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Joined September 2018
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The data available to FFA and Club decision makers at the time of the last expansion completely explains the current situation with Macarthur and Western United. The decision to include them was primarily to protect the value of the Sydney FC and Victory licenses, not to grow spectators and audience for the game.
With a struggling Victory, A-League crowds are not pretty reading
On that logic, St George Illawarra Dragons should have been the St George Macarthur Dragons, and Cronulla Sharks should merge with West Tigers. Seriously? A couple of further points: all three communities in the Southern Region are connected by a major train line and highway. No such combination goes from the coast straight to Macarthur, Liverpool, or Fairfield. Southern will be playing for several years in its 3 great stadia – Kogarah, Cronulla, Wollongong. Each served by a strong local association and a local chamber of commerce, all of whom back the bid. As the Dragons’ games showed this year, those stadia will get filled for each home game because the locals want their own A-League team and have told independent researchers they’ll show up in their thousands.
What the FFA doesn't care about in A-League expansion
It’s not just the distance (although it’s a factor – people in the Southern Region will travel less than 30 minutes, most 15, to see their team at their stadium several times a year) it’s cultural as well – the Southern Region already has connection and identity. It’s easy to build a single club fan base and identity there, but I wouldn’t want to be the CEO trying to create a Club identity between Campbelltown and Cronulla, Arncliffe and Airds, Fairfield and Fairy Meadow!
What the FFA doesn't care about in A-League expansion
Interesting piece, and the issue about player base is a very important perspective. Let me make a couple of comments as a contribution to your discussion. No expansion area has the player or club base that Southern Expansion has: 40,000+ players. No one comes close now, or even in 2030. To be accurate, not just the Rockdale Suns, Sutherland Sharks and Wollongong Wolves are in NPL1, but next year St George FC and St George City are in NPL2. (And for the W-League, we have Wollongong, Sutherland and St George teams). FFA data suggest that Sydney FC members in Southern’s catchment are much lower than the figure you quote (maybe only 1,000 in the St George area, as an example). In any event, you are correct that the Wanderers’ membership is impacted more by a Sth West bid than Southern impacts Sydney, and FFA data shows that the last expansion grew Sydney’s members by a net 20% after one season! Finally, you have to have a realistic fan and attendance strategy. Our independent research shows massive intention within our region to attend our games precisely because we’ll use our local stadia, but in terms of your suggested combined Sthn and Sth West bid, who really thinks people will travel between Sutherland and Leumeah?
What the FFA doesn't care about in A-League expansion
Imagine what the attendance numbers must actually be for Macarthur and Western United when you subtract the free tickets!
With a struggling Victory, A-League crowds are not pretty reading