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Expansion Thread

Train station or no train station.

Private money or not.

When this stadium opens it doors, western united will have achieved what no other A-league club has done, and contributed more to the infrastructure of the sport in this country than any other professional club.

They will sit at the top of the football food chain in this country once that occurs.

I just cannot get my head around the constant degrading of them. They are doing so much better than so many other clubs.
 
When this stadium opens it doors, western united will have achieved what no other A-league club has done, and contributed more to the infrastructure of the sport in this country than any other professional club.
IF this stadium opens it's doors you mean ....... and IF its better than any one of the other existing privately owned football stadiums around the country ... perhaps.... but lets just wait till that happen eh?
 
In what way exactly?

You've got to be kidding?

- Will have facilitated the build of only the second A-league calibre stadium in Victoria, which they can maximise revenue for 12 months of the year.
- Have already completed the build of a brand new multi pitch training and admin facility at Ironbark fields

Don't the Jets train at a university, Melbourne Victory on a public park on the busiest intersection in Melbourne, and don't have their own facility, Brisbane who even knows where they train, Adelaide train in a random suburb and Perth train on a second level AFL oval.

How have they not contributed to the infrastructure of this sport in Australia?
 
IF this stadium opens it's doors you mean ....... and IF its better than any one of the other existing privately owned football stadiums around the country ... perhaps.... but lets just wait till that happen eh?

Ill agree with you on this. It will be a massive let down if it doesn't happen.

But its happening.
 
- Have already completed the build of a brand new multi pitch training and admin facility at Ironbark fields


How have they not contributed to the infrastructure of this sport in Australia?
Whyndham Council certainly have WMG did NOTHING ... but to be honest, its no better or worse than the dozen or so OTHER council built training grounds built in Melbourne over the last 5-10 years.. In fact, capactiy and location wise it is arguably much much worse.
 
Ill agree with you on this. It will be a massive let down if it doesn't happen.

But its happening.
It will only be a let down to the people who are willing to believe it in the first place.... :)

I gather you're a club fan, more power too you, for your sake I hope they havnt been taking you and your fellow supporters for a ride ..... My instinct (and the total lack of ANY movement over the past 6 years) tells me that they have though.
 
You've got to be kidding?

- Will have facilitated the build of only the second A-league calibre stadium in Victoria, which they can maximise revenue for 12 months of the year.
- Have already completed the build of a brand new multi pitch training and admin facility at Ironbark fields

Don't the Jets train at a university, Melbourne Victory on a public park on the busiest intersection in Melbourne, and don't have their own facility, Brisbane who even knows where they train, Adelaide train in a random suburb and Perth train on a second level AFL oval.

How have they not contributed to the infrastructure of this sport in Australia?
To say it's 'only the second A-League calibre stadium in Victoria" is a bit misleading there. That effectively makes all the major NPL clubs around the country as having an A-League calibre stadium, because they're certainly comparative at the moment. Can name two in Canberra off the top of my head, and this place is only slightly on the A-League radar at the moment (and granted, one of them is used by A-League Women)
 
To say it's 'only the second A-League calibre stadium in Victoria" is a bit misleading there. That effectively makes all the major NPL clubs around the country as having an A-League calibre stadium, because they're certainly comparative at the moment. Can name two in Canberra off the top of my head, and this place is only slightly on the A-League radar at the moment (and granted, one of them is used by A-League Women)

The statement refers to the stadium. Not ironbark fields.
 
It will only be a let down to the people who are willing to believe it in the first place.... :)

I gather you're a club fan, more power too you, for your sake I hope they havnt been taking you and your fellow supporters for a ride ..... My instinct (and the total lack of ANY movement over the past 6 years) tells me that they have though.

Im a Victory fan, have been since day one.

But i can see what they are trying to do, and are on the way to delivering.

Has it taken way longer than expected, Yes.
Has it been poorly managed, Yes.
Will it be incredible for WU and the sport of Football in Victoria when done, Yes.
 
Im a Victory fan, have been since day one.

But i can see what they are trying to do, and are on the way to delivering.

Has it taken way longer than expected, Yes.
Has it been poorly managed, Yes.
Will it be incredible for WU and the sport of Football in Victoria when done, Yes.
Fair enough, can't argue with any of that...
 
No such thing as long term viability in Australian Football. A-League clubs only exist because wealthy owners are willing to pump in cash and take losses year after year. Nothing sustainable or viable about that. The only time we see clubs in the black is when they manage to pickup some good international transfer fees. Which is fine, however that would happen way more often if we had an NST as well as a DTS to ensure our most talented young players are developing into pro-players much earlier than they are now.
Not really sure how a NST automatically means we sign more international transfers. FA have built the sport very much as a business. Investors are not willing to invest in a club if they are playing in the 2nd Division. Football has become very much about ROI. I agree with the core concepts of a value of a 2nd division, but we need to take this in in the landscape of Australian football.

There isn't actually that many opportunities for young NPL players at A-League clubs due to the way the cap (more importantly the cap floor) is setup. Clubs need to hit that salary floor and you can't do that by signing a bunch of young NPL players. A-League clubs are also incentivised to promote players through their own academies and their own NPL sides, so players at other NPL clubs have reduced opportunities regardless of how good they are. A-League expansion doesn't actually help the situation all that much unless it's through promotion of existing clubs that already have a complete grassroots setup.
There is actually quite a fair bit of opportunity. The problem is that the pathway programme is often abused. I agree, you need to promote the existing clubs. The FA is trying very hard however to ensure we never go back to old NSL days. The Broncos get much bigger crowds at Suncorp, but I guarantee you that The Den is watched more fervently. Granted they do some things that don't help the reputation, but the tribalism in football is much deeper and that scares Australian police and stadiums. They would much rather deal with drunks and vapers, than have to deal with flares and a bouncing crowd for 90 minutes.

We can't just expand for expansions sake. You really need to have the correct framework to do so. From a Queensland perspective, I have no faith in FQ that they are on the right track to do this.
 
Not really sure how a NST automatically means we sign more international transfers. FA have built the sport very much as a business. Investors are not willing to invest in a club if they are playing in the 2nd Division. Football has become very much about ROI. I agree with the core concepts of a value of a 2nd division, but we need to take this in in the landscape of Australian football.


There is actually quite a fair bit of opportunity. The problem is that the pathway programme is often abused. I agree, you need to promote the existing clubs. The FA is trying very hard however to ensure we never go back to old NSL days. The Broncos get much bigger crowds at Suncorp, but I guarantee you that The Den is watched more fervently. Granted they do some things that don't help the reputation, but the tribalism in football is much deeper and that scares Australian police and stadiums. They would much rather deal with drunks and vapers, than have to deal with flares and a bouncing crowd for 90 minutes.

We can't just expand for expansions sake. You really need to have the correct framework to do so. From a Queensland perspective, I have no faith in FQ that they are on the right track to do this.
I tell ya what, if we were still in OFC, we'd be getting investors with the upcoming Club World Cup..
 
IF this stadium opens it's doors you mean ....... and IF its better than any one of the other existing privately owned football stadiums around the country ... perhaps.... but lets just wait till that happen eh?

Keep living in denial mate. Its happening whether you believe it or not
 
Keep living in denial mate. Its happening whether you believe it or not
OK mate..... its been 6 years and no shovels yet.... what is the statute of limitations on bullshit 10 years, 12 years, 20 ?

I, and I suspect most others (apart from old mate Yosemite Sam below) have given up even caring if it does or not.... a 10k stadium in the middle of the desert isnt going to change anything for football in this country one way or another.... wake us up when the bulldozers move in ... zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

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Not really sure how a NST automatically means we sign more international transfers. FA have built the sport very much as a business. Investors are not willing to invest in a club if they are playing in the 2nd Division. Football has become very much about ROI. I agree with the core concepts of a value of a 2nd division, but we need to take this in in the landscape of Australian football.

It doesn't automatically result in more international transfers, but it does create an environment in which 200+ more players are on professional contracts at a younger age. That means if/when they sign to an A-League club they are already acclimatised to life as a professional football player and should have better chances of actually getting minutes on the pitch. That gives a far better opportunity for players to get overseas sooner. Right now it's taking far too long for players to hit the type of form that opens up those doors overseas.
As for opportunities in the A-League, it's very difficult to call a bench spot an opportunity. I don't blame the AL clubs either, these young players aren't ready, so they end up spending 2-3 years on the bench. If however they were spending that couple of years actually on the pitch at an NST club they would have better chances slotting into a starting lineup of an AL club.
 
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