Initial money injection i imagine and need to ensure that the teams will be somewhat competitive.

True but why put a cap on it, if we have enough viable teams to run a 20 team comp then let's do it.

As long as the comp is viable and the clubs are viable then let growth occurs where it can.

Some reasons if they rejected Tasmania for lets say Geelong. One it would create 6 more big matches in the league, it targets a big market in Melbourne getting more support in a major state, which in return may take some control over AFL.

#metrics

-PB

Yep, spot on.

Broadcast appeal is important but is far from the only factor at play. A viable team situated in Tassie delivers a return on investment in many ways...not to forget it would be bloody good for the game.

We have a stadium pledge, strong financial backing and support from the state government.

FFA: that's nice, but are you a corrupt as fuck mining magnate who doesn't give a fat rats about football? 

Broadcast appeal :) as in appeal to the broadcaster not the actual broadcast appeal

Yep, they were never getting in whilst there's still a potential for 2nd/3rd teams in big cities

This so much

Smart decision, maybe in the next round of expansion. 

Address all the "specified criteria" you want. At the end of the day, they will choose the bids they want.

No its not it might be a smart decision. it needs to add to the appeal of the whole league and provide real value not like what wellington are doing which is literally squatting on a licence giving nothing back and instead bringing the league down as a whole.

Tasmania by the sounds of it will have to earn their place in the future once pro/rel gets in.

If the options were tasmania, geelong, sth sydney or brisbane its clear as daylight that tasmania is last choice. 

I think the tasmania bid is interesting for novelty reasons but ince a couple of seasons go.by and we see a club struggling to pull ratings and attendances all it will do is become a burden to future growth of the league. There are at least 4 other places that would bring more to the table than Tasmania.

Really don't get how the A-League will be any better with Geelong over Tasmania. Not much more the Tassie bid could really do. Strong financial support privately and with the government plus a guarantee of $20-30million in infrastructure. Would've met every benchmark talked about in that article in regards to community and grassroots support.
Really feel the FFA have shot themselves in the foot here.

With government backing and stadium development it is crazy to reject Tasmania, although the article did say the rejection was for next year.

Canberra out then. Auckland in.........

and regional teams are out.

Tasmania was never going to be picked by the FFA, maybe down the line though. 

So bye bye Tasmania, very disappointing.

November 9 2016 - 6:25PM

 

  FFA set to introduce A-League expansion framework after meeting with Tasmanian bid

   

• Dominic Bossi

     

Football Federation Australia will fast track the expansion of the A-League and invite bids for new licences after meeting representatives from Tasmania this week. An FFA spokesman confirmed that a meeting with representatives of a Tasmania bid took place in Sydney where it is understood the governing body decided against granting the state its first professional football team of any code and signposted the criteria for a successful bid.

These include broadcast appeal, financial strength driven by membership and fans, as well as servicing football player bases. Sources described the negotiations as "a real discussion" between the FFA and a bid that was brought to the table with heavy financial backing and government and corporate support but which was not enough to convince the governing body to award the group a licence for next season. As revealed by Fairfax Media last week, Tasmania's submission had no shortage of experience in football administration with Melbourne Victory shareholders Harry Stamoulis and Robert Belteky and former Tasmanian NSL player David Clarkson leading their charge.    At the meeting, the representatives produced a letter of support from the Tasmanian government for an A-League licence as well as a pledge to refurbish stadiums at costs between $20 million and $30 million.

The team would have primarily been based out of Hobart, while also playing matches in Launceston, but that appears to not have allayed the FFA's concerns particularly about infrastructure and broadcast appeal.Representatives of the Tasmania bid were the first of what is expected to be an influx of parties ready to meet with the FFA in the hope of gaining an A-League licence. While the door was not shut on the Tasmanian bid following the meeting, being one of six regions that have already signalled their interest to the FFA prompted the organisation to introduce a set of criteria for expansion that will be unveiled by early next year. 

The FFA has not provided a specific framework for interested bidding parties but is now prepared to open the process to the market and will invite bids from across the country for inclusion in the A-League by as early as January. Expansion of a 10 to 12-team competition will likely occur in the 2018-19 season coinciding with the introduction of a new broadcast deal next season. Any new entrant into the A-League will likely have to prove a strong connection to a grass-roots player pool, the ability to promote a sense of passion and tribalism within its region as well as attract TV audiences. It's for this reason Brisbane, Southern Sydney and Geelong are considered the frontrunners for inclusion in the next stage of A-League expansion. But that could change once the process is opened to bids with specific criteria. It's understood bids from Western Australia and South Australia will also be put forward to the FFA next year. Head of the A-League, Greg O'Rourke told Fairfax Media last month that any new entrants to the competition will not be placed "surgically" by the FFA.  ​"We need any new team to be successful in its own right but also be providing a benefit to the whole competition. That will mean that broadcast and commercial sponsorships will be enhanced by the additional team or teams. Applicants will need to provide a solid mix of both commercial and football business plans," he said. "In the short to medium term we should expect the league to expand via selection of 'fit for purpose' licences against a commercial and football criteria  that sees growth for the whole of game."

http://www.theage.com.au/sport/soccer/ffa-set-to-introduce-aleague-expansion-framework-after-meeting-with-tasmanian-bid-20161109-gslo04.html