A-League The A-League Expansion Thread

[Andonis1997]

I'm back in Aus now but I'll jump on their site around then and see if they post any updates. Is that NZ time?

Good chance it's lip service type material

Yeah, NZ time

Welp, Rob has released a statement just as I posted about the possible interview.

Is that a "if the FFA get kicked out, we stay" message? And if they stay, we sell?

 

[jd2010]

Yeah, NZ time

Welp, Rob has released a statement just as I posted about the possible interview.
View attachment 487408
Is that a "if the FFA get kicked out, we stay" message? And if they stay, we sell?

Nah dont think it's anything that major. Clubs will try to buy their licence if the FFA stay is that what your worry is?

How are the nix going on those two metrics? On field performances are so key for both of them, especially attendance. Sky viewers is slightly outside their control but like I said the general Kiwi sporting public isn't that interested in the Nix/A-League but are interested in the sport so there's potential there

 

[Andonis1997]

The statement has been removed from the website now...... What is going on?

Nah dont think it's anything that major. Clubs will try to buy their licence if the FFA stay is that what your worry is?

Considering everything goes through the FFA, they have stated our licence is limited to NZ so I'm not worried about selling. It's the FFA I worry about. They'll kick us out, an independent league won't.

How are the nix going on those two metrics? On field performances are so key for both of them, especially attendance. Sky viewers is slightly outside their control but like I said the general Kiwi sporting public isn't that interested in the Nix/A-League but are interested in the sport so there's potential there

If the performances are there, the general Kiwi sporting public will come. We saw when the Nix had that home final (when Ifill scored the winner in extra time), the people came and filled Westpac Stadium.
Maybe the people just need a boutique rectangular stadium to excite them.

EDIT: Piney's interview with Morrison:
https://m.soundcloud.com/piney6/rob-morrison-addresses-wellington-phoenix-speculation

 

[Andonis1997]

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/soc...lbourne-approach-phoenix-20180425-p4zbin.html

I love Hellas, but basically they have suggested a takeover, because no one has listened to Morrison's chat explaining that we're waiting on the Independent A-League to happen.

They want their blue strip, name, history and the brand, and that lack of flexibility is the reason why they weren't asked into the A-League in the first place. Close-minded club.

 

[Redalert]

Optimistic by South Melbourne, but then again they've tried a few times.

My feeling is Wellington's days are numbered regardless of the outcome of deliberations.

 

[jd2010]

SM surely have no hope with that

Three Melbourne sides within walking distance of one another all playing in blue and white.

 

[Andonis1997]

Optimistic by South Melbourne, but then again they've tried a few times.

My feeling is Wellington's days are numbered regardless of the outcome of deliberations.

Not happening.

And we'll survive when the FFA get kicked out.

 

[craigos]

I have thought long and hard about this and to me it is such a simple equation. It needs to get back to the essence of football, having your own patch of turf that you share with no one. A fortress to call your own. If in an incumbent bidder doesn't have in writing to build their own facility then it should be the first thrown out.

The A League needs to stop trying to be something it's not, a "light" version of AFL. It should be trying to be more like a polished (not Polish) version of what we see in the FFA Cup. A unique experience in every ground, not the mundane boring "if you're Victory stand up" type rubbish that gets displayed on a screen. The FFA really need to put their trust in the people who make this sport, the fans.

So, what clubs would potentially offer this?

South Melbourne (Vic) - Already have the facility and something unique
SE Melbourne (Vic) - Would need to build it but potentially be playing out of the same grounds as the two current Melbourne teams. No thanks
Tasmania (Tas) - Would be unique, maybe not the greatest facility to begin with but the promise to purpose build a football stadium is well known.
Southern Expansion (NSW) - Playing out of another NRL facility, which would make it 3/4 NSW teams that do so.
Wollongong (NSW) - I believe they'd have their own ground and the history to go along.

That's what I know from the top of my head. Unsure of what the Gold Coast/Brisbane bids are about. Only one of these has the potential to galvanise a whole state and currently has no other sporting competition to contend with. For me Tasmania would be the team that would get the most exposure across the country if it was announced as successful. It would get a lot of articles from AFL based journalists, a lot of Tasmanian sporting identities would jump on board and I can not see it doing well.

 

[Heardy_101]

I hate to say it but its looking like Wellington may be bought out or kicked out....

Article today on SBS World game that the Brisbane Strikers have looked at their license, as well as previous talks about South Melbourne and "Southern Expansion" buying the license as well.

I'd love to see the Phoenix stay, purely as a giant middle finger to the FFA, but it's not looking likely. I'll be proven wrong no doubt

 

[Heardy_101]

Also, as much as it won't happen, I'd love to see Adelaide City come in. It would bring back a lot of disenchanted Adelaide soccer fans as not all of them follow United.

 

[craigos]

Also, as much as it won't happen, I'd love to see Adelaide City come in. It would bring back a lot of disenchanted Adelaide soccer fans as not all of them follow United.

Where would they play? Would much rather a second Adelaide team than a third Melbourne team.

How does this buying the license work though? You only own like 49% yeah? Surely you can't just buy the license and relocate/rebadge the whole club without jumping through the same whoops the expansion teams will.

 

[Heardy_101]

Where would they play? Would much rather a second Adelaide team......

Probably Hindmarsh to begin with, or they do up their current ground wherever that is.

How does this buying the license work though? You only own like 49% yeah? Surely you can't just buy the license and relocate/rebadge the whole club without jumping through the same whoops the expansion teams will.

I have no idea to be honest. I'm guessing it's either an outright buy or something.

 

[Andonis1997]

Read this. This is the truth. No one does their research.
http://www.goal.com/en-au/news/in-d...llow-fever-fan-has/1szj8tyqm2lrh1xtqbu1jd7n09

I hate to say it but its looking like Wellington may be bought out or kicked out....

Article today on SBS World game that the Brisbane Strikers have looked at their license, as well as previous talks about South Melbourne and "Southern Expansion" buying the license as well.

I'd love to see the Phoenix stay, purely as a giant middle finger to the FFA, but it's not looking likely. I'll be proven wrong no doubt

Appreciate the last sentence, but it's all fake news. We'd be kicked out before being bought out. We'd accept investors, not a takeover by another club.

 

[Andonis1997]

This will be the last Nix post on our future, I promise.

"Here we begin frank speculation. And since we are speculating, we'll use those powerful pseudo-laws, the Principles of Mediocrity and Minimal Assumption.” ― Vernor Vinge, A Fire Upon the Deep

As a club we are loath to comment on speculation around the club but given the paucity of fact checking by media outlets we are responding to some recent stories by two of those outlets.

On Wednesday Fairfax media carried a story stating “South Melbourne says it is also looking to do some sort of deal with the Phoenix...” and that they “ had initiated talks with the Nix almost a year ago”.

Fairfax ran that story without contacting the Phoenix and without bothering to check the facts.

For the record the Phoenix are not doing any deal with South Melbourne, we are not in negotiations with them and the last official contact that the Phoenix had with South Melbourne was August 2016.

One phone call from Fairfax would have established this.

Today SBS have published a story claiming, amongst other things, that the Brisbane Strikers, another expansion club, “want to make a stand-alone purchase, whilst the Phoenix are seeking to maintain a footprint in the form of team colours, or a percentage of ownership”. They go on to quote Strikers Chairman Bruce Atterton-Evans “ I can say talks are ongoing” whilst declining to divulge any of the detail of the negotiations.

They also quote another apparent associate of the Strikers, Miron Bleiberg stating that the club had been ahead of the curve in their approach to Wellington and “... they’ve had a few more approaches but ours still stands”.

This is pure fairy tale stuff. The Phoenix have made no approach to the Brisbane Strikers, we have had no discussions with them and there are no talks on going. Can we make it any clearer than that?

No one from SBS fact checked this article with the Phoenix, it doesn’t even rank as mediocre journalism.

The SBS article also states, following on from the Fairfax article, that David Dome the GM of the Phoenix and Rob Morrison the Chairman, visited Bill Papastergiadis from South Melbourne last year in Melbourne, “seeking to off load 25% of the club”.

This is not true.

The only meeting the Phoenix had in Melbourne, with South Melbourne, took place in June 2016 and that was in response to an approach from South Melbourne to the Wellington Phoenix. There has been no contact since August 2016 , apart from an email from South Melbourne three days ago which the Phoenix have not replied to.

It would appear that some of the expansion clubs think it is good business to conduct their negotiations via the media. That is not a view shared by the Wellington Phoenix.

Although we do not want to respond to each piece of speculation, we will endeavour to keep the fans, members and sponsors updated where possible, especially when the media is an apparent adapter of Vinge’s pseudo-laws.

Listen to this full audio interview for more information: https://bit.ly/2qY8lb

https://www.wellingtonphoenix.com/news/wellington-phoenix-end-speculation

 

[giggler99]

New $170m soccer stadium proposed in Dandenong by Team 11 franchise

EXCLUSIVE: A $170 MILLION soccer stadium built in the heart of Dandenong is at the centre of plans to transform Melbourne’s southeast.

The 15,000-seat ground would be home to the A-League’s 11th franchise and a W-League team, and would host concerts, festivals, and NRL and rugby union games.

ETIHAD STADIUM TO UNDERGO MASSIVE $225 MILLION MAKEOVER

LIBS TO SHELVE $300M ETIHAD PLAN, USE CASH FOR GRASSROOTS SPORT

ENGLAND’S FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION SET TO SELL WEMBLEY STADIUM

Businessman and Dandenong local Gerry Ryan said the concept would revitalise the region through the creation of jobs and investment.

An artist’s impression of the proposed Dandenong Stadium
“This is a game-changer for the city of Dandenong and for the southeast of Victoria,” Mr Ryan told the Herald Sun. “We want to provide our children — and all members of our culturally diverse community — a cause they can unite behind, be inspired by and feel connected to.

“A football team playing out of a venue such as this would do just that.” The site of the stadium — just 100m from the Dandenong train station — will be gifted by the Greater Dandenong Council.

The council and a “Team 11” steering committee is working with Development Victoria on concepts but state government funds are yet to be committed.

A significant revitalisation project in Melbourne’s southeast could be a critical vote-winner in November’s state election, with nine marginal seats in the region — seven held by Labor and two by the Coalition.

The southeast bid team is competing against the South Melbourne Football Club, a third group from Melbourne’s western suburbs and eight interstate consortiums for two new A-League licences.

A decision will be made by Football Federation Australia in October.

Construction of “Dandenong Stadium” — designed by Cox Architecture, creator of Melbourne’s AAMI Park — is predicated on Team 11 being admitted into the A-League. Its initial capacity is slated at 12,000-15,000 with the ability to expand to 20,000. The City of Casey and Cardinia Shire Council have also backed the plan.

Socceroos legend and Team 11 ambassador Vince Grella said the stadium would boast an intimacy to rival all others.

An aerial view of where the stadium will sit in Dandenong.
“Football fans in Australia have been crying out for boutique venues in which to house our clubs — Dandenong Stadium is perfect,” Grella said. “There are more people playing football than any other sport.

“Not only will Team 11 be able to enjoy this facility, but the potential for Socceroos, Matildas and youth internationals to be played here is very real, as well as local club games and regional gala events and tournaments.”

The state government committed $260 million to revitalising Dandenong’s city centre 12 years ago.

The proposal is being pitched as stage two of a plan to re-establish Dandenong as the capital of the state’s southeast.

 

[giggler99]

I’m all for this now go team11!

 

[Seedsfan]

First time posting in these parts and I am not a big soccer person. But I came across this article and online and I was thinking how much rectangular sport do we have in Victoria and will the ground be economically viable considering they just built AAMI?

170 million seems like a lot of government money to be spent on a ground that will host one side.

Also I am alway curious when new sides come in, if you were a Victory or City fan and you lived in Dandenong would you potentially swap teams if team 11 came in?

 

[craigos]

First time posting in these parts and I am not a big soccer person. But I came across this article and online and I was thinking how much rectangular sport do we have in Victoria and will the ground be economically viable considering they just built AAMI?

170 million seems like a lot of government money to be spent on a ground that will host one side.

Also I am alway curious when new sides come in, if you were a Victory or City fan and you lived in Dandenong would you potentially swap teams if team 11 came in?

Probably a question best answered by City supporters

But the ground would be used for more than just the A League team. Other local soccer tournament finals, potentially FFA Cup games, international tournaments (juniors/women), even important lower level rugby union and league games could be staged out of there.

There's a lot of venues around the country that cost millions of taxpayers money that sit idle for just as long as this venue would.

 

[Seedsfan]

Probably a question best answered by City supporters

But the ground would be used for more than just the A League team. Other local soccer tournament finals, potentially FFA Cup games, international tournaments (juniors/women), even important lower level rugby union and league games could be staged out of there.

There's a lot of venues around the country that cost millions of taxpayers money that sit idle for just as long as this venue would.

Lower level Union and League don’t really need a venue that size. The Rebels only get about 10-15k to a game and most of them wouldn’t make the trip out there and the Melbourne rising being the next level down would get 1000-1500 a game maximum. When it comes to League outside of the Storm the game doesn’t exist in Melbourne.

 

[Colonial]

Freos bid



Let me be the 1st to say;

 

[nobbyiscool]

That can't possibly be real can it?

 

[Heardy_101]

It's real, and being backed by Juventus.

Yes, Juventus.

 

[giggler99]

That can't possibly be real can it?

Big German community in freo? lol

It's real, and being backed by Juventus.

Yes, Juventus.

Wtf? Expand?

 

[craigos]

lol they obviously know that if it's indeed backed by Juventus the FFA will give them a license regardless of the quality of their bid.

I thought that youtube clip was just an advertisement for erectile disfunction or IVF and that the actual clip would start after the ad.

 

[ioppolo]

Fremantle are desperate for another team in another sport outside of AFL