Ever since the introduction of the Western Sydney Wanderers back in 2012, expansion has been a hot topic among football fans.
The A-League has gone from strength to strength since it’s inaugural season, with overall increases in attendances, sponsorship and revenue.
However, we have since drawn to the conclusion that a ten-team national competition is simply not ideal and expansion is necessary in order to further expand our beautiful game.
With the 2017 A-League broadcast deal approaching, questions have been raised as to which areas are capable of sustaining an A-League team. David Gallop has insisted that we should “fish where the fishes are” and has further alluded that areas with a population greater than 500,000 are suitable for an A-League licence.
Brisbane, most certainly, meets these criteria and from a general perspective, you would genuinely believe that the city is capable of two A-League teams. But is it really?
The Brisbane Roar have recently had financial woes and stability is currently a major concern for the club. With a $2.25 million loss this financial year, stability will be a concern for the short-medium term and the club’s long-term survival should be addressed first before a second Brisbane A-League club is even considered.
Brisbane had an average home attendance of 15,255 during the 2014-15 season. While this is reasonably good in comparison to other A-League clubs, there is still room for improvement before Brisbane can be a genuine contender for a second A-League club.
A second A-League Brisbane club could potentially dilute the support and in order for a second team to be truly successful, it would have to target an area which is somewhat uncovered by the Roar, something the Brisbane Roar haven’t completely achieved within their own catchment area.
Despite the growth of football in Queensland and Australia overall, the state still remains a rugby league heartland and it will take some time for the Roar to significantly make an impact on the Brisbane, and to a certain extent, Queensland market.
The Brisbane Broncos had an average attendance of 33,354 in 2014 and while it can be considered somewhat premature to be comparing the crowds of a well-established rugby league side to a relatively new A-League side, it is still worth noting the notable interest and support of rugby league in Brisbane.
While Sydney FC experienced a significant growth on-field and off-field with the introduction of the Western Sydney Wanderers, Brisbane simply does not have a geographical distinction or market differential in order for a second team to be sustainable. A team from Ipswich could be a possible option, however it would more than likely lack major corporate backing or sustainable crowd attendances.
Ultimately, a second Brisbane A-League team would not be sustainable or successful in the short-medium term and the addition of such a team should be reconsidered. Queensland most certainly needs more than one A-League team, however other areas within the state should be considered first.
Perhaps once the Brisbane Roar’s long-term future is secured and the team has made significant in-roads into the Brisbane market should a second team be considered, but for now, other areas such as Wollongong, Canberra, Tasmania, Gold Coast or even Far North Queensland are considerably more worthy of an A-League licence.
Peter Cotton
Guest
Chris, Sydney and Melbourne each have roughly twice Brisbane's population, and their populations are each predicted to increase at a greater numerical rate than will Brisbane's in the next five years. Yet they only have two A League teams each. On this evidence it is difficult to justify the calls for a second team in Brisbane, with the two southern capitals likely to have better success with each hosting a third team, but there is little chance of anyone getting knocked over in the rush. Time to consolidate and build the attendances at the current clubs before embarking on expansion.
Chris
Guest
Yep we need two teams in Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide all have more than a million inhabitants and can support two teams with the right business plan and good management. Overseas investment is also the key as in Melbourne City. Derbies all over the country will inspire a great rivalry in all cities.
Peter Cotton
Guest
If AFL and NRL succeed with larger numbers of clubs in Sydney and Melbourne, wouldn't it be worthwhile for the A League to look to expanding along similar lines? It would be exceedingly foolish not to thoroughly investigate the blueprints laid out by the two major football codes.
Lionheart
Guest
Before any expansion in QLD is considered, the FFA must promote the game. NRL dominates sports reporting on radio, TV and paper. HAL barely gets a mention. Attendance at national games at Lang Park, and the recent Asia Cup, is evidence of the sports popularity and a good indication of the untapped fans. With a population of over 3 mil in SE QLD, the game has a very serious problem if it can't provide at least two teams to the HAL. But it needs work if it is to be successful, advertising as previously said, and more.
Lionheart
Guest
And we've already got a song for them on derby days.
davo
Guest
Seemed to work when they put a second Sydney and second Melbourne team. Both derbies get 40k plus. Pretty sure they were manufactured too. Might take some time but the Brisbane derbies would get traction quickly. For the rest of the season the second Brisbane team might struggle but the momentum would build into the future.
Bfc
Guest
Would agree that a second SE QLD team is not viable in the short term...the Roar are still encountering financial woes (perhaps they need to relocate from Suncorp...costs way too much and it seems the government owners are not interested in helping the game...) so a second team at this stage would struggle even more. Also, who could finance the team anyway...most NPL clubs (the next tier) have no outside source of revenue (leagues clubs etc..) and are very reliant on fees paid by juniors (up to $2000 for u12s...). On the other hand...apparently only Juventus in the Serie A owns their own stadium (an Italian colleague who is an AC Milan fan laments that they have no money to buy payers...AC Milan...!), so the HAL is not alone in facing finance issues.
Sharks Fan
Roar Rookie
I agree. Personally, I believe a new Gold Coast franchise could be established, as long as it was planned thoroughly and had better ownership. The people of the Gold Coast were hard-done by that fool Clive Palmer and they deserve to have a second chance in the A-League. A team on the Gold Coast wouldn't disadvantage or dilute the support of the Brisbane Roar either, so it would be beneficial for both clubs.
Sharks Fan
Roar Rookie
Thank you for your kind feedback LordBrucie. I believe Brisbane can support a second team in the long-term, however that's only if the Roar's financial outlook is stabilized and the club wouldn't be disadvantaged in any form. I would even go as far as saying that Gold Coast could even support a new franchise, as long as it was planned thoroughly and not owned by a heartless millionaire.
woodo
Guest
Shouldn't the focus be on re-engaging the football community with Glory? These guys had fantastic support back in the NSL days, so the potential is there. It will be an uphill battle though, given the events of the past season. But just setting up an alternative isn't the answer in my opinion, unless Glory is to be replaced which would seem harsh and unnecessary.
Dave2136
Guest
A second Brisbane team would only need 6k average crowd for non derby games to crack 10k season average, assuming they could get 40k to 2 derbies (12 team league, 33 rounds where all teams still play each other 3 times, 17 home games).
Harrison
Guest
Often what gets left out of these kind of debates are numbers. Just as an example, when Melbourne Heart we first established they weren't a big side by no stretch of the imagination. However, to this day they are the only club to never get money from the FFA, meanwhile the A-league regional side in the Central coast and Newcastle have had financial problems since they started. Heart had almost a 200% higher attendance rate than NQF in their first yearend almost 250% higher than Gold Coast, . Yet for some reason people are quick to point to say Heart are a failure, so no more expansion into big cities, and lets give more regional cities and the fury another crack. Melbourne Heart didn't just take fans from Victory, by creating a derby the pie has grown. Since Hearts first season, both Victory and City/Heart have grown in attendances EVERY year. Here's the fortnightly average crowds in Melbourne since A-league inception 05/06 14,167 06/07 26,064 07/08 27,728 08/09 24,516 09/10 20,750 HEART ENTERS 10/11 23,370 11/12 28,290 12/13 30,445 13/14 31,607 14/15 35,762 Since Heart entered, Victories crowds have gone up 69%, Heart/City up 22% (This is despite absolutely no success, which plays a large part in crowd figures) Compared to other some other clubs in the same 5 years... Adelaide up 9% Brisbane up 25% (won 3 GFs ion this time) Mariners DOWN 6% (Won 1 GF, 1 premiers plate and two 2nd places in this period) Perth up 12% Now, if i were the FFA looking at these figure and Im trying to plan for long term expansion, I see much more potential in a South Sydney, Brisbane Strikers or South Melbourne. Not because it will be an instant success, but because the atmosphere and local rivalries they would have would create an environment where fans become members as to not miss out on the sellout games, or bring their friends to a game to check out the atmosphere and create long term fans that way more so than a regional club could. Of course theres a limit. Im not saying we should have 9 Clubs in Melbourne and Sydney like the AFL and NRL, but if were aiming for a 16 side comp then 3-4 clubs from these cities and maybe another for Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide should be in the mix
Bob
Guest
There is NO chance a team in NQ can survive, it would be suicidal to put another side up there.
Bob
Guest
LordBrucie is a closet football fan, the sooner he comes out the better!!
Bob
Guest
I would say they would, there's a big local community involved in football over there so if they are not engaging with Glory give them a club they can engague with. Fremantle City FC (FCFC)?
Bob
Guest
15,255 was the prior season
Bob
Guest
Agreed on the Bakries but like many involved in mining cash has become short.
Bob
Guest
Strikers have a stated ambition of being the second Brisbane team that's for sure. Not sure where they could play out of though but I don't think they'll fit into Suncorp as even Roar can't get all of their home games there lately with one regular home game next season to be taken away from Brisbane
Bob
Guest
Suncorp is a killer in more ways than one: cost and atmosphere. If the Strikers were to come up where could they play? leads to the conclusion of redeveloping Perry Park and having two HAL teams play there.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Given that the Glory has never been able to get back to its NSL glory days, would the FFA really be looking to have a second Perth club in such a hurry?