Did not see that coming. What are the usual crowds to a GF in the VPL? Wouldn't be more than 5k I would think, so it could look very empty. Is this being brought about by Bob Jane Stadium's upcoming construction work?

Great to see a naming rights sponsor come on board again.


What do you think about the FourFourTwo article VPL's Lucky To Be At AAMI?
FOOTBALL Federation Victoria have revealed the state league grand finals will be played at AAMI Park while a new naming rights sponsor deal has been signed for the men’s competition.

Have your say.

I think this is a great idea...more chance of getting a decent crowd at AAMI Park...it is a sign that AAMI is a Football stadium...well done!

10k with the right marketing to attend. Not bad at all and a good advertisement for the game, putting it on a stage to be accessed by those who usually wouldn't, maybe free entry to all Heart and Victory season ticket holders? Getting people interested in the state league and then going on to support a local team can only build the game for us Victorians, and I'd implore the other federations to follow suit.

its all about generating an atmosphere so all the VPL teams strive to have their day in the sun each season. Free entry for kids and maybe $5 tickets for Heart and Victory season ticket holders there is no reason why the stadium could go close to sell out.

imagine if all the state leagues did the same sort of thing and also tried to co-ordinate all their season to finish on the same weekend then two weeks later all the winners could playoff for the title of Nationwide State League Champion. The A-League could have a rest week that week to help promote the State Leagues as they take centre stage for one weekend where the best of the state league teams are on show.

This is excellent hope it goes well and a big crowd turns up.

excellent idea, but i do wonder how much tickets will actually cost. too high and it will discourage attendance. how much is it for heart\victory matches?

Why cant people here be positive - OOOh how much are the tickets going to cost, crowds wont be very big. FFS people cheer up - it works wonders.

I hope the crowds a good one.

Good move, especially to play women's final as curtain-raiser. Great way to grow the game. I hope Swan St gets known as the home of football in Victoria.

is it just me? or is Barb the hottest Aussie Footballer alive?

No its not just you - she scrubs up really well. Pin up of the Goalkeepers Union!

Does this qualify as news in Victoria? How lame.

"Does this qualify as news in Victoria? I'm lame"

There - Fixed

Yes, you sure are.

Great news!

Yeah this is great news. We can now comment on the up and coming performers. I didn't see it coming but this will give a great opportunity for football. AAMI park needed this to clear any doubt about it's future if there was any. Football only!

I am genuinely shocked to see the FFV finally do something positive for the VPL. A great initiative to have the final at AAMI park. This in itself should generate some publicity for the grand final whoever is in it. FFV shopuld keep prices to a minimum say $15 and $30 a family ticket in order to maximise the attendance. Hopefully it becomes something like 'reaching Wembley' for VPL clubs.
Maybe next season for South though...............

what an outragously stupid idea. these effnic clubs do not deserve to be playing at this new dawn stadium. it will be a massive failure - with crowds barely getting into the thousands. AAMI park is for the glorious new dawn

I agree. The FFV have struggled to comes to terms with what direction to take the VPL, mainly because they could not communicate with the clubs effectively. This is a move that gives clubs a real push to get into the GF, and hopefully will see increased prizemoney and profit sharing in coming years, if increased crowds can be achieved.

Is the V-League (semi-pro VPL rebranding) still on the agenda, or was it totally scrapped after resistence from some clubs? It was to become an 8 team league from memory to start with, if I remember correctly, and many clubs were critical of the idea because of financial and stadium requirements.

Like it or not, the state leagues need to be strong to take the game forward. Writing 'old football' off totally and locking it away in some prison is not going to help in the longer term. The best way to succeed is to keep SMFC and MK strong in the VPL and to allow them thrive. They do a lot for the game at that level and have added a new dimention to the VPL since they returned from the NSL.

AAMI Park is great way to bridge the gap between the 2 sides, giving everyone a chance to use it, espedcially for the big events.

Ellyse Perry any day boys, Aus cricketer too.

Nah Barb is a lot hotter.

The fact that Ellyse plays cricket also goes against her :)

lads theres no comparison, 'Barb' is very average but at least has a bucket mouth which might be of some use.

scrapped to my knowledge

The next step is for the FFV to decide on an existing club representative for each region for the summer league via application

I have a feeling this league will be the stimulus for A2 - atleast from a Vic perspective

Edited by chris: 15/7/2010 01:18:25 PM

Barbieri any time - preferably with her gloves on please :-"

It'll be interesting to see whether the FFV continue at AAMI next season, or whether they go to Bob Jane once the upgrade is complete.

I'd like to think they will be able to keep it at AAMI and, as suggested above, make the final something really special.

A real winner would be to broker some kind of deal with stadium management to make the event as close to 'free' as possible - with the venue making its money from concession sales, etc., and the FFV taking a small fee at the gate to cover their costs. If the grand final, no matter who is playing in it, could become a kind of broadbased festival of football for the lower league it would be a huge step forward for football in Victoria.

Here here! fully support that idea. Not sure how generous AAMI Park will be though :)

What is this summer League idea? One team from how many regions in the state?

Sounds like it has merit, but how will the teams be selected? Required to meet criteria? Always just becomes political as soon as a selection process is enacted.