The sold out first Melbourne football derby between Melbourne Heart and Melbourne Victory has helped to keep the flames burning for the second Sydney A-League franchise.
It was recently reported that the successful bidders for the 12th A-League franchise license, the Sydney Rovers consortium, were having trouble getting the signatures on the dotted line to get the $6 million financial guarantees to kick off the club.
There was even talk of the group withdrawing their application for the franchise license altogether.
But one night at AAMI stadium seems to have changed that and not just for the investors, either.
Tim Cahill, Lucas Neill and Mark Schwartzer have made it known that they are very interested in investing some of their football earnings back into Australian football. Not just returning as players, they were very impressed with the way Melbourne Heart have made their mark on the A-League in such a short time and could well turn into another profitable A-League club.
Also, a decision on the 2022 World Cup bid is due in about seven weeks and many football pundits are seriously talking up the chances of Australia being the World Cup host nation in 2022.
Unexpected support is coming from the head of the South American Football Association and the Paraguay manager Gerardo Martino, in Sydney at the moment for the recent Socceroos friendly game.
Winning the bid would have a very positive effect on the game domestically and theoretically make the game more attractive and profitable in the lead up years to the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
The focus for the 12th A-League license still remains firmly on the Sydney Rovers. Will they or won’t they?
If they secure the financial backing, it’s theirs.
Don’t forget that the old National Soccer League (NSL) had, at one time or another, fourteen Sydney teams: APIA Leichardt [Leichardt Tigers], Blacktown City, Canterbury-Marrickville Olympic, Hakoah, Marconi Stallions, Northern Spirit, Parramatta Eagles, Parramatta Power, Penrith City, St George, Sydney City, Sydney Olympic, Sydney United and Western Suburbs.
Ten of those teams were in western Sydney or within about 15 kilometres of Parramatta Stadium. Even though they may have averaged only a couple of thousand home fans each, collectively that could add up to a large enough fan base to be a profitable franchise.
Some people argue that both Sydney AND Melbourne need a second A-League team, and when it happens, football will go closer to fully realising its potential in Australia.
SFC will only ever be significantly supported by the city people and the A-League has not captured the imagination of those people in Penrith, Blacktown, Campbelltown, Liverpool, Canterbury and Parramatta, where AFL and the NRL will happily try to run the neighbourhood.
Others will say that Sydney FC does not yet pull the consistently large crowds to warrant a second team for the city.
Large crowds show up for the big matches, and that’s about it. The support is there for the one club, however the culture of the city is to generally stay at home and watch the games on Fox if you’re not living close to the ground.
Some also said Melbourne didn’t need or want a second team.
I’m one who loves sport and loves a gamble and, of course, I urge the Sydney Rovers to go ahead with the second Sydney A-League team, take their chance with both hands and make a real go of it.
Don’t leave the door open now for the rival second Sydney bid consortium, the Wollongong/South Coast bid or the Canberra group to take it away from you.
Wake Up Call
Guest
Why should Sydney get ANOTHER club when they do not even fill their ground to quarter full most matches? You read Sydney soccer fans on forums and all it is about is excuses why they do not show up. Even if Real Madrid, Man U or Inter Milan decided to play home matches in Sydney you could imagine the old excuses would be rolled out. 1. Too expensive 2. bad public transport, too much traffic, no car parks 3. bad standard of play 4. no atmosphere 5. rubbish stadia 6. insert excuse of your choice Point is, Sydneysiders have a team they do not support it. Give another town a go. Canberra, Wollongong, Geelong, Hobart, a 3rd team in greater Melbourne somewhere. Another thing, Sydney had a load of clubs in western Sydney in the old NSL. You had Marconi, Sydney Croatia, Parramatta Eagles, Power. They ALL had pathetic attendances. You simply cannot put forward a reasonable business case to support another team in Sydney. Sydney is the Stalingrad for sporting clubs in Australia.
Cpaaa
Roar Pro
RealFootball said Saatchi and Saatchi are very smart, very focussed, very well organised and very ruthless. Also a powerful international advertising company.....strangely none of those qualities have been used in the establishment of a pathetic west sydney A-League bid
Cpaaa
Roar Pro
Thanks AF, I didnt know that. Still dosnt change my view about burying the Rovers. They have done far too much damage by doing nothing at all for far too long.
Realfootball
Guest
People who end up running Saatchi and Saatchi are not Walter Mitty characters, AF. They are very smart, very focussed, very well organised and very ruthless. If anyone could have assembled the cash, he could have. That he couldn't shows just how tough it is out there.
Australian Football
Roar Guru
Cpaaa---Ian Rowden was a Footballer of sorts, a Marconi player in the NSL (I think) but apparently he is just a dreamer and thought it was a good idea at the time, however, I think he is just a Walter Mitty type of character..
Juve Pete
Guest
If there is to be a 2nd Sydney A League team it should be based in either in Western Sydney (Penrith) or South West Sydney (Marconi Stadium). Think about it if they play out of Marconi Stadium they will fill the Stadium just as Adelaide United fill Hindmash Stadium, Then the Bigger games (Sydney FC , Melb Victory, Central Coast) can be played out of either Parramatta Stadium. On the other hand if they played out of Penrith's CUA Stadium it is a fair distance away from Sydney FC's SFS home ground.
Cpaaa
Roar Pro
Ill say it Jimbo. I hope the the Rowden Rovers fold before they even begin. It was a sham to begin with. If you remember Rowden even came on this site to say a few words. He never replied to one comment or suggestion. That showed me he is either a very busy man or he dosnt care what the football fan, wants, thinks or does. Fold the Rowden Rovers forever. Why isnt their an election as to which club the people want. Its clear that the FFA chose the worse one so now let the fans have their say. It will be they who will be attending the matches. Lucas Neil was part of the Sydney Wanderers group. The amount of PR work Lucas Neil does for country is extrodinary. He is a recognizable face and i think its fair to say trustworthy and understanding of the game and Sydneys needs. Frankly i dont know how or why his proposal slipped. Sydney Wanderers was also one of the first registered clubs going back to 1880. Reconnecting with history sounds all too positive. Lucas Neil Australian Legend....Ian Rowden, never heard of him!
Mister Football
Guest
As long as the people of Sydney are given choice, that's all we can ask. And with the paucity of numbers in Sydney that attend live sporting events, who knows, GWS might surprise!
Rob C
Guest
Don't worry, they will need every cent of that to make them work and then some... Good luck is all I say as the AFL is going to need it!
FKCZ
Guest
Come hell or high water the AFL will make sure GWS succeeds even if they end up paying people to go watch them. And with a muted $1billion TV deal they won't be going broke either.
Art Sapphire
Guest
Why so upset? You've had a long day today, Pip. Get some rest.
Mister Football
Guest
I lived through it, I witnessed it, I celebrated it - what right does anyone have to tell me how I should react to it?
Art Sapphire
Guest
Socceroos don't only just play for a forever vanquished Bulldogs supporter where beating Indonesia is cyinically described as the apex of following the national football team.
jimbo
Roar Guru
Sydney has got bids together, I think there was 3 consortiums originally and then down to 2. The FFA chose the less ethnic one, shall we say, and seemed to be a safer bet, with its eyes focussd on the ethnic violence myth of old soccer. Sydney has by far the largest numbner of football players and followers than any other city in Australia, but as yet is not able to put together a successful and pofitable football team to compete in a national competition. Sydney FC has been successful in terms of winning silverware in its short history, but even with avge attendances as high as nearly 17K in season 3, and winning a premiership and 2 championships, is unable to make a profit. It also has the biggest football market and advertisisng and sponsorship dollars. A well run football club in Sydney should have very good earning potential, but why doesn't it happen?
jimbo
Roar Guru
Midfielder, greater Sydney [including the west] has the potential to be the supporter base for a very good football team. Its a matter of cooperation and involvement from the thousands of football teams in the area. If done right, it certainly should be more profitable than Sydney FC. But if it isn't done properly and is not all inclusive it will fail. However, I think the climate is right to give it "a red hot go" for 2011 and it has more chance to succeed than North Qld or the Gold Coast.
Mister Football
Guest
Art I witnessed the Socceroos winning consecutive Merlion Cups in 1983-84. I've tasted success.
Art Sapphire
Guest
Future Socceroos successes will be seen a serious blow in AFL headquarters in regards to expanding the game. Are you sure you want to support the Socceroos ;)
apaway
Guest
Fair enough Mr. I attended a meeting where Ian Rowden gave the presentation to a western Sydney football association and he said he wanted the Rovers to embrace fans in the south-west, the north-west and the outer west of the city, which is sensible enough. I wonder if the Rovers (or for that matter Sydney FC) have researched just how many fans travel from these areas to attend FC games currently.
Mister Football
Guest
The Socceroos are our national football team - sure, that makes them far less important than your local footy club - but certainly of some importance.
Art Sapphire
Guest
Andyroo - the reason why I say this is because the AFL cares more about GWS than his beloved Bulldogs. It's strange because the organisation Pip wholeheartedly supports would have no qualms in sacrificing the Bulldogs if it meant GWS's survival was guaranteed. I was on the phone to a mate of mine who now lives in Athens. He grew up within 200 metres of the Footscray train station. He attended games at Western Oval for 2 decades. I would go with him every now and again and stand with him on the outer.He bleeds Bulldog blood and the only sport he follows passionately is Aussie Rules. Yet, when it comes to GWS, he's not a fan of the idea. He think's its a nonsense. Anyway, Pip's non-response confirms that he really wants soccer to remain a niche sport and then he appears on Socceroos boards discussing how the national team is going. Go figure.