brisbane 2.

The ffa will give themselves a big pat on the back and just watch as nothing changes for the following 5 years and the league gets stale again.

I think I’m leaning more towards the 2nd division angle now.

 

[craigos]

Tasmania has to be the right choice. You have a whole state that is going through pretty impressive economic and population growth, there is no shortage of suitable grounds that can be used temporarily until a purpose built stadium is completed.

Everyone, and I mean everyone that loves sport will get behind the team. The states is as patriarchal as they come, even the most steadfast soccer hater will attend a game to watch Tassie take on a Melbourne team. The costs associated with running the club would probably be the lowest in the competition (grounds & employees at least). The proximity to Melbourne and the fact that Tasmanians pretty much live here means they'd be well supported away from home (in at least Vic).

I still don't get the argument that it's not a financially viable thing, that the sponsorship dollars aren't there to warrant. That's such an outdated opinion. In this day and age a sponsor literally sponsor a whole state, people have this weird thing that they think the sponsor has to be from the local area and thats just ludicrous. Of course you want a local connection between business and the club but doesn't mean a major sponsor has to have its headquarters in the city.

I mean, look who Victory is sponsored by every year and we're the biggest club in the country.

 

[nobbyiscool]

Tasmania has to be the right choice. You have a whole state that is going through pretty impressive economic and population growth, there is no shortage of suitable grounds that can be used temporarily until a purpose built stadium is completed.

Everyone, and I mean everyone that loves sport will get behind the team. The states is as patriarchal as they come, even the most steadfast soccer hater will attend a game to watch Tassie take on a Melbourne team. The costs associated with running the club would probably be the lowest in the competition (grounds & employees at least). The proximity to Melbourne and the fact that Tasmanians pretty much live here means they'd be well supported away from home (in at least Vic).

I still don't get the argument that it's not a financially viable thing, that the sponsorship dollars aren't there to warrant. That's such an outdated opinion. In this day and age a sponsor literally sponsor a whole state, people have this weird thing that they think the sponsor has to be from the local area and thats just ludicrous. Of course you want a local connection between business and the club but doesn't mean a major sponsor has to have its headquarters in the city.

I mean, look who Victory is sponsored by every year and we're the biggest club in the country.

Parochial mate - patriarchal means something quite different! (Although it's not entirely untrue when referring to Tassie!)

 

[jd2010]

Dandenong and South Sydney or the gong most likely to get it.

 

[craigos]

Parochial mate - patriarchal means something quite different! (Although it's not entirely untrue when referring to Tassie!)

Haha, whoops. The latter probably applies to the FFA.

 

[Bomberboyokay]

I would stop watching AFL and support Tasmania if we had a team in the A league

I suggest that's unlikely. The AFL and A-League seasons only crossover for 7 weeks.

 

[ioppolo]

A Tassie team would be neat. I'm surprised they haven't jumped on a market whilst the AFL actively avoids Tassie

 

[Andonis1997]

A Tassie team would be neat. I'm surprised they haven't jumped on a market whilst the AFL actively avoids Tassie

With competent leaders, that should have happened at LEAST 3 years ago.

 

[Jazny]

I suggest that's unlikely. The AFL and A-League seasons only crossover for 7 weeks.

I would do it out of spite.

 

[frank_frankson]

In regards to a second division. Could you see established A league clubs surviving relegation.
I dare say clubs like CCM and Perth would be up shit creek big time.

 

[peternorth]

morris iemma former nsw premier will be on bill and box at 9 esdt. he will talk about expansion. probably about more nsw teams

 

[Mr_Bojangles]

Would love to see the NPL play off thing at the end of every year have a winner who takes on the wooden spooners over two legs to see who stays in the A-League. Loser goes back to their state league. Glory has a team in the NPL WA, not sure on all the others. Phoenix has a team in their own league too. A-League provides some parachute payment perhaps.

 

[giggler99]

It's finally happening!! yay!!

Two new A-League clubs to be announced in October
3 minutes
The A-League's two incoming clubs will be announced in October after the long-awaited start of the formal expansion process was announced by Football Federation Australia.

29 Mar 2018 - 2:16 PM UPDATED 1 HOUR AGO

The governing body called on Wednesday for expressions of interest (EOI) from potential bidders, who have been asked to provide information about their strategy for a new club and to prove their financial bona fides.

Once received, the FFA will select a shortlist of bidders and request from them a fully-fledged proposal by the end of August.

A decision will be made by the FFA's board by October 31.

The two new clubs - which it's expected will be from Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane - will begin play in the 2019-20 season.

It's anticipated they will be asked to pay a multi-million dollar fee to join.

However, the A-League will not necessarily expand in tandem with the W-League, with FFA saying it has a "separate and dedicated focus" for the women's competition.

Existing clubs, state federations and the players' union will all be given the chance to submit their views on expansion and how any new teams would affect their operations.

"We have done a lot of work on the fundamentals behind successful expansion of the A-League and we are confident that we will receive some high quality bids as part of this process," FFA chief executive David Gallop said.

"But it's important to remember that this is an interaction with the market and the market will have its own views.

"We must do all we can to ensure that sound business principles and more generally the best interests of football are considered and applied."

FFA's 'Invitation for EOI' document is available online and lists in detail the information required from prospective bidders and criteria by which they will be initially judged.

It also asks for applicants to demonstrate an "understanding and appreciation" of the history and culture of football in Australia, as well as to outline the professional, financial and legal histories of those involved with their bids.

TIMELINE FOR A-LEAGUE EXPANSION FOR SEASON 2019-20
Expressions of interest called for - March 29, 2018

Closing date for expressions of interest - May 24, 2018

Confirmation of shortlisted bidders - June 2018

Release of request for proposals - June 11, 2018

Deadline for submission of proposals - August 31, 2018

https://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/article/2018/03/29/two-new-league-clubs-be-announced-october

 

[Andonis1997]

"Look FIFA we're doing something".

2 new teams = no room for one team to get kicked out

 

[Andonis1997]

"The 10 A-League clubs have rejected FFA's expansion plans after the governing body excluded its member clubs from consultation."

Click here for article: https://bit.ly/2GU5oQo

(Except, it's a paid article.......)

 

[giggler99]

"The 10 A-League clubs have rejected FFA's expansion plans after the governing body excluded its member clubs from consultation."

Click here for article: https://bit.ly/2GU5oQo

(Except, it's a paid article.......)

Paywall ffs!!

 

[Andonis1997]

Paywall ffs!!

The World Game reports it here:
https://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/article/2018/03/29/league-clubs-fume-ffas-expansion-plans

Australian football's civil war has flared up yet again, with A-League clubs lashing out at Football Federation Australia for releasing expansion plans they say they weren't consulted about.

FFA called on Thursday for formal expressions of interest (EOI) from potential bidders, who have been asked to provide information about their strategy for a new club and to prove their financial bona fides.

The governing body aims to announce by the end of October which two new clubs - expected to be from Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane - will be granted entry to the competition for the 2019-20 season.

But in finally starting the formal expansion process, FFA has once more drawn the ire of the existing clubs and their representative, former Adelaide United chairman Greg Griffin, the chairman of the Australian Professional Football Clubs Association (APFCA).

Griffin wrote to FFA chief executive David Gallop to warn their expansion plans were in "complete conflict" with the ongoing governance reform process being steered by FIFA.

"(This) process has been undertaken without any formal consultation of both the (clubs) and the PFA," wrote Griffin, who sold his share in Adelaide this month but remains at the helm of APFCA.

The A-League's two incoming clubs will be announced in October after the long-awaited start of the formal expansion process was announced by Football Federation Australia.


"Should you proceed to make the announcements that you seemingly intend to make soon, APFCA puts you on notice that it does not accept the legitimacy of the process, whatever that may have been, adopted by FFA Administration and the FFA Board to expand the A-League competition.

"Unless and until the corporate governance issues have been resolved any decision made by the FFA Board as to expansion lacks all legitimacy and will not be accepted by APFCA."

FFA's announcement did indicate that existing clubs, state federations and the players union will be given the chance to submit their views on expansion and how new teams would affect their operations.

However, Griffin said that was contrary to the agreement made by stakeholders last month to wait for news from FIFA and AFC as to how the "Congress Working Review Group" would be structured.

"We have done a lot of work on the fundamentals behind successful expansion of the A-League and we are confident that we will receive some high-quality bids as part of this process," Gallop said.

Once it has received all EOIs, FFA intends to select a short-list of bidders and request from them a fully fledged proposal by the end of August.