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Glory Recruit
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Iridium1010 wrote:Quote:Nostalgia for fallen A-League clubs not the way forward
Time and time again on social media, comments along the lines of ‘Bring back the North Queensland Fury and Gold Coast United’ litter A-League related pages; die-hard fans of the now-defunct clubs begging for their team to be given another chance in Australia’s top flight.
I have recently heard the North Queensland Fury (now Northern Fury) are attracting regular crowds of over 1,000 people to their matches in the Queensland National Premier League and have designed a plan to try and have a National Youth League team by 2017 (I think) in an effort to forge their way back into the A-League.
It is great there are people in Northern Queensland who are so passionate about their cause, however how does the club plan on ensuring they don’t face the same fate it did last time it was in the A-League?
I had a soft spot for the Fury but the cruel, hard facts are that despite being a community club they averaged only a few thousand people at their home games and were financially unsustainable, even with the likes of Robbie Fowler in the side.
I was impressed when holidaying in far North Queensland with the community feel the club had, in particular noticing they featured prominently on the evening news each night, which makes me wonder how much more could be done to reach out to locals to support the team.
I do not believe there is potential for any growth on their previous A-League existance, especially if their on-field woes were to repeat themselves.
Focus from football fans in the country must be to expand the league in other locations.
Places such as Tasmania, Canberra and possibly Woolongong or Geelong should be the focus of the future expansion, as they have not yet had a team to call their own and have every chance of succeeding and winning over the general public.
While the calls for Gold Coast United to return are mainly from their bunch of die-hard supporters, the calls for North Queensland Fury to return seem to come from all corners of the A-League fan-base.
We need to let this franchise go and try and spread the word in new places of the country of the excitement this league has to offer.
You only need to look at Football Federation Tasmania’s Facebook page whenever the Melbourne Victory are in town to see the genuine excitement of Tasmania’s general public about the code and the potential fan-base that exists there.
Crowds of around six to seven thousand people (similar figure to a couple of existing A-League clubs) whenever the Victory have played there suggests there is genuine interest.
The annual A-League fixture the Wellington Phoenix play at Eden Park, Auckland, which generally draws 15-20 thousand people, also brings up calls for Auckland to have their own team.
The defunct New Zealand Knights were located in Auckland and we all know how many people they got to their games and their eventual fate. The Phoenix’s annual game is seen as a novelty to the general public, hence why the attendance is so great.
I don’t call the push for an Auckland team as nostalgia for the Knights but, rather, short memories of how dismal an Auckland-based team was.
Some may argue the annual game the Victory have been playing in Tasmania may be seen as the same novelty to Tasmania’s general public as Auckland’s annual game is.
However as Tasmania are yet to have a non-cricket professional sports team to call their own, the seven thousand people who turn up would not neglect an A-League team should one be put there, and the potential for growth is evident. http://www.theroar.com.au/2014/02/08/nostalgia-for-fallen-a-league-clubs-not-the-way-forward/From the roar, but by the chairman of Northern Fury. Quote:
Northern Fury: We’re not into nostalgia, we’re about the future
It was interesting to read the piece by Roarer Luke Paraman regarding ‘nostalgia’ for former A-League clubs such as Northern Fury.
He asked how the football community know a reborn Northern Fury wouldn’t suffer the same fate as last time.
As he didn’t attempt to answer the question by speaking with anyone from Northern Fury, allow me to do so.
Let’s recall why North Queensland Fury was set up by FFA in the first place.
It was a rush decision to place two expansion clubs in Queensland for one reason – the World Cup bid.
FFA needed more stadiums to include in the bid and the only way in which it could be assured of the stadiums it needed – and, more importantly, the funds required from state governments to upgrade the stadiums to the standard required by FIFA – was to have two A-League teams located in Townsville and the Gold Coast.
The FFA found a willing owner, without a strong knowledge of the game or community links, and North Queensland Fury was born.
The difference now is this. As a community we had to metaphorically pick ourselves up and brush ourselves off after we were dumped from the A-League three years ago.
But what has held fast is the love of football among the community of North Queensland.
The previous owner has gone to be replaced by a board of people with deep community roots. We have a new ownership model in place in which our members will be the owners, and we have strong national and local corporate support.
We’ve rebuilt the club to field nine teams in the National Premier League (NPL) competition, and we intend being part of the ‘big picture’ of football in Australia.
That is because we want to give the young people of North Queensland something to aspire to, and we want to build on our proud record of producing outstanding players for Australia on the national stage.
North Queensland’s most famous player, Frank Farina, refers to as much in his blog.
In short, from my perspective as Chairman of Northern Fury, the difference between Fury then and Fury today is we now have the opportunity to build from the ground up.
Our long-term aim is to be part of the A-League again. But we’re not in a hurry. We don’t see this happening until around 2018 when the A-League is likely to be in a position to expand on a sustainable basis.
In the medium-term (the next one to two years) we want to be part of the W-League and the National Youth League, as this will help lay the foundation for participation in the A-League.
We intend earning the right to be there, rather than having it imposed on our community.
I won’t debate the point about the other locations mentioned in the article. All of them have their merits.
Like anyone involved in football, I hope the A-League continues on its upward trajectory and is able to sustain expansion by two, four or even more teams eventually.
But this has to be done at the right time for the club, the community and the competition overall.
Rabieh Krayem is Chairman of Northern Fury and is the former CEO of the North Queensland Fury, a position he assumed to help save the club after it encountered financial difficulty under the first owner. He has had a long career the sport and recruitment sectors, including as CEO of North Queensland Cowboys. He runs his own recruitment services company with operations in Townsville, the Gold Coast and Sydney.
http://www.theroar.com.au/2014/02/12/were-not-into-nostalgia-were-about-building-for-the-future/
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Heart_fan
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williamn wrote:i am sceptical of those community ownership models which usually becomes an annual subscription cost which leads to fans walking away as they cant afford to support their team I tend to agree. You only need to look how fragile supporter groups can be to see the risks. The Cove last week or NT at MV this year are perfect illustrations of the fragile relations that many groups have with their club administration. If a community ownership model did come in, would groups use this kind of tactic to wield power on decision making on an ongoing basis, and if they don't get their way will walk away? Risks are there. As for the Northern Fury, I wish them the best. They seem like a club that really wants to make things work, even after hard times only a couple of years ago. The only thing that seems to seems to worry me is the potential corporate support. For a tilt at HAL re-entry, Crowds will need to be higher to even put a dent in the likely shortfall in corporate support it will likely have compared to the other clubs, and it isn't a market that has the scale to achieve big numbers on both those fronts. Its the same issue for all regional markets. Edited by heart_fan: 12/2/2014 08:04:05 PM
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Glory Recruit
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Quote:A-League second division on the horizon
Date
February 12, 2014
Read later
Michael Lynch
Victoria has fallen into line and Football Federation Australia is hoping that its establishment of a national second-tier competition will eventually lead to an A-League second division.
The National Premier League kicked off last season, but it was national in name rather than reality. Political rows and squabbling between some of Victoria's best-known clubs and Football Federation Victoria prevented the state from being part of the national picture.
But Mark Rudan, coach of the inaugural winner of the NPL finals series, Sydney United, admitted on Tuesday that taking the title without having to face strong Victorian opposition did leave a hollow feeling.
FFV and its clubs have buried the hatchet: last Friday, FFV issued a list of 30 clubs that met the criteria for entry and will form two divisions in the state's section of the NPL.
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''One day we will want to look at the expansion of the A-League and we will be looking at these clubs to be part of that structure,'' FFA boss David Gallop said at Tuesday's launch.
But expansion of the A-League and the inception of a genuine second division, with the sort of promotion and relegation commonplace in other parts of the world, is a long way off.
The NPL will provide a finishing school for coaches learning their trade. It will also deliver a relatively high-profile showcase for late developing players, or those who have been overlooked, to prove that they can play at a higher level.
The winners of each of the eight NPL state competitions will play off at the end of the season to determine a national champion, the finals series taking place as a lead-up to the A-League kick-off in October.
Kosmina is an unabashed supporter of the concept, arguing that if Australia is to develop a strong pool of players who can represent the national team in the future, it will need to grow them through the NPL and A-League.
Kosmina also argued that it can be the final preparatory stage for coaches to ready them for a job in the A-League. Smart A-League clubs will forge close relationships with their leading NPL clubs and look to them for players and coaching staff in the future.
''I think the A-League has at times almost disrespected the local competitions; there's almost been an us-and-them mentality and players in that second tier have been ignored,'' Kosmina said.
''Coaching at that sort of level, the resources that you have in the A-League are not there. You have to learn about the game more, work harder, plan things. It should almost be mandatory that you do a spell in the NPL before you get an A-League coaching position.''
While Kosmina would - like all fans - love to see promotion and relegation, the Australian market makes it almost impossible.
''It all comes down to money. If you are going to have a national second division, who is going to pay the costs for things like the flights - unless you find another 14 billionaires who want to get through $5 million to $6 million a year,'' he joked.
One possibility would be to give the winner the chance to make it into the A-League via a play-off with the club that finishes bottom of the top league.
While no one has talked of that, it would add a real competitive edge, provide huge incentive and perhaps satisfy the demands of the Asian Football Confederation, which constantly harangues Australia for not having a promotion and relegation system. http://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/aleague-second-division-on-the-horizon-20140211-32fyi.html?Quote:Former coach John Kosmina has accused the A-League of disrespecting Australia's second-tier competition and being obsessed with overseas players. The former Adelaide United and Sydney FC coach, speaking at the launch of the second edition of the National Premier Leagues (NPL) on Tuesday, said that while the game had seen tremendous growth at the top level, the state-based leagues had suffered. Football Federation Australia (FFA) last year kicked off the inaugural NPL competition in which, for the first time, all participating state and territory federations were made to operate under uniform guidelines and criteria. While last season only five federations took part, this season will be a nationwide competition with Victoria and Western Australia on board. The NPL was a result of the FFA's review into the development pathways of the game and Kosmina said A-League coaches should be paying more attention the talent in state-based leagues when they look to recruit. He said the likes of Glen Trifiro, who just signed a loan deal with defending A-League champions Central Coast from NPL side Sydney United, was proof of that. "I think the A-League since its inception, as much as it has been great for the game at the top level, at times has almost disrespected the local competitions," he said. "It's been an us and them mentality and I know coaches have basically ignored the players in that second tier. "The fact is there are good players in those local competitions all around Australia. "There are players good enough there to play in the A-League if they're given the opportunity. "The A-League, for all its strength, I think one of its weaknesses is its obsession with overseas players. "There are some good local players out there." Kosmina, who has 60 Socceroos caps under his belt, said if the NPL was used as a proper development pathway, he could see a time when Australian players would be able to ply their trade at home rather than overseas in search of a national call-up. "I think the days of us having numbers and numbers of players playing in the top competitions oversees are numbered," he said. "Soon we'll be spitting out Socceroos that are coming through the A-League and through our system rather than having to go oversees to develop and come back." FFA boss David Gallop said when it came time to expand the A-League, they would look at the NPL clubs to possibly be involved. But as for a promotion-relegation system, Kosmina feels money will be the main deterrent. "It comes down to money - it's as simple as that," he said. "If you're going to have a national second division, who's going to pay for flights? "The A-League clubs struggle for money ... So unless you can find another 14 billion, we're a long way from it but hopefully we'll get there." http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-sport/aleague-ignores-local-players-kosmina-20140211-32g2x.html? http://au.fourfourtwo.com/forums/default.aspx?g=posts&t=89740
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Glory Recruit
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Quote:Ground Breaking Stadium Deal Boosts Wolves The South Coast Wolves Football Club has secured an enormous deal that reinforces the club’s ambition and indicates the progress it has made in recent months. The club has signed a one-year contract with WIN Stadium where home games will be played on Sunday afternoons. The club wishes to raise its profile in the community, promote professionalism, and garner local support, and this deal is an important part of that process. The club promises lots of entertainment on match days. As Chairman Bobby Mazevski reveals, “We have a young and enthusiastic marketing team working on some match day ideas sure to keep the supporters entertained. We have a supporters group known as the Wolf Den returning this year and I am sure they will add plenty of noise and colour to match days.” In addition, there will be various food outlets for patrons to purchase food and beverages. This agreement is significant for the club and the club hopes to increase attendances at games. Entry costs are affordable at $15 ($10 for concession) and free for under 16s, so there is no reason not to head down to WIN to support the players! WIN Stadium has a top class playing surface and will assist in the Wolves’ style of football. Not only will the crowd have a great location to watch the games, cementing such a suitable location encourages local businesses to want to sponsor the club. “Without the generosity of sponsors, many clubs simply are not viable”, states Bobby. The club is extremely thankful for all of the support from sponsors and is excited about new sponsorship deals and extending partnerships. Bobby’s declaration of why you should go, enjoy the atmosphere and support the boys is indicative of the benefits of the deal: “If we are serious about having A-League representation, people need to support the Wolves. The club is the closest thing we have right now to representation at national level and with the club flying the flag for the South Coast, it is imperative we maintain our position in this league. We have 90% of squads made up of local players; this is more than any other club in the NPL1 competition. Why not come out and support the local lads!” For more information regarding purchasing season passes, teams news, and general updates, visit www.facebook.com/thescwolves http://southcoastwolves.com.au/?p=6087Edited by iridium1010: 13/2/2014 11:34:37 PM
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Eastern Glory
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thupercoach wrote:yoshi2284 wrote:I have set up a new facebook page:
A-League for South West Sydney
You can check it out, build up support.... :)
because eventually it will happen. NRL and ALeague should be placing permanent teams in this growing area , the NSW govt will be building another stadium soon in the sydney basin so liverpool should be the area. (close to new airport, population growth etc). Just need another Man city to invest in a new team. (part of football heartland in Sydney) Good idea Nup, go Northwest. Younger families with cash to burn and a very rapidly growing population. Conservative area that likes cricket, and rugby Union but most kids play football. If Valentine park was developed into a 15-17 000 person stadium, a new club would be massive for the area! A new train line is coming in and and the area just keeps developing. The FFA should aim for 2020 to have a franchise out there.
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melbourne_terrace
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Time for Wollongong football fans to step up and actually prove they want a team. They're playing in what would be their stadium in the a-league, are in a good competition in the NSW NPL and are playing on the afternoons on a weekend. This coming season Really couldn't be given any better to Wollongong football fans.
Viennese Vuck
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TheSelectFew
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Blackmac79 wrote:NZ is a different kettle of fish.
The moment we introduce an Oceania, Malaysian, Singaporean or any other team in our comp will be the day I stop supporting the aleague.
Fucking ridiculous. Agreed. It's so dry watching Wellington play.
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Glory Recruit
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TheSelectFew wrote:Blackmac79 wrote:NZ is a different kettle of fish.
The moment we introduce an Oceania, Malaysian, Singaporean or any other team in our comp will be the day I stop supporting the aleague.
Fucking ridiculous. Agreed. It's so dry watching Wellington play. This season they're one of the better teams to watch.
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Glory Recruit
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8,304 in Geelong
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kavorka
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Iridium1010 wrote:8,304 in Geelong and i'd say at least 5000 had traveled from Melbourne....stadium and surface looked great on TV though...good on em
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HeyItsRobbie
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yoshi2284 wrote:I have set up a new facebook page:
A-League for South West Sydney
You can check it out, build up support.... :)
because eventually it will happen. NRL and ALeague should be placing permanent teams in this growing area , the NSW govt will be building another stadium soon in the sydney basin so liverpool should be the area. (close to new airport, population growth etc). Just need another Man city to invest in a new team. (part of football heartland in Sydney) im so in :D
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Brisbane Ro
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Geelong out.
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HeyItsRobbie
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Brisbane Ro wrote:Geelong out. for having a narrow pitch
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imonfourfourtwo
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kavorka wrote:Iridium1010 wrote:8,304 in Geelong and i'd say at least 5000 had traveled from Melbourne....stadium and surface looked great on TV though...good on em Yeah I kinda expected a touch more, but still okay.
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Glory Recruit
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Quote:Ipswich's A-League hopes get kick along from Attwood
David Lems 24th February 2014 4:00 AM
BACKING FOOTBALL: Western Pride players Peter Drager (left) and Schon Hansen appreciate support from deputy Mayor Victor Attwood at the club’s season launch.
Claudia Baxter
IPSWICH'S dream of fielding a future A-League football team is gaining momentum with deputy Mayor Victor Attwood adding his support to the region's quest.
Cr Attwood offered his backing at the senior launch of Western Pride's second National Premier League season.
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"I think it's a great endorsement of Kym Wickstein and his committee but also all of the different football clubs in Ipswich that have embraced the Pride and how they are more than happy to put their old jealousies aside to grow the game of football in Ipswich," Cr Attwood said.
"I can't wait until Western Pride become an A-League team and we can support them all over the country, not just here."
The deputy Mayor said Ipswich had key people on side.
"When David Gallop was the CEO of the NRL, he wanted another team here. Now he's chair of Football Australia, he can see the great potential in the city," Cr Attwood said.
"Put a team here, we pick up those who can't quite crack the Brisbane Roar but it would also pick up all other players in south east Queensland.
"I think with the right sponsorship and support from Football Australia, it would certainly be a very viable team and would lead to further growth of football in this city."
Cr Attwood said an A-League team in Ipswich would bring wide-ranging benefits.
"It would really help sell the city - to the doubters out there and there's still some of them around even after the great work of Mayor Pisasale," he said.
"I just think it would be absolutely brilliant. It would be the pinnacle for the code in this state and in the country."
Ipswich councillor David Morrison also supports Pride's development, having played a leading role in the club's formation. He was MC at Friday night's season launch.
"It's the second year and visiting teams are astounded with the facilities that Pride have," Cr Morrison said standing next to Cr Attwood overlooking the Briggs Road Sporting Complex main field.
"Last year there were basically three training venues around the city. We really want to focus on Briggs Road as the training venue and a lot of the rugby league administration will be put under the one roof at the North Ipswich Reserve."
Pride are playing home games at the Briggs Road complex and North Ipswich Reserve this season.
Ipswich City Council's support for football's progression was also shown at the launch by Division 9 councillor Sheila Ireland.
She made a $500 donation, along with council providing two laptops for the club to use.
Western Pride general manager Pat Boyle praised the council for its ongoing commitment, through providing improved facilities and vital assistance.
Western Pride patron Gary Wilkins came through Ipswich's junior ranks to become a national player and respected A-League administrator.
"I've been around football a long time," said 68-year-old Wilkins, who has strong ties to Brisbane Roar. "I'm so proud to be involved with this club."
Pride players from the senior men's and women's sides, the youth men and under-18 men's teams were introduced and presented with their season shirts at Friday night's launch.
The teams are coached by club technical director Kasey Wehrman (men), Byron Hellmuth (women), David Nugent (youth) and Chris Akins (under 18).
http://www.qt.com.au/news/top-level-pride/2178606/Quote:Australian Football icon and proud NQ boy Frank Farina backs Northern Fury for A-League return
ANTONY STEWART SPORTS REPORTER TOWNSVILLE BULLETIN FEBRUARY 27, 2014 9:13AM 1
BEING a Cairns boy, Frank Farina hopes Far North Queensland takes out the inaugural trophy bearing his name.
But when it comes to A-League, the Australian football icon is right behind the Northern Fury.
Northern and the FNQ Heat will battle in Round 1 of the National Premier Leagues on Saturday night, with the added carrot of the winner taking home the Frank Farina Trophy.
Farina is one of North Queensland’s biggest football success stories.
The current coach of Sydney FC in the A-League had an extensive playing career both in Australia and overseas and represented the Socceroos 67 times between 1984 and 1995.
“The region holds a lot of fond memories for me and I thought (lending my name to the trophy) was the least I could do to pay back the region that gave me my start,” Farina said.
“It’s a huge honour and a privilege.”
While the trophy was the brainchild of Fury chairman Rabieh Krayem, Farina admitted that after spending his childhood in Cairns he couldn’t back against the Heat on Saturday.
But he is hugely supportive of Northern’s bid to return to the A-League.
Farina has been monitoring with interest the Fury’s resurrection after they were dumped from the top-flight competition in 2011 and believes they are doing everything right in their bid for re-admission.
“It’s small steps and it’s important that they dot the i’s and cross the t’s on everything they do … but I think the way that they’re going about it this time is really good,” he said.
“The region has produced so many great Australian footballers and there’s a really high participation rate up there, so I hope in the future it’s going to happen again.”
Unlike the first incarnation of the club in 2009 — a rushed process from Football Federation Australia that ultimately failed — the Fury are building from the ground up second time around.
By the time the FFA considers expansion — likely at the end of the current broadcast deal in 2016 — Farina believes Northern will be well prepared for a major push for entry.
Canberra, Wollongong and Gold Coast are also preparing bids. But Farina said North Queensland was the most in need of A-League representation.
The state’s only other team — the Brisbane Roar — are about 1400km from Townsville.
“If another team was to come into Queensland I think up north would be the ideal place,” Farina said.
“They’ve got plenty of time to get ready for it and I think (2016) is a perfect time-frame to be realistic about.”
The Fury’s NPL clash will be one of eight matches for the club at the Townsville Sports Reserve on Saturday.
The winner of the Frank Farina trophy will be decided on the results of all games. http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/sport/australian-football-icon-and-proud-nq-boy-frank-farina-backs-northern-fury-for-aleague-return/story-fnjfzr2z-1226839235568Quote:Canberra, Wollongong and Gold Coast are also preparing bids Anyone know anything about this?
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Glory Recruit
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Quote:Chinese developers get OK for $4.2 billion mega-resort near Cairns  Chinese developers have been given the green light to buy land for a planned $4.2 billion mega-resort and casino in far north Queensland. The Foreign Investment Review Board has approved an application by Aquis to purchase 340 hectares of land for its development at Yorkeys Knob near Cairns. The development includes nine luxury hotels, an 18-hole golf course, a 25,000 seat stadium and a cultural heritage centre.  Aquis CEO Justin Fung says the company will take full ownership of the land once plans for the project are approved and a casino licence secured. The company last week signed a $269 million takeover bid agreement with the Reef Casino Trust (RCT) which owns the Reef Hotel Casino in Cairns. Aquis is hopeful a bid to extend the Reef Casino licence to include the mega-resort is successful. As a back up, they've also applied for one of two new regional Queensland casino licences on offer by the state government. Locals have raised concerns the project won't withstand a cyclone, will increase problem gambling, may damage the Great Barrier Reef and could hurt the region's nature-based tourism industry. Those in favour of the resort say it will bring much-needed jobs to the region and boost tourism. Aquis owner Hong Kong-based billionaire Tony Fung has said the resort would rival great man-made structures seen in Dubai and Singapore and would attract big spenders from China. Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/travel/travel-news/chinese-developers-get-ok-for-42-billion-megaresort-near-cairns-20140305-346p3.html#ixzz2vOVidClA Quote:Sponsorship deal betwee $4.2 billion Aquis project and FNQ Heat soccer  ]A SPONSORSHIP deal between the developers of the $4.2 billion Aquis project and FNQ Heat soccer is destined to propel the team into the A-League. The agreement will also look at ways for the Heat to compete in Asian football competitions. In the first stage of the deal to be launched today, Aquis will become the naming rights sponsor for the national premier league team which will be called the Aquis FNQ Heat. Cairns Aquis Great Barrier Reef Resort Group chief executive Justin Fung told The Weekend Post that Aquis and FNQ FC would work together to build an Australian A-League team. "It is a short-term sponsorship as Aquis progresses," he said. But Mr Fung said Cairns was set to become a regional hub for top level national and international soccer following the agreement. He said Aquis was delighted to be able to provide the resources to launch FNQ Heat on to the national stage. Mr Fung said it was a "natural fit" because their targeted Asian base of customers loved football. He said it was too early to say whether a 25,000-seat stadium as part of the project's plans would eventually become the home of FNQ Heat. FNQ FC chairman Adam Garnett said following the agreement the organisation planned talks with Football Queensland and Football Federation Australia to achieve a National Youth League team and an A-League licence. He said the deal was "a huge boost for the club which would ensure its future growth". "This is truly a historic day for football in Far North Queensland andAustralia," Mr Garnett said. "The signing of this partnership between FNQ FC and Aquis Great Barrier Reef Resort signifies the start of a new era for the club and the game. "FNQ FC is delighted to partner with Aquis Great Barrier Reef Resort, who shares our vision of bringing more top level football to Far North Queensland and giving local players the chance to reach the highest ranks." Mr Garnett said FNQ FC had always had bold ambitions to establish Cairns in the Asian football landscape and be a contender for an A-League licence when the FFA next considered expansion. "We are delighted that Aquis shares our ambitions for the 'world game' in this region and for positioning Cairns as a truly international city," he said. Mr Garnett said the alliance would work to bring the Hyundai A-league and international football to the region. Heat director Ken Chapman said it was "an exciting partnership". He said the relationship had enormous potential for soccer and for the Far North. "This shows that Aquis is genuine about its involvement in the community and sports," Mr Chapman said. Aquis is planning an integrated resort and casino on 342ha of land at Yorkeys Knob which will include nine hotels, theatres, a sports stadium and a golf course with a planned opening in 2018. As well, the Fung family has launched an official $269 million takeover bid for the Reef Hotel Casino in Cairns with the government paving the way to negotiate to split the the Reef licence to cover the CBD and Yorkeys Knob sites. http://www.cairnspost.com.au/news/cairns/sponsorship-deal-betwee-42-billion-aquis-project-and-fnq-heat-soccer/story-fnjpusyw-1226848568506?sv=81f1bc7a985cb309367e187650f3cd77
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Glory Recruit
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Quote:Cairns the only option for A-League expansion
A-LEAGUE hopeful FNQ FC is willing to work with a rival expansion bid from Northern Fury, but would not get behind a team based in Townsville.
FNQ FC director Ken Chapman said the Cairns-based expansion bid which is backed by the $4.2 billion Aquis project would only support a team based in Cairns.
The Hong Kong billionaires supporting FNQ FC's attempt to enter the A-League would not get behind a "North Queensland" set-up similar to the one adopted by NRL's Townsville-based Cowboys, Chapman said.
"We would be willing to work with other parties in Townsville or in Mackay or any other interested parties but the pre-condition is that the team would be based in Cairns," he said.
"We are more than happy to represent the region and work with other areas, but there is no question that this team will be based in Cairns."
Chapman was responding to suggestions from Northern Fury CEO Rabieh Krayem that bids from Townsville and Cairns should work together for A-League expansion.
Krayem has been public with his desire to return Townsville to the A-League and earlier this year met FFA CEO David Gallop to discuss Fury's bid.
When contacted on Saturday Krayem said FNQ Heat's deal with Aquis did not change those ambitions.
"Ultimately I have no doubt that an A-League side can be shared with Cairns and Townsville," Krayem said. "It's best working together and I've got no doubt that we'll have some dialogue about how we can do that."
While Fury has been working on an A-League bid since the National Premier League's inception last season, Heat's plans only became widely known when Saturday's The Weekend Post revealed that Cairns Aquis Great Barrier Reef Resort Group was supporting the bid.
Aquis CEO Justin Fung, his father Tony and representatives from Heat gathered at Barlow Park Saturday to officially announce the deal.
"If we can ultimately raise the profile of this team and this sport and put an A-League team into Cairns that would just be tremendous for all parties," Justin Fung said.
Aquis's deal with FNQ FC is a one-year sponsorship with the promise of backing an A-League expansion if plans for the Yorkeys Knob project go ahead.
At a press conference on Saturday Aquis's Tony Fung said he hoped casino licences would be approved in June and construction of the resort would finish in 2019.
http://www.cairnspost.com.au/sport/local-sport/cairns-the-only-option-for-a-league-expansion/story-fnjpuwsz-1226850009286
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melbourne_terrace
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It's things like this we need an A2 League for. Ipswich, Gold Coast, Cairns, Wollongong, Canberra, Auckland, Geelong, Hobart, Sunshine Coast and South Melbourne all want to be involved in national competition and for the sake of improving our player pathways should all be at least on the threshold of full professionalism but they need to be tested on in a national league first before we can move them to the top.
Viennese Vuck
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BRFC_92
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Iridium1010 wrote:Quote:Cairns the only option for A-League expansion
A-LEAGUE hopeful FNQ FC is willing to work with a rival expansion bid from Northern Fury, but would not get behind a team based in Townsville.
FNQ FC director Ken Chapman said the Cairns-based expansion bid which is backed by the $4.2 billion Aquis project would only support a team based in Cairns.
The Hong Kong billionaires supporting FNQ FC's attempt to enter the A-League would not get behind a "North Queensland" set-up similar to the one adopted by NRL's Townsville-based Cowboys, Chapman said.
"We would be willing to work with other parties in Townsville or in Mackay or any other interested parties but the pre-condition is that the team would be based in Cairns," he said.
"We are more than happy to represent the region and work with other areas, but there is no question that this team will be based in Cairns."
Chapman was responding to suggestions from Northern Fury CEO Rabieh Krayem that bids from Townsville and Cairns should work together for A-League expansion.
Krayem has been public with his desire to return Townsville to the A-League and earlier this year met FFA CEO David Gallop to discuss Fury's bid.
When contacted on Saturday Krayem said FNQ Heat's deal with Aquis did not change those ambitions.
"Ultimately I have no doubt that an A-League side can be shared with Cairns and Townsville," Krayem said. "It's best working together and I've got no doubt that we'll have some dialogue about how we can do that."
While Fury has been working on an A-League bid since the National Premier League's inception last season, Heat's plans only became widely known when Saturday's The Weekend Post revealed that Cairns Aquis Great Barrier Reef Resort Group was supporting the bid.
Aquis CEO Justin Fung, his father Tony and representatives from Heat gathered at Barlow Park Saturday to officially announce the deal.
"If we can ultimately raise the profile of this team and this sport and put an A-League team into Cairns that would just be tremendous for all parties," Justin Fung said.
Aquis's deal with FNQ FC is a one-year sponsorship with the promise of backing an A-League expansion if plans for the Yorkeys Knob project go ahead.
At a press conference on Saturday Aquis's Tony Fung said he hoped casino licences would be approved in June and construction of the resort would finish in 2019.
http://www.cairnspost.com.au/sport/local-sport/cairns-the-only-option-for-a-league-expansion/story-fnjpuwsz-1226850009286 They may have the financial backing, but would they have the population big enough to have a team? I think not.
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JayEss
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Would there be sufficient demand for both Cairns and Townsville to have a team? Would give us another derby of sorts.
I'm not too keen on the idea at all seeing how the Fury went last time though. You'd imagine they'd both be lucky to average 7k.
At this point I don't really care who, I just want to see us get to 12 teams to add a bit more variety to the fixtures, and to give us a wider playing pool of professional players to choose from for national teams. Obviously there is a tremendous amount of work that goes into setting up a new franchise, but I feel like we've learnt from previous experiences as to how to do it properly in order to minimise some of the risk.
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Eastern Glory
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Iridium1010 wrote:Quote:Cairns the only option for A-League expansion
A-LEAGUE hopeful FNQ FC is willing to work with a rival expansion bid from Northern Fury, but would not get behind a team based in Townsville.
FNQ FC director Ken Chapman said the Cairns-based expansion bid which is backed by the $4.2 billion Aquis project would only support a team based in Cairns.
The Hong Kong billionaires supporting FNQ FC's attempt to enter the A-League would not get behind a "North Queensland" set-up similar to the one adopted by NRL's Townsville-based Cowboys, Chapman said.
"We would be willing to work with other parties in Townsville or in Mackay or any other interested parties but the pre-condition is that the team would be based in Cairns," he said.
"We are more than happy to represent the region and work with other areas, but there is no question that this team will be based in Cairns."
Chapman was responding to suggestions from Northern Fury CEO Rabieh Krayem that bids from Townsville and Cairns should work together for A-League expansion.
Krayem has been public with his desire to return Townsville to the A-League and earlier this year met FFA CEO David Gallop to discuss Fury's bid.
When contacted on Saturday Krayem said FNQ Heat's deal with Aquis did not change those ambitions.
"Ultimately I have no doubt that an A-League side can be shared with Cairns and Townsville," Krayem said. "It's best working together and I've got no doubt that we'll have some dialogue about how we can do that."
While Fury has been working on an A-League bid since the National Premier League's inception last season, Heat's plans only became widely known when Saturday's The Weekend Post revealed that Cairns Aquis Great Barrier Reef Resort Group was supporting the bid.
Aquis CEO Justin Fung, his father Tony and representatives from Heat gathered at Barlow Park Saturday to officially announce the deal.
"If we can ultimately raise the profile of this team and this sport and put an A-League team into Cairns that would just be tremendous for all parties," Justin Fung said.
Aquis's deal with FNQ FC is a one-year sponsorship with the promise of backing an A-League expansion if plans for the Yorkeys Knob project go ahead.
At a press conference on Saturday Aquis's Tony Fung said he hoped casino licences would be approved in June and construction of the resort would finish in 2019.
http://www.cairnspost.com.au/sport/local-sport/cairns-the-only-option-for-a-league-expansion/story-fnjpuwsz-1226850009286 Wollongong is the only option. Stop being wrong.
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BRFC_92
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Eastern Glory wrote:Iridium1010 wrote:Quote:Cairns the only option for A-League expansion
A-LEAGUE hopeful FNQ FC is willing to work with a rival expansion bid from Northern Fury, but would not get behind a team based in Townsville.
FNQ FC director Ken Chapman said the Cairns-based expansion bid which is backed by the $4.2 billion Aquis project would only support a team based in Cairns.
The Hong Kong billionaires supporting FNQ FC's attempt to enter the A-League would not get behind a "North Queensland" set-up similar to the one adopted by NRL's Townsville-based Cowboys, Chapman said.
"We would be willing to work with other parties in Townsville or in Mackay or any other interested parties but the pre-condition is that the team would be based in Cairns," he said.
"We are more than happy to represent the region and work with other areas, but there is no question that this team will be based in Cairns."
Chapman was responding to suggestions from Northern Fury CEO Rabieh Krayem that bids from Townsville and Cairns should work together for A-League expansion.
Krayem has been public with his desire to return Townsville to the A-League and earlier this year met FFA CEO David Gallop to discuss Fury's bid.
When contacted on Saturday Krayem said FNQ Heat's deal with Aquis did not change those ambitions.
"Ultimately I have no doubt that an A-League side can be shared with Cairns and Townsville," Krayem said. "It's best working together and I've got no doubt that we'll have some dialogue about how we can do that."
While Fury has been working on an A-League bid since the National Premier League's inception last season, Heat's plans only became widely known when Saturday's The Weekend Post revealed that Cairns Aquis Great Barrier Reef Resort Group was supporting the bid.
Aquis CEO Justin Fung, his father Tony and representatives from Heat gathered at Barlow Park Saturday to officially announce the deal.
"If we can ultimately raise the profile of this team and this sport and put an A-League team into Cairns that would just be tremendous for all parties," Justin Fung said.
Aquis's deal with FNQ FC is a one-year sponsorship with the promise of backing an A-League expansion if plans for the Yorkeys Knob project go ahead.
At a press conference on Saturday Aquis's Tony Fung said he hoped casino licences would be approved in June and construction of the resort would finish in 2019.
http://www.cairnspost.com.au/sport/local-sport/cairns-the-only-option-for-a-league-expansion/story-fnjpuwsz-1226850009286 Wollongong is the only option. Stop being wrong. Wollongong is a logical option. They would succeed.
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Muz
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Wollongong and a relaunched Fury.
Member since 2008.
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RoyalHeart
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I think for a team to be considered to be able to join the A-League I think they need to average approx 10,000. I can't see Nth Fury or a Cairns side achieving that and it would end in tears IMO. I think it needs to be the Gong because they would be able to have their averages bumped up via travelling support and there is a good footballing history there and a well sized stadium. Would love to see Ipswich as the next team as well but would need a boutique 16,000 seat stadium that will cost $$$
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vincenzogold
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Iridium1010 wrote:Quote:Chinese developers get OK for $4.2 billion mega-resort near Cairns Chinese developers have been given the green light to buy land for a planned $4.2 billion mega-resort and casino in far north Queensland. The Foreign Investment Review Board has approved an application by Aquis to purchase 340 hectares of land for its development at Yorkeys Knob near Cairns. The development includes nine luxury hotels, an 18-hole golf course, a 25,000 seat stadium and a cultural heritage centre. Aquis CEO Justin Fung says the company will take full ownership of the land once plans for the project are approved and a casino licence secured. The company last week signed a $269 million takeover bid agreement with the Reef Casino Trust (RCT) which owns the Reef Hotel Casino in Cairns. Aquis is hopeful a bid to extend the Reef Casino licence to include the mega-resort is successful. As a back up, they've also applied for one of two new regional Queensland casino licences on offer by the state government. Locals have raised concerns the project won't withstand a cyclone, will increase problem gambling, may damage the Great Barrier Reef and could hurt the region's nature-based tourism industry. Those in favour of the resort say it will bring much-needed jobs to the region and boost tourism. Aquis owner Hong Kong-based billionaire Tony Fung has said the resort would rival great man-made structures seen in Dubai and Singapore and would attract big spenders from China. Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/travel/travel-news/chinese-developers-get-ok-for-42-billion-megaresort-near-cairns-20140305-346p3.html#ixzz2vOVidClA Quote:Sponsorship deal betwee $4.2 billion Aquis project and FNQ Heat soccer ]A SPONSORSHIP deal between the developers of the $4.2 billion Aquis project and FNQ Heat soccer is destined to propel the team into the A-League. The agreement will also look at ways for the Heat to compete in Asian football competitions. In the first stage of the deal to be launched today, Aquis will become the naming rights sponsor for the national premier league team which will be called the Aquis FNQ Heat. Cairns Aquis Great Barrier Reef Resort Group chief executive Justin Fung told The Weekend Post that Aquis and FNQ FC would work together to build an Australian A-League team. "It is a short-term sponsorship as Aquis progresses," he said. But Mr Fung said Cairns was set to become a regional hub for top level national and international soccer following the agreement. He said Aquis was delighted to be able to provide the resources to launch FNQ Heat on to the national stage. Mr Fung said it was a "natural fit" because their targeted Asian base of customers loved football. He said it was too early to say whether a 25,000-seat stadium as part of the project's plans would eventually become the home of FNQ Heat. FNQ FC chairman Adam Garnett said following the agreement the organisation planned talks with Football Queensland and Football Federation Australia to achieve a National Youth League team and an A-League licence. He said the deal was "a huge boost for the club which would ensure its future growth". "This is truly a historic day for football in Far North Queensland andAustralia," Mr Garnett said. "The signing of this partnership between FNQ FC and Aquis Great Barrier Reef Resort signifies the start of a new era for the club and the game. "FNQ FC is delighted to partner with Aquis Great Barrier Reef Resort, who shares our vision of bringing more top level football to Far North Queensland and giving local players the chance to reach the highest ranks." Mr Garnett said FNQ FC had always had bold ambitions to establish Cairns in the Asian football landscape and be a contender for an A-League licence when the FFA next considered expansion. "We are delighted that Aquis shares our ambitions for the 'world game' in this region and for positioning Cairns as a truly international city," he said. Mr Garnett said the alliance would work to bring the Hyundai A-league and international football to the region. Heat director Ken Chapman said it was "an exciting partnership". He said the relationship had enormous potential for soccer and for the Far North. "This shows that Aquis is genuine about its involvement in the community and sports," Mr Chapman said. Aquis is planning an integrated resort and casino on 342ha of land at Yorkeys Knob which will include nine hotels, theatres, a sports stadium and a golf course with a planned opening in 2018. As well, the Fung family has launched an official $269 million takeover bid for the Reef Hotel Casino in Cairns with the government paving the way to negotiate to split the the Reef licence to cover the CBD and Yorkeys Knob sites. http://www.cairnspost.com.au/news/cairns/sponsorship-deal-betwee-42-billion-aquis-project-and-fnq-heat-soccer/story-fnjpusyw-1226848568506?sv=81f1bc7a985cb309367e187650f3cd77 reeks of gold coast utd if they get let into the a-league
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tbitm
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RoyalHeart wrote:I think for a team to be considered to be able to join the A-League I think they need to average approx 10,000. I can't see Nth Fury or a Cairns side achieving that and it would end in tears IMO. I think it needs to be the Gong because they would be able to have their averages bumped up via travelling support and there is a good footballing history there and a well sized stadium. Would love to see Ipswich as the next team as well but would need a boutique 16,000 seat stadium that will cost $$$ Do people not watch these games? theres literally about 100 people that travel for NSW teams bar wanderers. Agree on the rest though, the community is really trying to promote the Wolves to get back in the a-league. Will be interesting to see how they draw in the NPL at WIN stadium. How come the a-league chose Central coast instead of Wollongong to begin with anyway? Central coast never had an NSL team so it would've made sense at the time. Was it because the didn't have a team in the NRL?
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paulbagzFC
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I still don't see how people arrive at the conclusion that giving a team to Wollongong would magically generate these awesome crowds ala Wanderers 2.0 8-[ -PB
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crimsoncrusoe
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RoyalHeart wrote:I think for a team to be considered to be able to join the A-League I think they need to average approx 10,000. I can't see Nth Fury or a Cairns side achieving that and it would end in tears IMO. I think it needs to be the Gong because they would be able to have their averages bumped up via travelling support and there is a good footballing history there and a well sized stadium. Would love to see Ipswich as the next team as well but would need a boutique 16,000 seat stadium that will cost $$$ Getting big crowds is great .But in reality virtually all the big population centers have HAL teams.The obsession with big crowds is counter productive.If a new club can put forward a sound business plan for a sustainable existence in the HAL they should be seriously considered. I doubt any NPL club will get close to 10k crowds on average.But who cares?If a club can average 5k crowds in a small stadium that provides a good atmosphere and club can break even and most importantly add value to the HAL,that should be enough. Most of the low crowd issues with HAL clubs are not crowd issues at all.They are stadium issues. If WSW had been playing at ANZ stadium would we have been complaining the last two years about pathetic crowds? WP played at a small boutique regional centre recently.The crowd was small.but they made a profit and the atmosphere was good.The same for CCM playing at North Sydney. It's time people removed their focus on big crowds for teams to join the HAL and focused on Stadiums and the ability to make a profit and create a good atmosphere from small crowds in small stadiums. WSW have shown the right approach.Start smaller and expand. If GU had been able to play in a smaller stadium ,they would probably still be here today.
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Eastern Glory
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paulbagzFC wrote:I still don't see how people arrive at the conclusion that giving a team to Wollongong would magically generate these awesome crowds ala Wanderers 2.0 8-[
-PB #justNSWthings
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paulbagzFC
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Eastern Glory wrote:paulbagzFC wrote:I still don't see how people arrive at the conclusion that giving a team to Wollongong would magically generate these awesome crowds ala Wanderers 2.0 8-[
-PB #justNSWthings Delirium. -PB
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