The race is on to catch Sydney FC at the top of the A-League table, but the biggest battle in domestic football this season isn’t to win the league – it’s to join it.
FFA’s decision to begin a formal process early in the new year for teams to enter the A-League has set the pulses racing.
As many as a dozen expansion markets exist around Australia and New Zealand, contending for what are likely to be two vacancies.
Brisbane, southern Sydney, Tasmania, Auckland, South Melbourne, Canberra and Wollongong are all candidates, among others.
And why wouldn’t they be interested?
Crowds are up, broadcast audiences are up and playing standards are up.
Since the admission of the Western Sydney Wanderers in 2012, football dreamers have looked forward to the next entry to boost the 10-team competition.
FFA bosses have opted for consolidation over the past five years, only toying with the idea of changing the line-up at crisis moments with existing teams; most notably in October last year at Wellington’s expense.
But with the Phoenix’s investors backing the New Zealand side for at least another three seasons after this one, the focus now is on expansion and not replacement.
A-League chief Greg O’Rourke gave a timetable for possibly two new teams in the 2018/19 competition in a statement last week.
“A framework for expansion will be completed early next year which will allow (interested consortia) to submit expressions of interest in a framework which focuses on the viability of the the proposed franchise and its ability to provide benefits to the A-League and the game,” it read.
In other words, it’s game on.
As it stands right now, the A-League aspirants are at varying states of preparedness.
A well-financed Tasmanian bid, which has already met with FFA, believe it just needs the tick-off from head office to start investing and hit the ground running.
National Soccer League powerhouses South Melbourne have a champion second-tier team, a boutique stadium and a burning desire to be back among the big boys.
In Queensland, former Gold Coast United coach Miron Bleiberg believes fellow NSL winners Brisbane Strikers could be a viable force in the A-League, and is working with investors to plot a pathway into the top tier.
Further afield, Oceania powerhouses Auckland City are beginning an exploratory process that could lead to a bid.
Chairman Ivan Vuksich told AAP the club was in the “very early days” of looking at raising the capital.
“We’d obviously like to be involved,” he said.
“We’ve made some tentative enquiries but it’s very preliminary.”
Had the Phoenix not continued in the competition, FFA was ready to introduce a third Sydney team encompassing the Sutherland, St George and Illawarra regions.
Despite Sydney FC’s opposition, it remains a favoured option for the governing body – but it’s unlikely FFA will drive the concept this time around, meaning external investors will be required.
All three associations are still keen to come together and former A-League chief Lyall Gorman, now the chairman on NRL club Cronulla, is eager to accommodate a team at Southern Cross Group Stadium.
It’s expected any southern Sydney franchise would also play games at WIN Stadium but the Wollongong Wolves, back-to-back NSL champions in 2000 and 2001, believe the South Coast should have its own team and will consider putting forward a bid once FFA releases its criteria.
“If guidelines come out in January or February, of course we’re going to look at those guidelines very, very closely,” new Wolves CEO Chris Papakosmas told AAP.
“We have some very, very significant contacts and connections within corporate Australia, right across the country, and we intend to leverage those when it’s most appropriate and suits everyone involved.”
The choices for FFA extend further afield, with Geelong presenting a regional alternative for another Victorian franchise, while second teams in Adelaide or Perth are long-shot contenders.
No bids are expected from the Gold Coast or North Queensland, two regions burned badly by the A-League’s disastrous first attempt at expansion in 2009.
Bob Brown
Roar Guru
What has the federal govt got to do with an A-League bid. Is Tassie A-League going to be sponsored by the Coal Board or the Employers' Federation?
punter
Guest
No Fuss a football fan, Pippinu was a AFL fan, he was something else!!!!
Cameron
Roar Guru
When did Pippinu disappear and Fuss appear? ;)
punter
Guest
Maybe Pippinu, the most famous AFL poster on the football tab can maybe make a comeback.
Cameron
Roar Guru
Agreed. Would much appreciate his presence again. And put to bed the claims that he is apparently "Nemesis."
Mister Football
Roar Guru
The most famous soccer poster on the Roar, Fußball ist unser Leben, once predicted that the A-League could fetch broadcast rights of $100 million per annum. Perhaps he was right? The soccer community needs his prognostications like never before. He is much missed.
Griffo
Roar Guru
Depending on the amount of the media deal, expressions of interest for a division between state NPL and A-League could be forthcoming. How much would be needed to field 8-12 teams in that division/NPL remains to be seen. -- '...adding two bbq teams...' Cameron, either your device is looking at it's next social event on the calendar, or your new team's feeder area is a little under-ambitious :lol:
pete4
Guest
Tassie also looks to be bidding Prime Minister 'considers' Tasmanian A-League bid http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/article/2016/11/23/prime-minister-considers-tasmanian-league-bid
Chopper
Guest
The idea about expansion is to lengthen the season at the same time as increasing teams. The squads need to be larger to cope and that creates places for our youth team players as they graduate so going to 14 teams must give us a 39 game season which may mean some midweek games. Currently the close season is far too long deleting a round from the season is farcical and to improve the quality of our players they must play more often. That is why a 12 team comp playing 33 rounds plus finals is the first stage in expansion and it may work for the expanded season if we take the Fifa breaks that allow all players to represent their countries. In my opinion the close season needs to be around ten or twelve weeks max.
Cameron
Roar Guru
Cheers for that, punter. I too had the issue of reading that and it makes for very interesting times.
Bob Brown
Roar Guru
Thanks Punter. Looks like $80M is the starting price for negotiating. Foxtel are allowed the final bid, subject to negotiation under the current agreement. The FFA also seem to have various options/packages and might be interested in selling the FTA rights separately to get more money. Interesting that "at least a dozen" companies have put their hand up, which would mean it could turn into a bit of a bidding war auction. Lets hope so.
Nemesis
Guest
"It is understood at least a dozen broadcasters and other media companies have signed confidentially contracts with the FFA to receive the documents." Yet, people who hate football, in general, & have no regard for the A-League, in particular, have been lecturing us for the past 4 years that no broadcaster is is interested in the ALeague broadcast rights. Even FoxSports apparently are not that interested according to people who are clueless about football and business.
Sydneysider
Guest
So the bids have to be in before December 9th. "It is understood at least a dozen broadcasters and other media companies have signed confidentially contracts with the FFA to receive the documents." Interesting..... Good idea to get it done before cricket does their TV deal in Australia.
punter
Guest
Bob, The battle for soccer broadcasting rights could be wrapped up by Christmas, with broadcasters this week receiving tender documents from Football Federation Australia requiring bids to be lodged by December 9. In a surprise move, FFA has given the broadcasters a little over two weeks to bid for a new deal covering at least four years from mid-2017 onwards which could reap up to $80 million annually - double the figure now being paid. It is understood at least a dozen broadcasters and other media companies have signed confidentially contracts with the FFA to receive the documents. Current rights holder Fox Sports holds a "last rights" clause for the next deal, meaning it can match any offer that FFA is able to attract from other networks. The governing body is particularly keen to sell at least some A-League rights to one of the big three free-to-air commercial networks for the first time in the competition's 12-year history. SBS currently simulcasts one match on Friday nights on its secondary SBS Viceland (formerly SBS 2) channel. While Fox Sports is in the box seat to maintain a hold on most of the rights, FFA wants a free-to-air partner and to also sell digital rights to a telecommunications company such as Optus, which holds English Premier League rights and wants more sports content, or Telstra. Going to the market quickly could mean FFA has been given an indication in recent weeks that at least one free-to-air bidder is keen to buy some rights, though it also means the sport is moving rapidly to strike a deal before Cricket Australia formally begins negotiations on a new lucrative deal for test cricket, limited-over international and Big Bash League rights in early 2017. FFA is understood to be being advised by Adara Partners, a corporate advisory firm that engages high-profile investment bankers to work on deals from which the fees derived for their services are ultimately donated to charity. The tender documents reveal FFA is in the market for A-League matches, as well as Socceroos home friendly internationals and the first two rounds of World Cup qualifiers. The last and current round involving the Socceroos is sold directly to the Australian market by Lagardere Sports, which in October sold the rights to Fox Sports who in turn sold free-to-air rights to Nine Entertainment Co to show on its Gem digital channel. Multiple options have been listed in the tender, across free-to-air, pay-television and Over The Top digital streaming. One requirement for a free-to-air broadcaster is to show a Saturday evening match on its primary channel, though live finals series matches are also included. FFA is also offering Matilda's women's national team matches, the W-League and some international club friendlies held on Australian soil. There is also an option for more matches to be included in the deal if FFA moves to expand the number of teams in the A-League, presumably in return for a high rights fee. An additional match could then be shown on free-to-air. FFA chief executive David Gallop recently revealed the league would release the framework for expansion and invite bids for new team licences early in the new year Read more: http://www.afr.com/business/sport/ffa-may-have-aleague-tv-rights-deal-wrapped-up-by-christmas-20161122-gsvd2h#ixzz4QnbyzBdA Follow us: @FinancialReview on Twitter | financialreview on Facebook
Bob Brown
Roar Guru
Punter, can't see the AFR article, you have to be a subscriber to view it. What's the gist of the story and how much are FFA expecting?
punter
Guest
http://www.afr.com/business/sport/ffa-may-have-aleague-tv-rights-deal-wrapped-up-by-christmas-20161122-gsvd2h
Bob Brown
Roar Guru
The hottest ticket in town right now seems to be an A-League license. Even Auckland are putting in another bid, while the FFA are talking about getting rid of Wellington. Is the increased competition for the 2 available licenses in 2017 to anyone's advantage? Will the FFA use it to ask for more broadcast money or even more money for an A-League license? Wow, the A-League has come a long way from the days when the FFA had to bankroll a club themselves, just to make up the numbers. For FFA's sake and the continued growth of the game, I hope this broadcast deal is going to be huuuuge.
pete4
Guest
Appears the Wollongong Wolves will definitely bid http://sportsbusinessinsider.com.au/news/wollongong-wolves-hunting-for-a-league-spot/
Mister Football
Roar Guru
I would agree that 14 teams playing 26 rounds is preferable to 10 teams playing 27 rounds (which does get rather tedious).
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Hellas currently enjoys a fair bit of support, and much of that does not follow either of the two Melbourne teams. If there is one club that would add to the overall A-League following, it's definitely Hellas.