The biggest non-financial challenge to moving the A-League to winter and introducing a second division is the availability of stadiums and quality of pitches.
This analysis is focused on whether each club could host 12 games during the 28 weekends from the start of March to the start of September, when at least one of the other three football codes will also be playing.
Sydney
Temporarily complicated, the city’s two major stadiums are being redeveloped.
During this time, Sydney will share Netstrata Jubilee Stadium with the NRL’s Dragons (five games) and Sharks (11 games), who are temporarily away from PointsBet Stadium.
In 2020, an NRL game was scheduled at Netstrata Jubilee on 15 of 28 weekends. Sydney could avoid this easily enough, particularly as they also have Leichhardt Oval, where the Wests Tigers host only three games.
In 2023, Sydney FC will likely return to Allianz Stadium, where they should be able to work around co-tenants the Roosters (11 to 12 games) and the Waratahs (seven or eight games).
Normally, the Wanderers share Bankwest Stadium with the Eels (11 games) and Wests Tigers (four games). In 2020, these teams were due to play there on 14 of 28 weekends (four times on Sunday and once on Monday), which would provide enough clear space for Western Sydney.
Until around 2023, however, the Wanderers will have to also share Bankwest with the Rabbitohs and the Bulldogs while ANZ Stadium is redeveloped, and the Waratahs for three games while Allianz is rebuilt.
This would be a fixturing headache, but hopefully the modern stadium would ensure a higher pitch quality. Otherwise WSW could host the odd game somewhere like Penrith or Belmore, or insist their temporary co-tenants take some games elsewhere.
Macarthur would be fine as they share Campbelltown Stadium with the Wests Tigers, who only host three games there. Additional Sydney teams would have these ample stadium options from 2023 onwards.
(Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Newcastle
The Jets could work around the Knights hosting 12 games over 28 weekends at McDonald Jones Stadium. In 2020, this was due to include five games on Saturday and six on Sunday, meaning the Jets could play a day before them some weekends if required.
Central Coast
The Mariners would want to avoid two annual NRL games at Central Coast Stadium. Otherwise it is all theirs.
Wollongong
If the Wollongong Wolves enter a second division, they could easily avoid St George Illawarra’s six games a year at the 23,000-seat WIN Stadium.
Canberra
A team from the nation’s capital should be able to avoid likely co-tenants the Raiders (11-12 games) and the Brumbies (seven or eight games), either at GIO Stadium or a proposed new, centrally-located stadium. In 2020, GIO was due to host at least one form of rugby on 14 of 28 weekends – four times on Saturday and six on Sunday.
Brisbane
The Roar share Suncorp Stadium with the Broncos (12 games) and the Reds (eight games). In 2020, at least one form of rugby was due to be played there on 17 of 28 weekends, which provides room for football.
However, the Roar are reportedly seeking to build a new boutique stadium, which should provide exclusivity. In the meantime, Dolphin Stadium is available for some games alongside Suncorp. Additional Brisbane-based teams would also face this situation.
Gold Coast
A new team could avoid co-tenants the Titans at the 27,000-seat Cbus Super Stadium. In 2020, the Titans were due to host 11 games there, five Saturday games and three Sunday games.
Sunshine Coast
A new team would have close to exclusive access to Sunshine Coast Stadium, which in 2020 was scheduled to host two NRL games. It has a capacity of 12,000 (1000 seated), but the local council is seeking state and federal funding for expansion.
North Queensland
A new team could work around sharing the 25,000-seat Queensland Country Bank Stadium with the Cowboys in Townsville. In 2020, the Cowboys were due to play there 12 times, seven times on Saturday and once on Sunday. If Cairns was used for some games, Barlow Park has a capacity of 18,000 (1700 seated).
Overall, each region in Australia and New Zealand has its unique advantages and challenges, but it is possible to fixture A-League and second division games from March to September in suitable stadiums and on quality pitches. Bring it on!
c
Roar Rookie
same here in sa
At work
Roar Rookie
Maybe because it was seen as a kind of broad based team that ultimately the A League became. But I think we've come a long way since then and could do much better then resurrect a Northern based team.
Micko
Roar Rookie
What made Northern Spirit appealing then back in the day?
At work
Roar Rookie
C'mon you're not serious with that comment... :stoked: North Sydney oval is a terrible venue for any rectangle sports to be played at. Plus Brookvale is a dump, which is situated in an area of Sydney which has very limited possibility for population growth. Although if the North Shore were to have a team, you'd be better off configuring Chatswood Oval into a rectangle small ground. Great access next to the station for all North and North West Sydney residents. But in suggesting that I don't think any team north of the harbour bridge would really add much.
Chopper
Guest
Dolphin may be fine for you Waz but it isn't for me. The stadium apart from it being nearly 90 klms north of where I live is a huge wind bowl. I have never been to a game there where the wind does not affect the quality of football. I suppose being on the bay does have its downfall. As for other suggestions here about upgrading Perry Park and taking "temporary" grandstands from QSAC (QEII) they are laughable. The grandstands were promised to other sports prior to the Commonwealth Games and they are still sitting there. Their condition must surely be doubtful. QEII still presents the best alternative but it will need plenty of work to make it a good stadium.
Chopper
Guest
Brisbane Roar have many fans on the southside of Brisbane that are totally disadvantaged by them playing at Redcliffe. I live 50klm south of the CBD and it is nigh on impossible for me to get to a game at Redcliffe in a timely manner. QEII should be converted to allow football to be played there. It will not be used at any Olympics other than a training venue and the stadium has a second track for training there in anycase. A lack of foresight by the Labor led government has left football as the perennial pauper in Queensland.
chris
Guest
Apaway forget about msm press coverage. They are never going to cover the A-League or football in general as it doesn't fit their agenda(s). Why else could you explain 2-3 times more articles on Rugby than sokkah in the SMH for example? Rugby is at an all time low with hardly any participants and hardly any spectators. But gets a lot of press coverage.
chris
Guest
Sounds like the equivalent of Leichhardt Oval here in Sydney. Hold a bit of nostalgia but basically a dump of a ground with zero parking.
apaway
Roar Guru
A really in-depth analysis which would have taken a helluva long time to compile. Great stuff. However, I think the reasons that the league shifted to summer in 1990 still hold true today. Ground availability is one thing.Ensuring a quality surface is another, which would be extremely difficult if sharing a ground with rugby. There is also the issue of the already-crowded winter sports calendar, which would further limit the A League's already minimal press coverage.
Micko
Roar Rookie
Maybe Sydney might be better off with a north Sydney franchise playing out of Brookvale Oval or North Sydney Oval like the Northern Spirit back in the NSL days?
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
The problem with Barlow Stadium in Cairns, and the Darwin Football Stadium for that matter, is that they are both grass pitches. The tropical North gets somewhat damp from December through to March, hence an artificial pitch would be required.
Micko
Roar Rookie
Do you think it might drive away fans from the south of Brisbane though?
Blood Dragon
Roar Rookie
it's also a 2km/30 min walk from the closest train station each way, driving is quicker from the city 40mins vs 1hr 25 via train and walk from the station but we should not be promoting car use to major events in this day and age, personally i think the novelty of relocating to redcliffe will be popular at 1st but will eventually wear thin and will end up with the roar back at suncorp
Waz
Roar Rookie
Dolphin is anything but inconvenient. It’s a drive yes but about the same journey time as it is by public transport for many. Parking is easy at Dolphin as well.
At work
Roar Rookie
I can almost guarantee the fans will vote in favour of moving back ‘home’ to Moore Park. Kogarah isn’t up to scratch, is out of the way for lots of people and there’s nothing to do before or after a game there.
Blood Dragon
Roar Rookie
or the Roar could end up like the Fire in the MLS and move back to the oversized CBD Stadium because the boutique stadium ends up being to inconvenient for fans to get to
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
Can't read that Courier Mail link Nick, what's the go?
Blood Dragon
Roar Rookie
it's a matter of when not if a 2nd Brisbane NRL sides happens at this point
Nick Symonds
Guest
TWG: Why all true football lovers should watch Brazil v Italy 1970 on SBS Australians were not able to watch the 1970 FIFA World Cup final live. But on Thursday from 2:30pm (AEST), we have a chance to watch a match that saw football go up to a higher level. - https://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/why-all-true-football-lovers-should-watch-brazil-v-italy-1970-on-sbs
Waz
Roar Rookie
Dolphin is fine and fit for purpose. I’d rather they put a temporary stand in at Dolphin and increased capacity to 14k than try and get PP up to scratch. Even with temporary stands you’d be lucky to get it to 10k. And why would strikers and roar need to merge - do Everton and Liverpool need to merge? Or Man City and Man Utd??