Tasmanian franchise must be a priority for the A-League
Columnist By Adrian Musolino, 11 Jan 2009 Adrian Musolino is a Roar Expert
- Tagged:
- Central Coast Mariners, FFA, football
While the focus of the next round of A-League expansion is on the prospective second teams from Melbourne and Sydney, the FFA should instead turn its attention south to Tasmania, a state ignored by the majority of sporting codes and therefore a relatively unchallenged market for a franchise, let alone the league, to establish itself in.
Tasmania United FC is bidding for submission for the 2011-12 season and is facing tough opposition from not just the Melbourne and Sydney franchises but also Wollongong and Canberra.
But unlike the franchises in Melbourne and Sydney, which will only grow a supporter base by robbing fans from already established A-League teams, and Wollongong and Canberra who already host NRL teams in the rugby heartland, Tasmania is a relatively untouched sporting base.
A franchise in Tasmania has the potential to replicate the success of the Central Coast Mariners.
There are some noticeable comparisons between the two.
The population of the greater Hobart region is shaded by the whole of the Central Coast, but the Tasmanian franchise would attract fans from all over the state.
In fact the population of Hobart is larger than Townsville, home of the North Queensland Fury, by approximately 50,000. There is no excuse therefore that the state is too small for a franchise and therefore lacks the potential for a successful business operation.
With a base in Hobart, the only impediment for the franchise would be attracting fans to home matches from other centres such as Davenport, Launceston and Burnie given the distance between Tasmania’s most populous centres.
However, there is also the possibility, first raised when Tasmania was mentioned with regard to expansion, of splitting home games between Hobart and Launceston.
Just as the Central Coast has been ignored by other codes, so too has Tasmania.
The AFL has played hardball with Tasmania instead focusing its attentions on the Gold Coast and West Sydney. Despite significant interest in the state for Aussie rules, the locals only have Victorian clubs such as Hawthorn occasionally visiting.
With no AFL, NBL or NRL franchises and only the Tasmanian Tigers state cricket side, the Tasmanian A-League franchise would be relatively unchallenged for attention and sponsors in the state.
Like Central Coast, it would unite the whole region behind one team and the A-League would gain a massive heads up on the other codes.
The A-League would ride into town and give Tasmanian fans what they crave so desperately, a presence in a major national sporting league.
This would win over the hearts and minds of the next generation of Tasmanians, enticing them to play the round ball game over other sporting codes, a game that enables them to represent their state.
It could also lead to a better state league format from the current separated north and south leagues. A united state league would help the development of local talent with an obvious link to the A-League.
It would also give the A-League more of a national representation than both the AFL and NRL.
Central Coast has proven that a team deeply immersed in the local community, with little opposition from other codes, can build a solid supporter base, business model and infrastructure for future growth despite the smaller population base compared with other franchises.
This is what the A-League should be looking towards with expansion and Hobart and Tasmania fit the bill perfectly.
The second Melbourne and Sydney franchises may have some powerful backers, but the FFA would be wise to look to Tasmania instead.
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January 11th 2009 @ 7:42am
Sam said | January 11th 2009 @ 7:42am | Report comment
I don’t agree with this right now, but later on down the track it would be ok. More teams in Australia’s two biggest cities means more media space which means more interest from the population (particularly in derby games). To let the AFL get into Western Sydney first particularly is a bad move. Footall in Western Sydney is massively popular and the infrastructure, training facilities and support base is already there. There are kids playing everywhere.
January 11th 2009 @ 8:40am
Kazama said | January 11th 2009 @ 8:40am | Report comment
I agree, Adrian. I think it is a huge mistake for the AFL to have ignored Tasmania. Tasmania has a fantastic Aussie Rules heritage and the AFL admitted that their bid for a new club was excellent, yet they refused to pursue the matter further.
So, the door is open for the A-League. For the last three seasons Adelaide have played Melbourne at Aurora stadium in the Preseason Cup and the attendances haven’t been too bad (6834 in 06; 8061 in 07; 4720 in 08) considering it is warm up cup and neither of the competitors represent the local populace. It shows at least there is an interest in football in the state. Also, the Adelaide youth team played a Tasmania XI in a friendly before the Adelaide v Wellington game at Hindmarsh late last year, won 3-2 by the Tasmanians I think.
Given that the Tasmanians are used to being completely ignored by the other football codes, I think it would be a great move for the FFA to give them a franchise. And while I have my concerns about expanding too quickly, I think with little competition a Tasmanian team would be less of a risk than in other areas that would rely more heavily on big name signings and results.
January 11th 2009 @ 8:44am
Kazama said | January 11th 2009 @ 8:44am | Report comment
Addenda – The lower crowd last year may have been due to bad weather.
January 11th 2009 @ 10:02am
Forgetmenot said | January 11th 2009 @ 10:02am | Report comment
As i have said before i think it could be a good move for the AFL to put in the Gold Coast and Tassie teams at the same time, and then wait a few years and then place a new team in Western Australia (Perth perhaps?? or Subiaco) and then have a team in Western Sydney.
A Tasmanian A-League team will face all of the same problems as an AFL team except one, but will also have an additional problem. The AFL problem is that everyone their has a team so it would take a while to establish the team. The A-league problem is that everyone follows AFL, so in the first few years will be very hard to attract support (both crowds and corporate).
January 11th 2009 @ 10:09am
Daveed said | January 11th 2009 @ 10:09am | Report comment
As a soccer supporter for over 40 years I would like to agree but I have grave reservations about the financial viability of a Tasmanian Club. I call Tasmania my home, have done for many years but I have become a little tired of well meant but fanciful propositions the tug at the heart strings but ignore the head.
Our government sponsored the Hawthorn Football Club to the tune of A$5m which resulted in only a handful of second strings games that hardly set the world on fire in attendance numbers. That same government bought three ferries for over $100m of our monies without a business case and on the cusp of the advent of discount airlines and even following the sale of one and the termination of the Sydney route continues to looose us huge amounts of money. Many local business when for sale are marketed as “life-style businesses” because they cannot measure up to reigorous economic analysis.
What is required is a full business case that examines what sort and size of audience would be required on a regular basis to make this type of development viable not only for one year but a good many years to come… If its not that life so lets move on BUT LET US NOT KEEP UP A PRETENSE NOR RAISE THE HOPES OF SOCCER SUPPORTERS UNTIL A REAL ANALYSIS (which I would strongly support) HAS BEEN COMPLETED.
January 11th 2009 @ 10:41am
Koala Bear said | January 11th 2009 @ 10:41am | Report comment
A franchise in Tasmania has the potential to replicate the success of the Central Coast Mariners.
Adrian,
I agree with you .. Tasmania is more important than a second team in Melbourne or Sydney .. John O’Neill’s original plan of one city one team needs to be heeded to .. It was not so long ago Melb V and AU played a trial game in Launceston and attracted 8k+ so there is a real footballing community there wanting to see HAL Football. We must give it to them very soon.. This with ACT would complete a real National Football Competition that no other code can boast of..
Just aside to that it will create a real derby atmosphere with Melb, Adelaide, and Tassie, and will add a healthy hatred for the Northern clubs ..
Kasama,
you are right that last Tassie attendance was a wet night …
~~~~~~~~
KB
January 11th 2009 @ 11:30am
Sam said | January 11th 2009 @ 11:30am | Report comment
I think we will see what a city rivalry is like with the new Gold Coast team. Brisbane / Gold Coast is almost one city within itself, so with a city type rivalry there you will get a good indication of how successful two teams in a city will be. I just think you have to go where the population is. I mean even realistically Central Coast is practically part of Sydney.
January 11th 2009 @ 12:32pm
Midfielder said | January 11th 2009 @ 12:32pm | Report comment
The CC always had heaps more players than other codes , Tassie does not… also unlike the NRL I am sure the AFL would react and re locate a Melbourne team
January 11th 2009 @ 12:41pm
aussie_sly said | January 11th 2009 @ 12:41pm | Report comment
first up, daveed its FOOTBALL not soccer and secondly good article, tassie really is an untapped market but having watched videos of their state league its not very encouraging, its kinda reminds me of watching the local 10 yr olds play but maybe having an HAL team there could raise the standard, cant see too many players wanting to go to tassie tho, unless they get a big backer like gold coast has, be interesting to see the crowd they would get for a socceroos game, even a friendly. Another point i would like to make is why dont we have a state of origin type cup series midseason? With the new qld teams coming in it’d be a perfect little tournament to raise profile of the game and we should also bring back the friendly series against new zealand, just two games home and away every year would be awesome
January 11th 2009 @ 12:49pm
Michael C said | January 11th 2009 @ 12:49pm | Report comment
aussie_sly – - – if Daveed is comfortable using that phrase – - let him……..otherwise, there’s a thread discussing that topic and if you feel so strongly that you seek to ‘correct’ (in your mind) a 40 year supporter/fan of the game of ‘Association Football’ (AKA soccer) – - then, please, present your case. Otherwise, let the man speak and refer to the game as he sees fit.
KB –
a HUUUUGGGGEE call to suggest a Tassie franchise would be more important than a second team in either of Melb or Sydney…………a huge call. Might I ask it this way – - would a SUCCESSFUL Tassie franchise be as important as a SUCCESSFUL 2nd franchise in either of Melb or Sydney??