Expansion looming in A-League - The Contrast with the NRL

[Vee]

https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/sp...-are-wary-of-smokescreen-20180216-h0w8ao.html

Putting to one side the irrelevance of the FFA and the A-League, at least they have decided on a timetable (2019-20 season) and made the announcement.

Whether it happens or not remains to be seen but at least they are setting a goal and a pathway to that goal.

Compare that with the trainwreck of the NRL's expansionary plans.

 

[Perth Red]

Canberra and Cronulla would be good for nrl with more chance of improving stadia.

This year marks ten years since the talk of expansion began gaining momentum in the nrl. You can’t rush these things lol

 

[jim_57]

But as long as there are 8 teams not in the top 8 and a team coming last there isn't enough talent for expansion..

West Brisbane or Canberra may help us stadium wise, especially Canberra.

 

[The Great Dane]

Canberra almost certainly wont get a license, the FFA and Gallop have made it clear that they only want new clubs in big cities with populations over 1 million and that they want more 'big city derbies'.
Realistically the only ways that Canberra get a club anytime soon is if FIFA steps in and forces the FFA to do things their way like they have been threatening to do for ages now, or if a Canberra club replaces the Wellington Phoenix when the FFA are inevitably forced to kick them out of the comp by FIFA and the AFC.

The new clubs will come from Sydney, Brisbane, or Melbourne (with Perth and Adelaide an outside chance), realistically all the FFA are going to do by adding new clubs in those cities is split their preexisting fan-bases, but the FFA have their hearts set on it...

 

[Pommy]

South Melbourne seem to be the most deserving of a licence.
I really don’t think Sydney and Melbourne can support 3 a league sides each though.
If NSW were to get another I would suggest it goes to Wollongong.
As others have said I don’t see this doing anything but cannibalising other clubs fans.

 

[Perth Red]

In today’s West that WA football has a plan for a bid for a Fremantle team. Perth Glory owner is in favour and believes it will benefit our existing club.

 

[Marlins]

Wollongong & South Melbourne are the prime candidates for the Sooka.
With Brisbane 2 & Geelong being the next choices.

With that being said i think the Aleague and Nrl can help each either out.

A west Brisbane side could be the answer.
A combined club from WB would benefit both codes.
Say a team the Western Corider/Brisbane (Insert Name) FC. The Hype would be great.

 

[The Great Dane]

Wollongong & South Melbourne are the prime candidates for the Sooka.
With Brisbane 2 & Geelong being the next choices.

With that being said i think the Aleague and Nrl can help each either out.

A west Brisbane side could be the answer.
A combined club from WB would benefit both codes.
Say a team the Western Corider/Brisbane (Insert Name) FC. The Hype would be great.

LOL, where did you get the idea that any of that was the case?

The Southern bid (South Sydney) and another Melbourne team or the second Brisbane team "are the prime candidates" for this round of the A-league expansion, if fact most of the soccer people I know think that if the A-league is actually expanding and it's not just a song and dance to distract from other things that are going on at the FFA, that they have already decided which clubs are getting the licenses and are only going through the bidding process to look like they are doing the right thing to FIFA.

Woolongong and Geelong are no hope of getting a club anytime soon (the aforementioned plus Perth 2, Adelaide 2, Melbourne 4, Sydney 4, and even Canberra and Tasmania are in long before those two are even a realistic shot) and South Melbourne almost certainly will never be allowed anywhere near the A-league cause of their history.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

It will be embarrassing for the NRL and I, amongst other rugby league fans in Brisbane will be mighty p!ssed off if the A-League get a second Brisbane side before the NRL does.

 

[Perth Red]

Maybe the Brisbane Bombers group can be convinced to partner with Ipswich. Call themselves the Brisbane Jets or SQ Jets then have an Aleague franchise as well called the Bombers? Eventually a new stadium in the Ipswich region and club HQ based in the region? How rich are the Ipswich Jets group?

 

[jim_57]

Maybe the Brisbane Bombers group can be convinced to partner with Ipswich. Call themselves the Brisbane Jets or SQ Jets then have an Aleague franchise as well called the Bombers? Eventually a new stadium in the Ipswich region and club HQ based in the region? How rich are the Ipswich Jets group?

I don't know if the same club running teams in different sports is a good idea, definitely merit in pooling resources though for the benifit of both codes. Soccer is Brisbane needs a medium sized stadium and we would definitely benifit from it long term, so working together to make it a reality is just basic common sense.

For a mid-sized venue to even be considered you would need a guarentee of 15+ games/events a year minimum to make a serious case.10+ of those would need to be A-League games, NRL and prospective bid teams could add to that and help the cause with a commitment to something like this if the Stadium is built:

• 2-4 Home games for Brisbane 2 NRL side. (Majority need to be at Suncorp).
• QLD Cup Grand Final.
• All Stars - 3-5 Year contract.
• Aus V NZ test in first year of opening.
• 2-3 "Game of the week" type events for big QLD Cup derbies and/or double headers.

Maybe even a guarentee that if Suncorp is ever redeveloped a certain % of Broncos and/or Brisbane 2 games will be taken there during works. Every little bit helps even if that is unlikely.

 

[Perth Red]

I don't know if the same club running teams in different sports is a good idea, definitely merit in pooling resources though for the benifit of both codes. Soccer is Brisbane needs a medium sized stadium and we would definitely benifit from it long term, so working together to make it a reality is just basic common sense.

For a mid-sized venue to even be considered you would need a guarentee of 15+ games/events a year minimum to make a serious case.10+ of those would need to be A-League games, NRL and prospective bid teams could add to that and help the cause with a commitment to something like this if the Stadium is built:

• 2-4 Home games for Brisbane 2 NRL side. (Majority need to be at Suncorp).
• QLD Cup Grand Final.
• All Stars - 3-5 Year contract.
• Aus V NZ test in first year of opening.
• 2-3 "Game of the week" type events for big QLD Cup derbies and/or double headers.

Maybe even a guarentee that if Suncorp is ever redeveloped a certain % of Broncos and/or Brisbane 2 games will be taken there during works. Every little bit helps even if that is unlikely.

Biggest issue I can see is the Govt not wanting to cannabilise business from suncorp stadium. So you would at least two new clubs to provide the new hire content so as not to impact Suncorp revenue.

 

[jim_57]

Biggest issue I can see is the Govt not wanting to cannabilise business from suncorp stadium. So you would at least two new clubs to provide the new hire content so as not to impact Suncorp revenue.

Would be more of a quality over quantity IMO, Suncorp could easily have the same amount of games & events whilst dramatically increasing average crowds by taking lower draws tp the new stadium and save congesting tje Suncorp calendar.

Save Suncorp for Broncos games, 8+ Brisbane 2 games, Origin, marquee Roar/Brisbane 2 A-League games, Reds games, and internationals and finals from all 3 rectangular field codes. Add in a few big concerts and and it's still a pretty full schedule for Suncorp with plenty of content for a new mid-sized stadium.

 

[Captain Apollo]

Even if the A-League does expand, there is no guarantee it will be successful, let alone financially viable in the long run. Have a look at the A-League clubs that have closed down - North Qld Fury and Gold Coast United. Also you know how much prize money you get for winning the A-League, be it the Premier's plate or the Grand Final? $0 that's what.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

A-League expansion at the moment with the shape the FFA are in and the A-League in general with low viewer numbers on TV would be more shaky that GWS & Gold Coast Suns. With the exeption that the FFA doesn't have a pot of gold to prop the expansion clubs up with.

 

[Coparugby]

Many a-League games get 30-40k viewers on TV. That’s less than Super Rugby. How will the new clubs fund themselves?

 

[jim_57]

A-League expansion at the moment with the shape the FFA are in and the A-League in general with low viewer numbers on TV would be more shaky that GWS & Gold Coast Suns. With the exeption that the FFA doesn't have a pot of gold to prop the expansion clubs up with.

Not really the NRL's concern if they're sucessful or not. If any potential sides can help them with a useable stadium getting built then the NRL and/or appropriate teams/bids should get behind it with their own guarentees to help get it across the line. If a new stadium gets built on the basis of NRL, Super Rugby &/or A-League all being played there, then the A-League team folds they won't rip down the stadium and hand back the money.

 

[Jankuloski]

..and what about diluting the player pool!?!?

Jokes aside, soccer will never go away. It’s the only truly global game, so wherever you put a team, you just wait. As long as you have to. Comparing viewership is like comparing NFL and American soccer.

But, give it a generation or two.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

Not really the NRL's concern if they're sucessful or not. If any potential sides can help them with a useable stadium getting built then the NRL and/or appropriate teams/bids should get behind it with their own guarentees to help get it across the line. If a new stadium gets built on the basis of NRL, Super Rugby &/or A-League all being played there, then the A-League team folds they won't rip down the stadium and hand back the money.

True - good points

 

[mongoose]

The A League is desperate and must think more teams is going to rejuvenate their comp. In all fairness 10 teams makes for a repetitive and stale competition which is what the A League has become. I am guessing any new teams will be backed by private money though.