The latest projections for the G21 Region based on Geelong is for a population of 400k in 2031. The latest ABS High Series projection for Townsville in 2031 is 325k. You shouldn't believe all you read in the papers. ;)

As it stands at this point in time, no. However, won't always be the case - lots of spare land that hasn't been allowed to be built on due to various safety requirement around the refinery. With that gone, there is no reason why that land can't be built on and in turn, revitalised in to a restaurant/pub area, servicing the stadium. Fuck all out there currently, would imagine the residents in the suburbs around there would like something like that instead of trudging in to the CBD and whatnot. Not to mention the train line right in the heart of it already means that people can pop in and out pretty easily from wherever - that's half the battle, is getting people there!

I agree this is all 'pie-in-the-sky' thinking and won't happen unless a billionaire gets particularly generous - however, it's got a lot of things going for it and, unlike many other areas in Geelong, it's essentially a blank slate as far as I can see. There isn't really anything there that would impede the development of a 'football and cultural area' for Geelong - it's just been unused industrial land for so long and the football club could really stop people looking towards the surfcoast (LOTS of development occurring down towards Torquay) and focus on Geelong again.

Investing in a Geelong Croatia entity is akin to investing in Balkan stage coach shares.

The above report clearly shows how one of the Qld population centres is surging ahead. Unlike Geelong that are about to lose hundreds of jobs at Ford affecting thousands.

Like I said, Qld is going up and Vic down. The priorities are clear.

Edited by paulc: 17/1/2014 01:52:26 PM

Townsville's population set to overtake Geelong

ANTHONY TEMPLETON •
Townsville Bulletin •
December 26, 2013 12:11PM

TOWNSVILLE is Australia's 10th fastest growing city and could overtake Geelong's population in coming years.

Population figures from the Australia Bureau of Statistics, released earlier this month, show Townsville has been performing strongly in terms of population growth, recording 2.5 per cent growth during the 2011-12 financial year.

Townsville was the 13th largest city but growing at the 10th fastest rate in the country.

Geelong, the 12th largest city in Australia, grew by only 1.2 per cent in the same period.

Economist Colin Dwyer said Townsville consistently had higher than average population growth.

"In the past it has created jobs via economic growth that has encouraged net migration," he said.

"Our net natural increase is good, thousands of babies are born each year adding positive dimension to our community.

"Combine these qualities, with an envious lifestyle with abundant sunshine and an active and connected community and we can continue the population trend."

Mr Dwyer said Townsville's population could hit 200,000 within two years.

"Given revised ABS population figures and (an estimated) population growth of 2.4 per cent and consistent economic activity, Townsville is likely to crack the 200,000 mark towards the end of 2015 or early 2016," he said. "This will also likely and see Townsville overtake Geelong and become the 12th largest city in Australia."

Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill said the increased Defence presence and a strong diversified economy were large contributors to the city's growth.

"A lot of that growth is based on movements in and out of the city due to the army and Defence presence growing, which has provided steady growth in terms of population," she said.

"One of the strengths for Townsville to attract (new residents) is the affordable cost of housing.

"And Kirwan, Deeragun and Oonoonba are some of the fastest growing areas in the state, which is where council has had to focus over the past few years."

Jamie Bott, 24, and his partner Roxanne McBryde moved up to Townsville about four years ago for the job opportunities and the lifestyle.

"When I first moved up here I was transferred to be the second in charge at the old bakery but now I am out working in the mines," Mr Bott said.

"Townsville has been perfect for us, we started driving up here in an old lancer with nothing but the clothes on our back and now we are building a home and have a daughter.

"The only way I will leave this place is in a box.

"I don't miss life in Ballarat at all, it's always freezing and everyone is miserable."

Mr Dwyer said Townsville needed to develop policies to foster population and economic growth into the future.

"We can't relax on the progress of our city and region," he said.

Gyfox has constantly referred to the need for stadiums to be built in centralised areas that have that are close to pubs/restaurants etc. Does Corio meet this requirement? If they are going to build a new stadium and upgrade transport around it, the government would want to see some money going back into the economy somewhere else, the same way Parra/SFS has a bunch of pubs/restaurants around it that get filled every match day.

Unless Frank Lowy leaves a lot of money to the game, can't see new stadiums being built anytime soon. (Based on those pics paladisious posted, Kardinia actually looks decent)

The refinery works for me. It's probably the best location for anyone making the trip from Melbourne.

Of course, I'd love for them to build a stadium on the peninsula, but I can't see that happening. They would choose to build a lot more houses instead of an arena of sorts. ;)

Big highway inbetween Corio 'the suburb' and Corio 'the administrative border' - stadium would be yonks away from any residential area.

Besides, any true resident of Geelong knows that if you want to get beaten up/mugged/stabbed/shot you go to Norlane ;)

Corio??? Well if violence at football matches is unavoidable as the media portrays I guess it makes sense to play games in areas where you'll get beaten up anyway. A bloke gets beaten up...he had it coming he was walking through Corio, move along everyone no scandal here.

and similarly to that woodward park's location in liverpool. large block of land, the venue currently has a swimming centre, >10 netball courts, enough room to fit 3 football fields, close to liverpool station, along the main road so theres easy access and only a 10 minute walk to a top notch shopping centre.

really good analysis of the populations of nsw and victoria above.

If I had my way, I'd love for it to be built on the site of the current Shell refinery (for those of you unaware, the refinery is being sold).

-Large tract of flat land: check (would've thought it'd make it easier to build on, not to mention it's large enough you could have the training headquarters there too - one stop shop for the club with training facilities and the stadium)
-Right next to public transport: check (Corio railway station is right there - it would need to be upgraded, yes, but the existing rail infrastructure is already in place. A walkway system similar to Etihad and Southern Cross right into the stadium would be perfect!)
-Proximity to bogans: check (if WSW have proven anything, it's that bogans love their sport - with the stadium built in Corio and servicing directly Corio, Norlane and North Shore etc, one would hope it'd bring a lot of them through the gates.)
-Right near the freeway: check (easy access for people from the Western Suburbs of Melbourne should they wish to follow the team)
-Gorgeous location right on the bay: check (currently it looks all industrial, but it is slowly dying off and being redeveloped - will be like Docklands in 50 years time. What better place to put a stadium!?)

Just my 2c, but I'd just love for a team in the city lol.

Even GCU were third once so what. Half a decade without silverware, a diminishing fan base and another club resembling a country town club without a win in 19 games is not a sign of the future. Coupled with the lowest participation rate in the country the tard state does not deserve priority but the emerging giant in Queensland should. You know, the place where they have the best club ever and looking like picking up yet another piece of silverware this season.

Ahh... there's nothing quite like the sound of a Victorian with a chip on their shoulder.

The reason NSW has four teams is because we have enough of a population base outside Sydney, concentrated into certain areas, to support smaller a-league teams. Victoria doesn't.

Time for some numbers and figures.

NSW/ACT - 7.5 million people, 4 teams.

Sydney - 4.5 million, 2 teams. (Sydney FC, Western Sydney Wanderers)

Rest of NSW/ACT: 3 million, 2 teams. Including:
Newcastle/Hunter - 500,000, 1 team (Newcastle Jets).
Wollongong/Shellharbour/Shoalhaven - 450,000, 0 teams.
Canberra/Quenbeyan - 450,000, 0 teams.
Central Coast = 300,000, 1 team (Central Coast Mariners).


VICTORIA - 5.7 million, 2 teams.

Melbourne - 4.2 million, 2 teams.

Rest of Victoria - 1.5 million, 0 teams.
Geelong - 215,000.
Ballarat - 90,000.
Bendigo - 90,000
etc.

That's why NSW has 4 teams, and Victoria has two. NSW has regions outside the city that are large enough to support a team (but only just). Victoria doesn't have that. That's why it's not a fair comparison. Sydney and Melbourne are similar sized, and they have 2 teams. That's about right.

A third team in Victoria would have to be in Melbourne, but with the Heart underperforming there probably isn't any room for a third right now. A successful Melbourne Heart team (or some other Victorian team like South Melbourne) would basically max out the viable market in Victoria.

As for Queensland:

SOUTH EAST QUEENSLAND: 3.05 million, 1team.
2.1 million in Brisbane -
500,000 on the Gold Coast
the rest in logan, ipswich and the sunshine coast

Rest of Queensland: 1.5 million, 0 teams.
[No location bigger than 120,000. ]

And New Zealand:

NEW ZEALAND: 4.4 million, 1 team.
Auckland region - 1.5 million, 0 teams.
Wellington region, 400,000, 1 team.
Christchurch - 300,000 people, 0 teams.

Auckland has 1.5 million people without a team. The rest of SE Queensland has 1 million. These are the only regions left in the Australia or New Zealand with more than 1 million in a small enough geographical area.


If you take population as a guide to where the next teams will be, the largest regions without a team are (in order):

Auckland
South East Queensland (outside Brisbane)
Canberra/ACT
Wollongong

Given the problems with the AFC and Auckland, SE Queensland is likely to be the next cab off the rank.

Edited by Lastbroadcast: 17/1/2014 01:13:23 PM

The NSW Government spent the money, not council. The stadium is now controlled by Venues NSW who also have Pirtek and Hunter Stadiums on their books. I'd elect an Illawarra team to get similar stadium deals to WSW and the Jets.

End of the day, you would pretty much see Illawarra council bending over backwards to allow a Wollongong team profitability, as it would be the only permanent team in the whole area and They just spent millions on a white elephant stadium! Would you say the same for any other area?

Two extreme points of view there.
Firstly Vic could easily support another team,it's just a matter of where it goes.
Secondly ,same for QLD.Fury was no worse than Heart in many measures,it just didn't have Owners with money.GCU was well and truly fcuked by Palmer.It did have passionate supporters early on.
CCM,Heart ,WP,PG and even AU have most of their game with sub 10k crowds and often with crowds closer to 5k than 10k.
So starting a new team that averages between 5k &10k is hardly an issue.

So Victoria has two sides, one struggling but still going, the other sitting 3rd in the league with 2 titles under its belt and the highest attendances in the league - but the state should be avoided... But Queensland, with two franchises dead and buried due to lack of interest should be the first choice for expansion..? Yep - strong use of logic there.

None would provide large attendance figures if that is a criteria. NSW is already over-represented and Victoria is just a basket case with a team that can't get it together and another that hasn't won in 20 games with poor attendances. Keep away from this lot.

With Queensland being the fastest growing and third largest stated with only one team has already proved to have a production line for champion players - so the first choice for expansion has to be in Queensland, no question.

Edited by paulc: 17/1/2014 10:45:22 AM

good to see the people at liverpool council are being productive about the possibility of a stadium in liverpool. and yes, saying that were going to get liverpool fc to set up a team here is a piss poor reason for a stadium to be built.

Some interesting news from western sydney.....


http://www.liverpoolchampion.com.au/story/1962945/do-we-sing-for-a-stadium-ned-says-yes/#slide=2
December 11th




http://www.liverpoolchampion.com.au/story/2009627/liverpool-mayor-sees-endless-possibilities/?cs=1465#slide=3
Jan 7th


This kinda seems like the Ipswich situation atm, with a mayor lobbying the government for a new stadium + team. Gotta say though, the Mayor should start looking for new potential owners, I don't think Liverpool are gonna come knocking and giving you their players :lol:

I read that too. It'd have a decent view, like Bluetongue Stadium. But the hardest part is building it. No rugby in Geelong, so no existing rectangular stadium. Unless a joint Geelong football/rugby taskforce got together...

Well Darryn Lyons (newly elected mayor) is keen for a license! But there is stiff competition from other areas at the moment, so who knows.

I wouldn't have written off a Heart move, but if they've been bought by the same owners as Storm, then it probably won't happen.

I was down there once covering the presentation of one of the Cat's AFL trophy wins to their fans, a groundsman (who, you were right in saying, was in the employ of the Geelong City Council) confirmed that they were holding the event in the carpark, because Victory were holding an open training session inside the stadium the next day!

If the Geelong Council are willing to do that to their adored Cats in their finest hour in deference to a mere training session for another town's A-League side, you can be sure that they'd give a fair go to their own team in terms of stadium access and quality.

I remember reading somewhere that Eastern Park just of Limeburner's Rd (?) had been identified as a site for a boutique stadium.

As expansion I do think the following areas need to be represented

South coast FC - Wollongong area is a big nursery for football talent
Canberra - this area has a women's team - why not the guys
Geelong - a 3rd Victorian team is needed
Auckland - NZ is large enough for 2 teams
Gold Coast - could of been given a better shot by Palmer
Nth qld - the fury seem to have it all sorted now in the qpl
Adelaide 2 - a team in the west of Adelaide is a must
Fremantle - a 2nd WA team is a must like Adelaide & NZ the local derby is a must just look at Sydney's & melbourne's
Central qld - it is a fast growing area & no other code is in the area
Tasmania - only the cricket is in this state & football is a national sport.

This all said & done either they are in the top tier comp with existing teams or a 2nd division as other leagues in the world.

At least if Geelong ever put in a bid for an A-League license they already have a stadium ready to go. Kardinia may be the wrong shape, but it's probably going to be easier to use that than build one from scratch for the bid.

I know the Geelong Cats obviously use it too, but I've just checked and they'll only play 4 matches during the remainer of the A-League season, so there isn't much overlap at all. The two can easily be scheduled around each other. Plus the stadium is owned by Geelong council, so there shouldn't be any discrepancy.

i agree about the goals which should be in that shape, its one of those basic things along with dugouts that we will never get.

Am I the only one that actually prefers this to the modern box style goal net? I always use this style in fifa, I think it looks mint when the ball hits the net :D


Edited by 4wanderer4: 16/1/2014 03:47:21 PM

^ Those pics are awesome.

The only other time Victory has played in Geelong was in the 2007 Pre-Season Cup against the Jets, in front of 8,500 people.

I've finally found some pictures which show the appropriateness of the skinny Kardinia Park for football: