Daily Telegraph Article: FFA to reconsider next phase of Expansion

FFA needs to reconsider expansion plans for 2010/11


Expansion hasn’t been the golden ticket to significantly better crowd figures with a below 10,000 average crowd for the last round highlighting the complexities of drawing punters at this time of the year. But rather than being the ticket to better crowds, expansion is partly the reason for the deplorable crowds in Brisbane.

Brisbane came into this season off the back of an impressive run in the latter stages of last season and have shown flashes of its exciting attacking capability this season, despite a woeful run of injuries.

They have some of the most exciting Australian youngsters in the league, an inspirational captain and national team hero, a well-known coach not afraid to speak his mind, and a gun new import.

So why the enormous drop in crowd figures?

Obviously there have been some self-inflicted mistakes that have cost the Roar big.

The much-discussed cost of tickets is a shambles with season ticket holders charged an extra $169 this season compared to last.

Once such information becomes public knowledge, then perceptions tend to be exaggerated, keeping away those mindful of their budgets.

It’s a warning to all A-League teams and the FFA — don’t treat the paying public with contempt for you will feel their wrath.

But the enormity of the crowd drop in Brisbane specifically must be partly put down to the changes in the Queensland football landscape.

From the sole representatives of the sunshine state, with its name reflecting that, Brisbane’s market for potential sponsors, television audiences and, to a certain extent, crowd figures, has been cut by a third, not good for a team struggling financially and relying on the FFA to help bolster their coffers.

For Queensland residents travelling down to the state capital or ex-pat Brisbane residents from Townsville or the Coast, there is little reason to catch a Roar match, especially if they have jumped off the bandwagon to follow their own teams.

This problem will be multiplied with second teams in Melbourne (the Hearts) and Sydney, for the simple reason that, in the latter’s case at least, the geographical distance between the second franchise will be a lot shorter than in Brisbane.

For all its promise and the encouraging signings of some impressive names from the backroom to the head coach, there is still no clear sign as to how the Melbourne Hearts will differentiate themselves from the Victory.

There will be no geographical difference.

If this was an important consideration, then South Melbourne would have been the only real option and that wasn’t necessarily going to happen considering the huge cultural shift of the FFA away from all that the NSL symbolised compared to the A-League.

Aside from attracting Victory fans when Archie and co are playing away and the Hearts are the only team in town, what will convince a Victory supporter to throw away their scarf and defect to the Hearts?

The differentiation will have to come from how the club plays its football with a European style already promised with the signing of experienced Dutch coach Henk van Stee.

Heaven forbid if they fail to achieve this differentiation in the way they approach their football for, unless they bring in Mark Viduka from the wilderness, they will have little to tempt Victory fans.

Last week the FFA delayed a final decision on the twelfth franchise to join the Hearts in the A-League to allow the bidders more time to present their case.

Perhaps there needs to be some acceptance that expansion, for next season at least, may be too much too soon, and working out a better strategy when introducing a second franchise into a market is needed.

http://www.theroar.com.au/2009/09/02/ffa-needs-to-reconsider-expansion-for-201011/

If you feel you need to comment on the article, feel free to. Just click on the link and scroll down.

An interesting article, However I am not convinced that many north queenslanders or Gold Coast united city folk were really going to the roar's games in great numbers.. I would put it down to the costs and the ridiculous prices.. word spreads... As for the second Melbourne team well unless they get some real big name like Mark Viduka then they look to be in trouble.. the second Melbourne team was always going to be a risk and its a shame that they are trying to split the victory which are the bench setters in terms of crowd numbers.. that said it does not necessarily mean the 'Heart' will fail but they must come up with a squad which can captivate Melbourne's imagination. To say the least they have started (coach) in the right direction but only time will tell. As for getting the crowd back I really would say Canberra needs to be tapped before Western Sydney... however there exists more in A-league then sheer crowd numbers and for that reason Western Sydney are still a preferred choice..

"ffa need to reconsider expansion plans?"

no they don't, not unless the reconsidering has to do with canberra being a higher priority than western sydney then no they don't.

Was in today's Daily Telegraph- due to poor crowds and financial struggles.

daily telegraph, tabliod newspaper, it means most of the articles are crap

oh the telegraph, i was wondering why it was a load of crap

I really wouldn't be surprised if they did reconsider. It has been thrown about. I can't really see any of the bids: Canberra, Western Sydney and Melbourne Heart getting the best crowds.

With Sydney FC getting woeful crowds this year, the lack of support for the Melbourne Heart and Canberra's fickleness, they have good reason to.

I believe this article is even more of a reason to give Canberra the 12th license.

Canberra is an untapped market and we really need to get in soon or people just won't be interested if they have to wait 5 years.