The A-League's current stadium plan is a joke

Interesting development http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/football/central-coast-mariners-launch-bid-to-become-first-aleague-club-to-own-their-own-stadium-at-gosford/news-story/62512c4340a413342dd4d8f36606dd4a

"WSW owners always listen to their members "- wow - too many Falcons

Not at all. Do you have any concept of how stadium economics works? The AFL has paid for Etihad Stadium by signing a 30 year contract to play 40-45 games there a year. There would be no stadium there were it not for this contract. ie - AFL paying for the stadium. You must live in la la land.

You talk rubbish. Both of these stadiums are in use at present. They do not "lie dormant".

You do understand that the Victorian government gifted the land for Etihad to the AFL

Sorry, it was referring to to the smaller capacity stadiums available that the article proposes A-league sides to be housed within. As you noted, Sydney FC determine them to be inappropriate.

The Hawks don't play or train at Glenferrie anymore, why not redevelop it into a rectangular stadium? Unlike Junction Oval or Windy Hill it isn't being used for cricket. Remember, NIB Stadium used to be an oval shaped ground until season 2003/04.

Nice work Pippinu. Give yourself another pat on the back mate.

With those membership figures the A-League will be rooned. The FFA should pack up shop and go home before its too late. All we need now is Mister MeIbourne RuIes to tell us the abysmal A-League TV ratings. Oh gee, its the end of football as we know it in this country. No use negotiating a new media deal, because the A-League will be finished before the month is out.

Fuss, as you pointed out you have a far greater understanding of Melbourne than I having lived there for such a long period. Perhaps you could apply that knowledge to answer my initial question, which is why would City and Victory wish to abandon AAMI?

Of course your comments are opinions. Like most opinions they are are useful as armpits. We have them but serve little purpose. Both those grounds are utilised by the Carlton and North Melbourne football clubs. Perhaps we should turn the under used soccer grounds that have 10 spectators, are used for 2 hrs on a Sunday over 12 weeks. Half of those weeks the ground is not used at all as that team is playing away. Turn those rectangular grounds into townhouse developments. Same shape so easily done

I'm proposing a basic 99 year leasehold arrangement between Melbourne City and the Melbourne City Council (for the redevelopment of the vacant Arden Street land) and a 99 year leasehold arrangement between the Melbourne Victory and the Melbourne City Council (for the derelict and under used Princes Park Stadium). The State Government of Victoria built the AAMI Park stadium. The State Government of Victoria would not be privy to any lease contract between the Melbourne City Council and the A-League clubs since the State Government of Victoria has no ownership rights over these land assets. The two Melbourne A-League clubs will build, own and operate their own stadiums within the next 10 years. It's just a matter of whether the Melbourne City Council gets some return on underutilised land, or whether some neighboring Council gets to come to the party.

I would totally agree. The eastern half of the city is a much bigger challenge. In the west you really only have league to contend with. In the east you have league, union, AFL and cricket. In summer you also have to compete with beaches.

We've mostly recruited attacking players to increase our goal tally and bring more depth to the squad, with the latest recruit Finnish striker Aleksandr Kokko arriving in season and match fit, averaging a goal every two-and-a-bit games. Another is Wayne Brown who appears to have a bit of class when I've watched him in attacking midfield position (also having played in Finnish league). Hoping we can view the live stream of their second match in the China tour tomorrow night. The 3-2 win against Liaoning Whowin FC was a good confidence booster for pre-season. Starting has never been our problem, even back in van Egmond's second stint. It's the middle and end part of the season we need to complete and gain points in as well. ;-) Mentality and squad cohesion will help a little their as well as experience although Miller has a more youth oriented recruitment strategy this pre-season, there are some leaders and experience as well (Brown and Kokko both mid-late 20's).

"– some weeks ago a few people on here were trying to argue MVFC carry the league. Please! Haha. 25% of memberships is impressive but cmon, absolutely NOT carrying the league – sorry just had to get that shot in against MVFC. The off season is painful." Haha. Yes AZ, I was in that exchange with Hulk and AR. It was one of those 'Melbourne is the centre of the universe, and is the home/capital of everything' threads. The funny things is they actually believe what they say. Have they no humility :) . A bit like us trotting out the line that 'WSW saved the A-league'. But I agree with you that give Newcastle a few good seasons and they will average well for a city their size.

Looks like there'll be more Victory supporters in the stands at the season opener.

SFC's numbers are terrible but that's not saying much compared to the other A-League clubs with the exception of MV and WSW. I think SFC has a harder sell in the areas they target around Sydney then the Wanderers do. It's quite obvious that the Wanderers have been successful in getting people from the west to identify with the club. SFC have not been as successful.

We should be aiming for the English lower divisions? Why stop there? Let's aim for the Conference. Most of the A-League stadiums are perfect size. Brisbane is the only one that could be argued as being too big but what alternative is there? And when they do get a grand final at Suncorp it is just about the best football venue in the country. It would be a better idea aiming to fill the perfectly good stadiums we already have.

But is that an excuse? If we wait til AFL and NRL finish then that gives us half a week to do all our marketing. We could be and must be a lot more aggressive during the winter. There might only be 2 Sydney teams in the NRL finals this season so it might be a perfect opportunity to capitalise on that. The AFL will benefit in a big way on having both Sydney teams doing well but it's still limited to the people open to embracing the sport from south of the border.