How A-League should’ve looked from day one
Columnist By Adrian Musolino, 24 Aug 2011 Adrian Musolino is a Roar Expert
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- A-League, A-League expansion, Clive Palmer, football, Football Federation Australia, Gold Coast United, Harry Kewell, melbourne heart, Melbourne Victory, North Queensland Fury, Sydney FC, western Sydney, western sydney football
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Gold Coast United FC head coach and director of football, Miron Bleiberg (centre) celebrates with Football Federation Australia (FFA) CEO Ben Buckley (right) and Gold Coast United CEO Clive Mensink (left) at Skilled Park on the Gold Coast, Thursday, Aug. 28, 2008. AAP Image/Dave Hunt
Gold Coast United owner Clive Palmer’s recent reassurances have done little to change public opinion. He can claim over and over again that his club has a future in the A-League, but unless there is a drastic reversal in support, then their future appears bleak.
Their plight, together with the collapse of North Queensland Fury, condemns Football Federation Australia’s expansion plans, not to mention calling into question the strategic planning of the competition from day one.
Despite the self-inflicted wounds at the Gold Coast and North Queensland, the decision to expand with two extra teams in Queensland before second teams in Melbourne and Sydney has proved, ultimately, flawed. Or, to be more precise, the five-year moratorium on opposition to clubs given licences on the one team per city model was flawed.
How different would the A-League have looked – and how much healthier would it currently be – if the FFA had listened to the players’ union, the Professional Footballers’ Association, which in December 2002 published its suggestions for a new professional league, called the Australian Premier League.
The APL called for an eight- to 10-team competition with one club per city in Australia’s smaller centres – Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide along with two elsewhere for New Zealand and/or a regional centre – three teams in Sydney and two in Melbourne.
Melbourne could, according to the PFA, be split into two distinct sections – south-east and north-west; Sydney split into three with a club in the western sprawl, one south-west of the city, and the other encompassing the city itself and the northern suburbs (where Sydney FC pulls the majority of its support from).
Their justification was that the huge population bases in these catchment areas – each with a recommended and potential customer base of 250,000 – would be enough to support these franchises.
Five teams in two cities may seem excessive and could be considered a stretch, particularly three in the same city launching at the same time. But the justification in expanding and putting clubs where there was significant population bases and proven football fans made complete sense, particularly in markets as diverse as Melbourne and Sydney.
Melbourne has already proven it can host two A-League clubs, despite the difficulties of little to no differentiation. And while the PFA highlighted three potential clubs in Sydney, the geographical separation of Sydney and western Sydney provides the perfect point of difference for two clubs.
With the west of the city – an area rightly called the heartland of the game – left to the western Sydney club, Sydney FC would have been left to focus on and truly engage with its central, northern and southern areas, without being overstretched out west. Unlike in Melbourne, it was a much more obvious point of difference, making it a clear area for a second club with a sustainable base.
Ironically, the FFA expanded into the smaller of the two – Melbourne – before it did (if it ever does) in Sydney.
Crucially, the support for the respective clubs in each city would have evolved on an equal footing, preventing the situation Melbourne Heart were forced into; trying to carve-out support in a city Melbourne Victory had operated in exclusively (and with great success) for five seasons. It’s little wonder many are concerned about Heart as the Harry Kewell-Victory bandwagon rolls through Melbourne.
Instead, it (or, more specifically, the other Melbourne club) could have been just as if not more assured and settled than Victory.
Although in an easier predicament given they’ll have geographical differentiation, a potential western Sydney franchise faces a similar dilemma. Also, they’ll now face the AFL’s millions via the Greater Western Sydney Giants and the NRL’s subsequent response, when it could instead have had a seven-year head start.
Moreover, would Sydney FC have performed so poorly administratively if they had an opposing A-League club on their doorstep? Surely a club that has struggled to resonate since its bumper first season would have been able to better connect and work within an incredibly fickle city, if it had competition and specific regions it could better target.
By expanding into Australia’s two major and most important markets at different times, the competition was always going to create unevenness between the formation and expansion clubs. While Heart, for example, were criticised for poor home crowds by some, the challenge they faced was immense.
Their ability to pull the support they have, despite the limitations and head start Victory had, proves two teams in Melbourne would have worked from day one.
As the PFA highlighted in its report, the league had the potential to be the number two sporting code in each market – behind rugby league in NSW and Queensland, and behind the AFL in Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia.
But by under-delivering in its two most important and biggest markets, it had no chance of becoming the number two code in town.
What could have been? Consider where the Melbourne derby sits after just one season and three encounters; the rivalry well and truly laying its foundations with three enthralling contests – a win apiece and a draw – producing 11 goals, two red cards, 24 yellows, a combined crowd of 81,187, and a buzz not seen in an A-League home and away season match.
Now consider where that rivalry (alongside Sydney FC versus Western Sydney FC) would sit after six seasons, going into its seventh…
Derbies are an integral part of the football culture, be it round-ball football or the Australian codes. Why was this simple yet crucial fact ignored?
This is how the A-League should’ve looked from day one:
- Melbourne Victory
- Melbourne Heart (or equivalent)
- Sydney FC
- Western Sydney FC
- Queensland Roar
- Perth Glory
- Adelaide United
- Newcastle Jets
- Central Coast Mariners
- New Zealand Knights
Where to then? The derbies in Sydney and Melbourne would have provided a strong platform, with clubs in Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth, Central Coast, Newcastle and New Zealand (nee Wellington) proving they have the support to justify their place in those markets.
Having grown from its strongest and biggest markets outwardly, the FFA could have been more discerning when expanding the competition beyond the 10 teams. With this opportunity, had they followed the PFA suggestion, they would have looked at potential supporter levels based on population and football numbers, rather than bank account sizes of prospective owners.
Had they taken this approach, while also considering the market space available to a potential A-League club, Gold Coast and Canberra would’ve led the way – the latter least cluttered having been ignored by the AFL.
The point here is expansion would have been more of a luxury; which areas want it most – building from the most solid foundations out, with a greater selection of fringe markets to choice from. Also, clubs born into this expansion phase would have entered the league at a less delicate period – the FFA waiting for a more stable period, giving them the support they need given their smaller market sizes.
Instead, in the haste and flawed move into North Queensland and Gold Coast, the FFA have burnt bridges in what should have been two future destinations – after, not before, Melbourne and Sydney were maximised.
This is what the A-League could’ve looked like today, had the investment (money and time) burnt in Queensland been better utilised:
- Melbourne Victory
- Melbourne Heart
- Sydney FC
- Western Sydney
- Brisbane Roar (formerly Queensland Roar)
- Perth Glory
- Adelaide United
- Newcastle Jets
- Central Coast Mariners
- Wellington Phoenix (replacing New Zealand Knights)
- Canberra/Gold Coast United
- Wollongong/North Queensland/Tasmania/second team in New Zealand.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing. But as the FFA’s expansion moves unravel, you can’t help but look glumly on the A-League and wonder what could have been.
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August 24th 2011 @ 1:36am
Johnno said | August 24th 2011 @ 1:36am | Report comment
The old NSL types, real football people should of been included form day 1. I am happy the state leagues and the mirabella cup is developing good way to get the old NSL types back into football in this country. Australia as we have seen form our efforts in the 2006 world cup has so much potential, and we were unlucky in 2010 for all sorts of reasons. And this golden generation was developed by the old NSL clubs, with storng ethnic ties to there countries they immigrated form. So they were football people, who understood football. And this represented on there kids the 2nd generation of Aussies. EG just look at Jason Culina as an example, he was born into a real football family his father Branko coach of the Newcastle jet, and old NSL clubs in his time , and Sydney F.C. Branko is a real football man. Milan Blieberg is a football man, and we have imported real football coaches. but the A-league is not developing enough quality players , or quality Australian coaches. Arelio Vidmar and Grahame arnold wre part of the golden generation, so they were brought up on the NSL before they moved to europe. And the whole soccer’s 2006 squad, and other players of that age group.
EG Bozza, Swarcher,Kalic, Okon,Zelic,Culina,Emerotn,Kewell, heck christian vieri and his younger brother played juniors at marconi, just like Schwartser, the Alosi brothers John Aloisi and Ross Aloisi, Vidmar brothers, and of course Mark Viduka a proud melbourne Knights man.
And Hakoah F.C which Frank low had a lot to be part of was run by football people, had much more success in the NS.L than Sydney F.C which he now has a lot to do with. And also i do not think it is good that the FFA have ownership of A-league clubs, bad move and multiple conflicts of interest.
And the FFA not assisting and constantly not begin supportive of the stae league many with old NSL links has not helped grass roots development and establishing strong tier competitions. It’s as if the FFA is threatened or doesn’t like the old NSL clubs, and old NSL football people with links to the old NSL.
I don’t see the new A-league producing as much talent for multiple reasons unlike the old NSL. why because the game was run by football people form grass roots to senior level, not anymore. Rich bussinessman who are not football people do not have the motivation or knowledge of what makes a successful team, and the questionable coaching desicions of our various national teams and appointments of not very appropriate technical directors highlight this football decline and naivety in Australia about how to take football forwad in Australia. Bring back the old NSL i’d say with real football people to take this great game the World game forwad in the future.
August 24th 2011 @ 6:22am
Stevo said | August 24th 2011 @ 6:22am | Report comment
Agree with you on the great work done by immigrants to this country in establishing a strong footballing culture that produced a bunch of great players. As a 1st gen. aussie with Euro parents I understand the what you are saying, BUT, to think that the way forward is to continue with what I would say are ethnic “silos” – that is, teams built around distinct cultural groupings will not work in the longer term. It did not work the NSL, although shoddy administration probably also contributed to its demise. In a multicultural Australia diversity is the key, not culturally homogeneous groupings. I think I would be correct to say that many of the football watching and playing public today would find no connection with the old NSL clubs. Just go along to an A-league game and ask the large groups of young active supporters what they think.
August 24th 2011 @ 7:34am
punter said | August 24th 2011 @ 7:34am | Report comment
Maybe I was a Eurosnob (funny saying that when I follow Derby), but I followed the Socceroos in 74 world cup as a little kid & was hooked, I was devastated when we lost to NZ in 81, was in England for the Scotland game, I cried my eyes out in 97 against Iran. Finally joy in 2005.
I watched the great Wolves v perth glory GF, followed Viduka great couple of seasons. Followed many NSL players, but until 2005 never had local Aussie side to follow.
Bring back the NSL people but not the adminstrators, no thanks.
August 24th 2011 @ 9:43am
nordozzz said | August 24th 2011 @ 9:43am | Report comment
seems like many of the “NSL people” are involved and already see the benefits of what the new league can do for the game. Johnno’s attempt to set FFA or the A-L and “NSL people” at odds with each other is a little out of date tbh.
I agree with his point about FFA not having ownership of A-L clubs, and it seems FFA are too. They only step in when there is a vacuum at a particular club and have transitioned clubs successfully to new owners. Rich business people are a required part of any league (unfortunately).
His point about technical directors will become outdated (once again) as we end up with a variety of departments, club by club. The system shouldn’t be dependent on whoever is running things at the national federation.
August 24th 2011 @ 9:03am
Realfootball said | August 24th 2011 @ 9:03am | Report comment
“The A-League is not producing enough quality players…” oh that hoary old chestnut again. What a load of rubbish. I can’t be bothered going through player by player. This is knee jerk stuff from a bitter old school zealot and and bears absolutely no connection with objective reality.
The A-League is a massive quantum leap ahead for the game in this county on every level. “Real football people”. Yep, they made such a great success of the NSL, didn’t they?
August 24th 2011 @ 10:26am
Roarchild said | August 24th 2011 @ 10:26am | Report comment
The A league has only completed 6 seasons and the first few weren’t really that good on the field.
I can imagine it will get even better than last season as teams try and match then beat what the Roar did.
So a 16/17 year old during the first season of the A league would only be around 23 so we shouldn’t expect A league produced players to dominate the Socceroos. However looking at the squad Holger just selected (full strength) 8 of the 23 players have played in the A league. I think that is a really good ratio for a League which only really became high quality in the last couple of years.
August 24th 2011 @ 5:09pm
apaway said | August 24th 2011 @ 5:09pm | Report comment
Johnno
I agree with some of your points but the A-League could not have started life in 2005 with the “old NSL types.” Without doubt some of the NSL clubs produced outstanding players on a shoestring – Sydney (Croatia) United come to mind. But for every Olympic, Syd Utd, South Melbourne etc there was an Inter Monaro, Wollongong Macedonia, Mooroolbark, Penrith City, Footscray JUST or Green Gully Ajax, who were ill-equipped and ill-prepared for a national league, yet were hoisted into the NSL for very little rhyme or reason and left to wither on the vine by an administration that simply did not have the business sense to make it work, despite dozens of different formats, variations and re-starts. And I really liked the NSL, although the closest I came to personally having teams to support were in Newcastle and the Northern Spirit.
August 24th 2011 @ 1:37am
Zac Zavos said | August 24th 2011 @ 1:37am | Report comment
Roarers – could you please help the site by filling in a super-quick survey. 10 Roar caps to be given away to random respondents. The survey is here.
Thanks!
August 24th 2011 @ 6:01am
Fake ex-AFL fan said | August 24th 2011 @ 6:01am | Report comment
Whilst I enjoy occasionally putting the boot into Australian soccer and its supporters, any fair minded analysis has to conclude that the A-League really hasn’t gone too badly in its first few years of existence. The fact is that starting up a brand new sporting competition in market already heavily saturated with alternative ‘products’ is damned tough. It’s easy to say that NSL clubs should have been involved from the start, two-three clubs each in Melbourne / Sydney etc. but I think the idea that if only the FFA had done A, B & C then success would have inevitably followed is very flawed.
Whatever model the FFA went with would have had its shortcomings. If for example Melbourne Victory & Heart had been in from day one then do you really think they would have developed an instant heated rivalry? Based on what exactly? It seems to me that this rivalry has some spice precisely because one team already has an established supporter base & culture whilst the other is trying to differentiate itself. Choosing between them from day one would have probably come down to little more than a preference for a particular colour combination, as regardless of how Sydneysiders tend to project their own world view upon other cities, Melburnians don’t tend to identify with the ‘south eastern suburbs’ but rather their particular village / suburb.
So whilst some criticism is no doubt justified, the idea that starting a new sporting competition from scratch was ever going to be without major roadblocks is foolish.
August 24th 2011 @ 10:04am
whiskeymac said | August 24th 2011 @ 10:04am | Report comment
well said. rivarlies in any sphere, and especially sport, have to be based on something more than a 12 month marketing agenda drawn up by people with no or little connection to the areas they are investing their creative desires into. The hAL has potential: Adelaide and MV springs to mind; CCM and Jets; now MH and MV and there’s the ego swansong of SFC and MV. These rivalries, despite the context of historical city rivalries or geographical proximity, will still take more time to be truly engaging for the locals or in the same ilk as more established contests. But it wil happen, just not in 1, 5 or 7 years but (obviously) every year they play each other the stronger it will get.
August 24th 2011 @ 7:21am
Fussball ist unser leben said | August 24th 2011 @ 7:21am | Report comment
Adrian let me start by saying I agree with everything you’ve written, BUT …
… come on, how many times can journalists go over this same issue?
I reckon the majority of hardcore, loyal and committed HAL fans have moved on. So, I need to ask are you a hardcore, loyal and committed HAL fan?
Unless you have an agenda, I simply cannot see the purpose of such an article so long after the events have occurred? What’s the value of such an article – what can it achieve? Is there anything new that hasn’t been discussed countless times over the past 24 months?
Here’s a novel thought for sports journalists … how about you actually do some hard work and investigate and analyse issues BEFORE they occur?
Successful businessmen never waste time crying over poor decisions. Rather, they simply store the lessons learnt (positive and negative) from past endeavours, roll up their sleeves and move on.
Thank heavens journos aren’t running the FFA or we’d still be trying to write the perfect article – or, perhaps, we’d have moved on to write a book, since Fathers’ Day is around the corner! – about all the “could haves and should haves” and never actually get round to any “doing”.
August 24th 2011 @ 8:03am
Kasey said | August 24th 2011 @ 8:03am | Report comment
I call these articles the Bulgarian school of thought, because rather than the great Stoichcov it is filled with Couldovs and Shouldovs(I know, I’ll get my hat and coat shall I?)
Fake actually makes a reasonable point in that “whilst some criticism is no doubt justified, the idea that starting a new sporting competition from scratch was ever going to be without major roadblocks is foolish.” But I see it as symptomatic of the high standards we as Football fans and sporting fans expect from our sport in Australia. We had unrealistic expectations after years of watching foreign football, but there is no way on God’s green earth that a start up league could just flick a switch and develop a solid and sustainable football culture overnight(in the grand scheme of things, 6 years is over night. both the AFL and RL tells us their embrionic comps VFL/NSWRL started in the 1800s. They did not become the ‘big’ sports they are in the Australia sports landscape overnight and without missteps. The things they did differently, wasthey were given time to not only evolve, but to learn from their mistakes(and I consider the combination of the Cararra Lions with the aborted merger between Footscray and Fitzroy leading to the FrankenLions to be one of the AFLs biggest mistakes[which typically they've turned into a strength] Port Adelaide would be their current bugbear issue; while the NRL mostly fixed theirs by readmitting Souths)
One thing I find amazing is when ‘fans’ of foreign origin[first or 2nd gen Aussies], from countries with such participatory fan bases, think this league is just going to grow up without them, and they can choose to participate when they feel it’s “good enough”. It’s a participatory event, fellas! No participation, no event! People who refuse to attend, claiming the ‘ Z-League’ sucks (obviously haven’t been paying attention) aren’t fans, they’re spectators. And not even real spectators at that. More like Euro-snob ‘consumers’
August 24th 2011 @ 2:16pm
j binnie said | August 24th 2011 @ 2:16pm | Report comment
Fussball – Adrian has an opinion & is fully entitled to air that opinion wherever he wants, & while you say you agree with everything he wrote you go on to offer what??????.You say business men learn from mistakes ,roll up their sleeves & get on with it but surely they too must have looked at the past to log their mistakes,make corrections,& try again. This is exactly what Adrian is asking,have our management learned from past “mistakes”?. The answer appears to be a resounding NO. I disagree with things that Adrian has said, eg There is no real proof yet that Melbourne can support 2 teams, Victory,in probably what was their worst season,outdrew the Heart in crowd numbers 15000 to 5750 (taking out the 2 home games gifted to Heart by the FFA). Sydney to have 3 teams,especially the Western corridor. Proof is not forthcoming as 6 or 7 clubs from that area gave it a go in the NSL and all failed. Programming (strategic planning) saw teams playing to greatly reduced crowds in fixtures held midweek. Was this analysed before being augmented or was it a TV contract ultimatum? I could go on but as you rightly say, it has all been said before but,and this is my real worry, IS ANYBODY LISTENING??????.I leave that for others to confirm or deny. jb
August 24th 2011 @ 2:24pm
Fussball ist unser leben said | August 24th 2011 @ 2:24pm | Report comment
Well the fact that the FFA is trying different things suggests someone is listening.
If the FFA were doing nothing differently it would suggest they think everything is fine.
Perhaps, Adrian should have written this article in 2003/04, when ideas for the birth of the A-League were being discussed – it would have had greater impact?
I could write an article today about the risks associated with buying “sub-prime debt instruments” … but, I’d be 5 years too late – I reckon the horse has already bolted on that one?
August 25th 2011 @ 11:46am
j binnie said | August 25th 2011 @ 11:46am | Report comment
Fussball – This reply is beneath you. You generalise by saying the FFA “is trying different things”. Could you please be more specific & enumerate “these things” so we can agree or disagree with your observations.I for one among many others are not interested in “sub-prime debt instruments” but just like many others I am desperate to see this game of ours progress & if that means someone digging in to the past to compare with the status- quo then so be it. Surely you cannot be awfully impressed with this latest saga concerning a national trophy which,according to all reports ,has been discussed by highly paid executives for at least a year & yet are only now seeking the opinion of randomly selected fans. Do you honestly believe this will commence this season? If so you have greater faith than me. jb
August 25th 2011 @ 11:49am
Fussball ist unser leben said | August 25th 2011 @ 11:49am | Report comment
sorry mate.
I’m over this story. Too much happening in the HAL to dwell on the past.
Enjoy the HAL season; or don’t – it’s up to you.
August 25th 2011 @ 12:12pm
j binnie said | August 25th 2011 @ 12:12pm | Report comment
Fussball -You have used up time and space. I didn’t ask you about HAL I asked about FFA & surprise ,surprise, you didn’t answer.Couldn’t you find ANYTHING ????????? JB
August 25th 2011 @ 12:22pm
Fussball ist unser leben said | August 25th 2011 @ 12:22pm | Report comment
for heaven’s sake.
This article was SPECIFICALLY about what the A-LEAGUE should have looked like on Day 1.
As far as I’m concerned, the HAL is the only part of the FFA’s portfolio that needs to be improved.
In all other aspects, the FFA are meeting or exceeding my expectations: all our National teams qualified for their respective FIFA WCs; the game is being promoted to all Australians and is THE most popular participation sport in Australia – from the homeless to the richest; the youngest to the oldest; all races and both genders.
If you think you can do a better job – move off the keyboard and run for a position for State of Federal football administrator. Let’s see what you’ve got to offer besides words.
August 25th 2011 @ 7:51pm
j binnie said | August 25th 2011 @ 7:51pm | Report comment
Fussball. You are satisfied with the performance of the FFA. that’s fine,I accept & respect your opinion though to be honest I find your “yardsticks” in measuring this supposed success strange to say the least. We have had the most popular participation sport in Australia for at least the last 30 years that I know of (when I was actively engaged as an administrator in a State Federation). Yes, all of our teams qualified for WC finals but the under 20′s and under 17′s did not perform as well as the same teams in the late 80′s& early 90′s despite a huge differential in the amount of dollars being spent to try & achieve success.Our Socceroos did little better in 2006 than Rasic’s part-timers in 1974 with again a huge differential in spending.Do a better job? I’m probably too old but again have a deep knowledge of the political system in Australian football and to be honest walked away from that side of the game in 1986, thoroughly sickened with what was going on around the country in the then NSL.( I was a Director of Football at a leading NSL club for 3 years) so I have been there done that.Once again,respect your opinion, but you should also respect the opinion of others. Cheers jb
August 24th 2011 @ 7:41am
JohnL said | August 24th 2011 @ 7:41am | Report comment
Like they saying goes – Hindsight is 20/20
How about you write a column using foresight and tell us what the FFA should do over the next 6 years to be perfect? Also, dont forget to add in a cost/benefit analysis with accurate figures please. And list examples using your past experience where you have set up a brand new competition.
Sorry, but I don’t see what the value is when people on the sideline continually stick the boot into something/someone while they themselves don’t do anything (except stick the boot in)
August 24th 2011 @ 7:55am
TheMagnificent11 said | August 24th 2011 @ 7:55am | Report comment
Good article…I agree with most of it.
August 24th 2011 @ 7:56am
TomC said | August 24th 2011 @ 7:56am | Report comment
Hindsight is 20/20. Except in this case, apparently. Hindsight teaches us that the very reason Melbourne Victory had so much support in the early seasons was precisely because they were one team in one city. The fractured nature of the old NSL was a significant reason why it was harder for casual fans to engage in it: there wasn’t an obvious team for a lot of them to support.
The other problem would have been finding genuine geographical distinctions in Melbourne. This south-east/north-west split of Adrian’s is completely arbitrary.
I tend to agree that the Queensland expansion was poorly thought through by the FFA, but as far as I’m concerned all Adrian is demonstrating with the rest of this article is that no matter what you do, someone else will always say they would have done it better.
August 24th 2011 @ 7:58am
Vince said | August 24th 2011 @ 7:58am | Report comment
I understand what your saying, but in time these franches in syd and melbourne wil happrn and the fanbase will be there yo help it.
August 24th 2011 @ 7:59am
Futbanous said | August 24th 2011 @ 7:59am | Report comment
Agree with Fussball sort of like a cat repeatably throwing up a furball.
Also agree with Fake ex AFL fan all part of a steep learning curve. Not just because of the domestic sporting market though,but more importantly the overseas football market,deeply embedded in the minds of football fans in Australia.
Good signs from season 6 into season 7 that we are learning from past mistakes & moving forward,particularly the type of football required to bring in the fans.
August 24th 2011 @ 8:31am
pete4 said | August 24th 2011 @ 8:31am | Report comment
Your right the A-League has some large competitors in the Premier League, UEFA Champions League etc and that’s the challenge for the FFA. I mean how do you convince someone who’s been supporting Man Utd, Liverpool since he was a kid to follow a new team? Some might, most won’t.
Yes hindsight is a wonderful thing however overall the A-League has been a big success IMO. The upcoming TV deal will hopefully give the FFA enough funds to run the domestic competition really well and as well as our 9 National teams moving forward.
August 24th 2011 @ 9:54am
Matt F said | August 24th 2011 @ 9:54am | Report comment
I don’t think it should be about following a new team, but rather following an A-League team along with their European team. The obvious marketing strategy, at least from what I can see, is to market A-League sides as “your team” and that it is”representing you” etc. Surely there’s a marketing strategy which can be used to sell the benefits of being able to support a local team in your area and actually being able to go to matches and see them play live, unlike a team on the other side of the world where we can only watch them on TV at 2am in the morning?
August 24th 2011 @ 10:02am
Kasey said | August 24th 2011 @ 10:02am | Report comment
Thats kind of how the SANFL has been marketing itself in the face of the big bohemoth AFL here in Sth Australia. With an undertone of, that AFL is a bit namby pamby but this is ‘real’ old fashioned footy.
“Your tribe” is the slogan. It must have tapped into something, because while the Crows and Port struggle to fill their stadia in 2010-11, the SANFL is looking at yet another year of record crowdsin 2011, all for a supposed lower level of sport. the lessons that the FFA could learn ar endless IMO.
FWIW, nothingbeats live football, the singing the chanting and the atmosdphere of youir team, a team you have invested emotionally in, syure beats getting up at 3am to watch some random conurbbationof the UK play another conurbation, neither of which you’ve lived in or developed an emotional attachment to. To me watching the EPL or the ECL is like visiting an art galery. Its nice to see the best on offer, but truth be told, I’d much rather watch my team at a decent hour, with my mates beat that pack of w@nkers from Melbourne/Sydney etc any day o the week. Live football rules.
August 24th 2011 @ 8:29am
The Cattery said | August 24th 2011 @ 8:29am | Report comment
To back up what TomC has said, the initial policy of the A-League was one city, one team, and that policy worked for the first few years.
Also, it has to be said that the original clubs, and the expansion clubs, were all based on open bids – the FFA expanded where it did because of the bids that were presented, which at the time, were quite solid.
The fact is that to date, it’s uncelar whether any worthwhile bid has emerged for a West Sydney club – certainly I’ve heard of no group clamouring for a license in the past year (when the last bid fell over at the 11th hour).
So it seems pointless that people keep making a noise about West Sydney when there are no groups expressing interest with financial backing.