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Decentric
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+xAs a former resident and having a soft spot for Tasmania I hope they have a team however I can't see it even remotely working unless the demographics have changed significantly over the past two decades. I don't believe they have. Greater playing numbers does not constitute the improvement and cultural change that is needed. The state would prefer to pay AFL 10 times more to see a training run than to have a HAL team for a year. How long ago did you live here Paul C? The football milieu has changed immeasurably for the better in the last 4 years. The demographics are still the same. This bid is for the team to play the majority of games in Hobart.
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aussie scott21
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That is the problem Paul. You hold on to old thinking.
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SWandP
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+x"At this stage FFA have not engaged in formal dialogue with this group or any other groups as it would be premature to do so before a detailed road map for expansion has been finalised," FMD, how long do they need. I'd reckon they need a lot more time yet. Firstly, they have to decide who the TV broadcasters will be and that will make a difference just by itself. The TV will have a lot of requirements written into their side of the deal that are concerned mainly with their ability to derive a profit. Any early expansion teams will have to be able to pull their weight and lift the profile of the sport. Secondly, they need to know exactly what the budget looks like going forward. Unless you know exactly what you have to spend (and what you have to spend it on) and unless you get agreement from the people who are paying and the people who are spending then you haven't got a plan that will work. Any other way of doing things guarantees disaster. (It would be disastrous, or nearly so, to lose any expansion team in the next TV deal period). There are going to be a bunch of unsolicited approaches from groups chasing an early edge into expansion. This is good, but only because it shows strong interest. Once they are in a position to announce the expansion timetable and its scope, then they will be after detailed submissions in response to requests for same. You can be sure that you'll get to see the "metrics" required because the very first club/consortium that can't meet them will be so righteously indignant that they will scream unfair and leak them everywhere. Tens of welded on haters will take up the cudgels, pitchforks and torches, screaming everything from "bogan to racist, anti-football to insulated parochial incompetents" and it will make for a couple of amusing off-seasons. I thoroughly expect shit-posting to reach unheard of levels just next year based around expansion alone! There are people here that quite genuinely believe that the moment a head figure is placed on the next broadcast deal you just have to open the doors and stand back. LOL. The existing A League licence holders will be all over expansion demanding the right to quash any deal that impinges upon their "territory". They will scream that it would be better to give all the money to them instead of any new licencees. They will then demand a cut of any new licence fees paid as compensation anyway. It's going to be a longer drama than "Days of Our Lives" and FFA will just have to persevere and mostly ignore the flying shit. It isn't going to be simple or quick.
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paulc
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+xThat is the problem Paul. You hold on to old thinking. Good morning Scottyboy
In a resort somewhere
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aussie scott21
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Morning. I couldn't resist.
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Decentric
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+xThat is the problem Paul. You hold on to old thinking. It depends. If Paul left Tassie 2 years ago, his views have greater validity than if he left 15 years ago. I suspect the latter, based on a comment Paul made about Tasmanian wine a year ago. He thought it was a waste growing vines that mature in 5 years in Tassie instead of 3 in parts of the mainland. All Tasmanian grown wine is now considered gourmet ( I know 2-4 abysmal pinot noirs though). To the the extent that for about 6 or 7 styles of wine ( sav blanc, riesling, pinot gris, chardonnay, sparkling, pinot noir), the consistency of quality in Tassie is unmatched anywhere else. 20 years ago Tassie wine was a joke. The quality here is now more consistent than NZ, Victoria and France in those styles, having recently visited those countries/states. FWIW I like Paul's contributions to 442. I don't take his stirring of Victory too seriously! LOL! At the time of the last Tasmania United HAL bid, I don't think we were ready for a HAL team. Circumstances have rapidly changed for the better since that bid.
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walnuts
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Tbh, the FFA would set up a team in Betoota if a billionaire was prepared to wear all costs/losses and not turn tail at the first sight of a commodity price drop. If this Tassie bid can secure significant Government (both local and state) support then it's probably miles ahead of any other bid.
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StiflersMom
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+x+xThis move makes no sense at all. Tasmanian's are crying out for an AFL team not a football team. I have no problem with small teams being in the A-league or even regional cities but how can Tasmania be ahead of sure hits like Canberra or Wollongong. Once Tasmania fails it will be the death of A-league clubs in Wollongong and Canberra. Surely the FFA is not seriously considering it. They key is backing. Having a half-billionaire that was one of the original Victory board members on board changes everything. Clive Palmer
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SWandP
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LOL at suggestions that Tasmania is "(and, to make things more trickly, the people we do have are the most dispersed of any State)."
It shows just how little they understand of the real world. It takes about 2 and a half fucken hours to drive anywhere in Tasmania with population.
It takes more than 4 hours to drive from Cairns to Townsville. It's about 18 hours with no piss stops from Cairns to Brisbane and yet Qld can put together a State League. I'd love to take a Tasmanian for a drive around any mainland State and see how they react. Just a drive from Adelaide to Elliston for a spot of fishing for the afternoon would be a good starter.
The fact that people think a trip to St Helens from either Launceston or Hobart is an "overnighter" is a reflection on their limited mind-view and not a physical limitation. It's that mind-set that will ultimately be the barrier that they break through or it will break their inclusion in a National League.
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Decentric
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+x+x"At this stage FFA have not engaged in formal dialogue with this group or any other groups as it would be premature to do so before a detailed road map for expansion has been finalised," FMD, how long do they need. I'd reckon they need a lot more time yet. Firstly, they have to decide who the TV broadcasters will be and that will make a difference just by itself. The TV will have a lot of requirements written into their side of the deal that are concerned mainly with their ability to derive a profit. Any early expansion teams will have to be able to pull their weight and lift the profile of the sport. Secondly, they need to know exactly what the budget looks like going forward. Unless you know exactly what you have to spend (and what you have to spend it on) and unless you get agreement from the people who are paying and the people who are spending then you haven't got a plan that will work. Any other way of doing things guarantees disaster. (It would be disastrous, or nearly so, to lose any expansion team in the next TV deal period). There are going to be a bunch of unsolicited approaches from groups chasing an early edge into expansion. This is good, but only because it shows strong interest. Once they are in a position to announce the expansion timetable and its scope, then they will be after detailed submissions in response to requests for same. You can be sure that you'll get to see the "metrics" required because the very first club/consortium that can't meet them will be so righteously indignant that they will scream unfair and leak them everywhere. Tens of welded on haters will take up the cudgels, pitchforks and torches, screaming everything from "bogan to racist, anti-football to insulated parochial incompetents" and it will make for a couple of amusing off-seasons. I thoroughly expect shit-posting to reach unheard of levels just next year based around expansion alone! There are people here that quite genuinely believe that the moment a head figure is placed on the next broadcast deal you just have to open the doors and stand back. LOL. The existing A League licence holders will be all over expansion demanding the right to quash any deal that impinges upon their "territory". They will scream that it would be better to give all the money to them instead of any new licencees. They will then demand a cut of any new licence fees paid as compensation anyway. It's going to be a longer drama than "Days of Our Lives" and FFA will just have to persevere and mostly ignore the flying shit. It isn't going to be simple or quick. Illuminating post, SWandP.
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paulc
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+x+xAs a former resident and having a soft spot for Tasmania I hope they have a team however I can't see it even remotely working unless the demographics have changed significantly over the past two decades. I don't believe they have. Greater playing numbers does not constitute the improvement and cultural change that is needed. The state would prefer to pay AFL 10 times more to see a training run than to have a HAL team for a year. How long ago did you live here Paul C? The football milieu has changed immeasurably for the better in the last 4 years. The demographics are still the same. This bid is for the team to play the majority of games in Hobart. It was a long time ago and is why I said if it hasn't changed. If it has in the past 4 years then good, but it hasn't come through to the neutral observer outside of Tasmania. The state is not a significant growth state, revenue is poor, retirees just don't contribute to the state coffers much, just take from the federal government. No new industries to speak off and a population and government still overly obsessed with the AFL in no uncertain terms. I'd consider Tasmania for a 2nd Division as good option.
In a resort somewhere
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paladisious
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+x+x+xThis move makes no sense at all. Tasmanian's are crying out for an AFL team not a football team. I have no problem with small teams being in the A-league or even regional cities but how can Tasmania be ahead of sure hits like Canberra or Wollongong. Once Tasmania fails it will be the death of A-league clubs in Wollongong and Canberra. Surely the FFA is not seriously considering it. They key is backing. Having a half-billionaire that was one of the original Victory board members on board changes everything. Clive Palmer Yeah Stamoulis is no Palmer, and has the track record with Victory to prove it. I'd say apples and oranges, but I don't think Clive has seen too many of those!
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Decentric
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+x+x+xThis move makes no sense at all. Tasmanian's are crying out for an AFL team not a football team. I have no problem with small teams being in the A-league or even regional cities but how can Tasmania be ahead of sure hits like Canberra or Wollongong. Once Tasmania fails it will be the death of A-league clubs in Wollongong and Canberra. Surely the FFA is not seriously considering it. They key is backing. Having a half-billionaire that was one of the original Victory board members on board changes everything. Clive Palmer I'm not sure Stamoulis is the chronic attention seeker Clive is. I read a book quite recently, The A League, where Clive Palmer proffered himself quite seriously to FFA as a plausible the national FFA Technical Director! LOL! When fat guts was with GCU he recruited one player who turned out well. Based on that single success, he was seriously deluded enough to proffer himself as a future FFA TD instead of Han Berger! Clive also interfered with Miron's coaching decisions. Fat guts also tried to recruit Ange for a HAL coaching role. Ange told him in no uncertain terms that if he took the job, Clive had to keep his nose right out of coaching so he had nothing to do with it whatsoever except sign the checks ! Hence, Ange knocked fat guts back when he said he paid the bills so he should be involved!
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aussie scott21
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I have trouble seeing this happening.
FFA have stated they like/want more derbies. I just struggle to see Tasmania swoop in and grab a spot (as part of the next expansion)
Like the incoming Brisbane2 bid they may give an ultimatum but still.
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azzaMVFC
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+xI have trouble seeing this happening.FFA have stated they like/want more derbies. I just struggle to see Tasmania swoop in and grab a spot (as part of the next expansion)Like the incoming Brisbane2 bid they may give an ultimatum but still. If this comes out as 'Hobart FC' and is a success, there's potential for a Launceston FC in 4-6 years time, creating a derby. Even if both clubs are pulling in 5-8k crowds each week that's all you need. The stadium deals just need to be right. The aim should be 10k crowds playing out of smaller stadiums, or as some of the articles have mentioned, seating on the outskirts of the oval (North Hobart) to put it into rectangular form. If it is Tasmania United, it has the potential to be bigger than Hobart/Launceston individually, but no derby. I think because there isn't any suitable small rectangular stadiums that hold 10k or the like, this is probably what we'll get. Most likely with Tas Utd you'll have 8 games in Hobart, 4 in Launceston and 2 in Devonport, something like that.
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Decentric
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+x+x+xAs a former resident and having a soft spot for Tasmania I hope they have a team however I can't see it even remotely working unless the demographics have changed significantly over the past two decades. I don't believe they have. Greater playing numbers does not constitute the improvement and cultural change that is needed. The state would prefer to pay AFL 10 times more to see a training run than to have a HAL team for a year. How long ago did you live here Paul C? The football milieu has changed immeasurably for the better in the last 4 years. The demographics are still the same. This bid is for the team to play the majority of games in Hobart. It was a long time ago and is why I said if it hasn't changed. If it has in the past 4 years then good, but it hasn't come through to the neutral observer outside of Tasmania. The state is not a significant growth state, revenue is poor, retirees just don't contribute to the state coffers much, just take from the federal government. No new industries to speak off and a population and government still overly obsessed with the AFL in no uncertain terms. I'd consider Tasmania for a 2nd Division as good option. Most of your post is probably true. Except that the Tassie economy is looking up. This is because of a tourism boom and ever increasing demand for high quality food and Tassie alcohol. The tourism boom has seen a lot of recent international investment and led to greater job creation. The change has been quite marked in the football milieu though. The local football scene has made significant inroads into thelocal Aussie rules milieu. One Tassie Aussie rules journo, Melbourne based Martin Flanagan, complained when he was here last year that there was too much coverage of the Tassie NPL compared to the Tassie state league in Aussie rules. The Tassie interest in AFL is primarily off shore. It is similar to Eurosnobs following football in Europe instead of Australia.
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paulc
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+x+xThat is the problem Paul. You hold on to old thinking. It depends. If Paul left Tassie 2 years ago, his views have greater validity than if he left 15 years ago. I suspect the latter, based on a comment Paul made about Tasmanian wine a year ago. He thought it was a waste growing vines that mature in 5 years in Tassie instead of 3 in parts of the mainland. All Tasmanian grown wine is now considered gourmet ( I know 2-4 abysmal pinot noirs though). To the the extent that for about 6 or 7 styles of wine ( sav blanc, riesling, pinot gris, chardonnay, sparkling, pinot noir), the consistency of quality in Tassie is unmatched anywhere else. 20 years ago Tassie wine was a joke. The quality here is now more consistent than NZ, Victoria and France in those styles, having recently visited those countries/states. FWIW I like Paul's contributions to 442. I don't take his stirring of Victory too seriously! LOL! At the time of the last Tasmania United HAL bid, I don't think we were ready for a HAL team. Circumstances have rapidly changed for the better since that bid. Bang on the money with the wine Sherlock. I now ask for Tassie wine when in a resort ;)
In a resort somewhere
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Decentric
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+x+xI have trouble seeing this happening.FFA have stated they like/want more derbies. I just struggle to see Tasmania swoop in and grab a spot (as part of the next expansion)Like the incoming Brisbane2 bid they may give an ultimatum but still. If this comes out as 'Hobart FC' and is a success, there's potential for a Launceston FC in 4-6 years time, creating a derby. Even if both clubs are pulling in 5-8k crowds each week that's all you need. The stadium deals just need to be right. The aim should be 10k crowds playing out of smaller stadiums, or as some of the articles have mentioned, seating on the outskirts of the oval (North Hobart) to put it into rectangular form. If it is Tasmania United, it has the potential to be bigger than Hobart/Launceston individually, but no derby. I think because there isn't any suitable small rectangular stadiums that hold 10k or the like, this is probably what we'll get. Most likely with Tas Utd you'll have 8 games in Hobart, 4 in Launceston and 2 in Devonport, something like that. I much prefer watching football in the stands at Football Fed Tas HQ and South Hobart's rectangular grounds than the egg ball ovals at North Hobart and Launceston's AFL ground. However, I've watched the Socceroos at the Testradome which is also not rectangular. It is still Victory's home ground despite being oval shaped. The Tasmanian pitches have been very good playing HAL teams playing down here. The climate is similar to Wellington's where Nix play their games - often windy but ideal for growing grass. There is no use, or demand for grounds for egg ball games and concerts, which creates bad playing surfaces.
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Decentric
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+xTbh, the FFA would set up a team in Betoota if a billionaire was prepared to wear all costs/losses and not turn tail at the first sight of a commodity price drop. If this Tassie bid can secure significant Government (both local and state) support then it's probably miles ahead of any other bid. There is an old guard of male geriatrics over 50, my generation, including a lot of mates, that are determined professional 'soccer' should not exist instead of professional AFL in Tasmania. They are an ageing demographic though. At the same time, given the success of Tasmanian cricket, many yearn for Tasmanian professional sporting pro teams competing in national comps. There are many who would watch a Tassie HAL team, live, who don't follow the HAL now.
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Decentric
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+x+x+xThat is the problem Paul. You hold on to old thinking. It depends. If Paul left Tassie 2 years ago, his views have greater validity than if he left 15 years ago. I suspect the latter, based on a comment Paul made about Tasmanian wine a year ago. He thought it was a waste growing vines that mature in 5 years in Tassie instead of 3 in parts of the mainland. All Tasmanian grown wine is now considered gourmet ( I know 2-4 abysmal pinot noirs though). To the the extent that for about 6 or 7 styles of wine ( sav blanc, riesling, pinot gris, chardonnay, sparkling, pinot noir), the consistency of quality in Tassie is unmatched anywhere else. 20 years ago Tassie wine was a joke. The quality here is now more consistent than NZ, Victoria and France in those styles, having recently visited those countries/states. FWIW I like Paul's contributions to 442. I don't take his stirring of Victory too seriously! LOL! At the time of the last Tasmania United HAL bid, I don't think we were ready for a HAL team. Circumstances have rapidly changed for the better since that bid. Bang on the money with the wine Sherlock. I now ask for Tassie wine when in a resort ;) The poor Tassie wines are these pinot noirs - the cheapest Devil's Corner ( usually $19) and Gunning's Peak are the worst Tassie wines I've drunk! Ninth Island and Abel's Tempest pinot noirs are only a bit better. At the same time the Devil's Corner Resolution Pinot Noir ( circa $30) is simply fabulous - one of the best I've drunk anywhere in the world. It is the next wine up in quality from their cheaper DC pinot noir, which is rubbish. All other wines from these vineyards are good to excellent. Abel's Tempest Sparkling is simply knock out in quality. I purchased 3 of these for $50 last Xmas. The change since you've lived here is the place is inundated with tourists - foodies, plus wine, beer, cider, and whisky snobs! This scenario is leading to investment and international capital putting money into farms and high quality alcohol businesses, particularly Chinese and Singaporean. Hopefully, they can put money into a HAL team too.
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Hutch
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+xMaybe I'm missing something, but why would you set up a team in a state that: 1. has no stadium to play out of (im talking about a rectangular boutique one) 2. has an almost zero population growth 3. has little to no industry (ie for sponsorship) it's madness. Because you could claim the entire island as no other sport has a professional team there? As for industry, some of the best whisky distilleries in the world, couple of good breweries, world leading art gallery...just few spring to mind.
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aussie scott21
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Mercury  FOOTBALL, the kind played with a round ball, has an exciting future in Australia, and it is time for Tasmania to join the revolution. The consortium looking at the possibility of the state having an A-League team deserves community and State Government support. The success of the Hobart Hurricanes in the Big Bash League shows Tasmanians turn out in big numbers to support their home team at the top level of national sport. An A-League team, and a W-League team, would be a boon for the state and the competition, and it appears a bid would be treated seriously by the governing body. This stands in stark contrast to the ongoing shafting that Tasmania receives from the AFL. A Tasmanian team in the men’s and women’s AFL is a dream held dear by many, but the current administration continues to treat our state with dismissive contempt. There is no clear plan in the AFL or State Government for a stand-alone Tassie team, either men’s or women’s. This will not change while there is a lack of leadership from the Government, and a lack of interest from the AFL. But this vacuum is an opportunity for the Football Federation of Australia. While the FFA has been coy in its plans for expansion, there is nothing to suggest a compelling Tassie bid would not win them over. There are already some very encouraging signs for the round ball code in Tasmania. The sport’s following, while not rivalling Aussie Rules, is strong. Participation is growing at a junior and senior level. This year, Devonport Strikers reached the round of 16 at the FFA Cup, only denied a quarter-final spot by a highly credentialled Melbourne side scoring a goal in extra time. More than 3100 people turned out for the clash. A-League games involving mainland clubs have drawn crowds of more than 8000 people in the past — and 8000 Tassie kids under the age of 12 are already playing the sport, double the figure of South Australia, who are represented with Adelaide teams in the A-League and W-League. Imagine how much that number would grow if those children had the chance to see regular top-flight football in their own backyard, with homegrown Tassie heroes striding the national stage. What would it do for the confidence of these young men and women to know they can reach the highest level without having to ship off to the north island. There would also be an economic benefit to creating A-League and W-League teams, as more visiting fans are drawn to Tasmania. There are wider social benefits of encouraging participation in sport, such as health and wellbeing, as well as strengthening community ties. Because it is truly the world game, football is a universal language and can be a great way for recent migrants to Tasmania to feel welcome and part of the community. The brilliant story of Hobart United FC and its commitment to multiculturalism and welcoming new migrants shows the positive impact sporting teams can have. Why shouldn’t we as Tasmanians aim to have the very best in our state? Our clean and green home already leads Australia and the world in many ways. For that to continue, we need to dream big and think even bigger. The notion Tasmania will only ever care about the native football code and not the world game is part of what gives the AFL the arrogant belief the state will always be happy with buying in a few games that would not draw big crowds in Victoria. Healthy competition from the A-League should prompt the AFL to pull its proverbial finger out, and treat AFL fans in Tasmania with respect. Perhaps if they saw Tasmanians embrace a home-grown A-League team, we would get half the attention and funding that has been lavished on Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney. As Tasmanian AFL teams are being kicked further from sight, it is time for our state to start embracing sports that will at least take us seriously. A-League and W-League teams would be a great place to start. Nick McKim is a Greens senator for Tasmania.
http://www.themercury.com.au/news/opinion/talking-point-about-time-we-kicked-an-aleague-goal/news-story/fde1147a11dc38418be4c0b5ce801693
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Decentric
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+xI have trouble seeing this happening.FFA have stated they like/want more derbies. I just struggle to see Tasmania swoop in and grab a spot (as part of the next expansion)Like the incoming Brisbane2 bid they may give an ultimatum but still. Gallop has said he wants more derbies and is totally urbancentric. At the same time, there may be an opportunity to establish a more decentralised truly national comp than other sports. This gets back to greater expansion. Benjamin has stated that FFA mandates AFC stadia. He has mooted a plausible argument that FFA could establish more clubs, like a sustainable South Melb at Lakeside, where they need only have a AFC compliant stadium if appearing in AFC comps like the ACL. It makes a lot of sense. Stadia drawing crowds smaller than 10 000 that are sustainable, are better than stadia drawing huge crowds greater than 10 000 where they lose money - Suncorp.
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aussie scott21
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North Island?
Its a continent
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Decentric
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+xMercury FOOTBALL, the kind played with a round ball, has an exciting future in Australia, and it is time for Tasmania to join the revolution. The consortium looking at the possibility of the state having an A-League team deserves community and State Government support. The success of the Hobart Hurricanes in the Big Bash League shows Tasmanians turn out in big numbers to support their home team at the top level of national sport. An A-League team, and a W-League team, would be a boon for the state and the competition, and it appears a bid would be treated seriously by the governing body. This stands in stark contrast to the ongoing shafting that Tasmania receives from the AFL. A Tasmanian team in the men’s and women’s AFL is a dream held dear by many, but the current administration continues to treat our state with dismissive contempt. There is no clear plan in the AFL or State Government for a stand-alone Tassie team, either men’s or women’s. This will not change while there is a lack of leadership from the Government, and a lack of interest from the AFL. But this vacuum is an opportunity for the Football Federation of Australia. While the FFA has been coy in its plans for expansion, there is nothing to suggest a compelling Tassie bid would not win them over. There are already some very encouraging signs for the round ball code in Tasmania. The sport’s following, while not rivalling Aussie Rules, is strong. Participation is growing at a junior and senior level. This year, Devonport Strikers reached the round of 16 at the FFA Cup, only denied a quarter-final spot by a highly credentialled Melbourne side scoring a goal in extra time. More than 3100 people turned out for the clash. A-League games involving mainland clubs have drawn crowds of more than 8000 people in the past — and 8000 Tassie kids under the age of 12 are already playing the sport, double the figure of South Australia, who are represented with Adelaide teams in the A-League and W-League. Imagine how much that number would grow if those children had the chance to see regular top-flight football in their own backyard, with homegrown Tassie heroes striding the national stage. What would it do for the confidence of these young men and women to know they can reach the highest level without having to ship off to the north island. There would also be an economic benefit to creating A-League and W-League teams, as more visiting fans are drawn to Tasmania. There are wider social benefits of encouraging participation in sport, such as health and wellbeing, as well as strengthening community ties. Because it is truly the world game, football is a universal language and can be a great way for recent migrants to Tasmania to feel welcome and part of the community. The brilliant story of Hobart United FC and its commitment to multiculturalism and welcoming new migrants shows the positive impact sporting teams can have. Why shouldn’t we as Tasmanians aim to have the very best in our state? Our clean and green home already leads Australia and the world in many ways. For that to continue, we need to dream big and think even bigger. The notion Tasmania will only ever care about the native football code and not the world game is part of what gives the AFL the arrogant belief the state will always be happy with buying in a few games that would not draw big crowds in Victoria. Healthy competition from the A-League should prompt the AFL to pull its proverbial finger out, and treat AFL fans in Tasmania with respect. Perhaps if they saw Tasmanians embrace a home-grown A-League team, we would get half the attention and funding that has been lavished on Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney. As Tasmanian AFL teams are being kicked further from sight, it is time for our state to start embracing sports that will at least take us seriously. A-League and W-League teams would be a great place to start. Nick McKim is a Greens senator for Tasmania.
http://www.themercury.com.au/news/opinion/talking-point-about-time-we-kicked-an-aleague-goal/news-story/fde1147a11dc38418be4c0b5ce801693
Nick McKim is a forward thinking politician. He is also a younger generation than the die hard 50 plus male AFL geriatric generation.
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Glh37
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+x+xI have trouble seeing this happening.FFA have stated they like/want more derbies. I just struggle to see Tasmania swoop in and grab a spot (as part of the next expansion)Like the incoming Brisbane2 bid they may give an ultimatum but still. If this comes out as 'Hobart FC' and is a success, there's potential for a Launceston FC in 4-6 years time, creating a derby. Even if both clubs are pulling in 5-8k crowds each week that's all you need. The stadium deals just need to be right. The aim should be 10k crowds playing out of smaller stadiums, or as some of the articles have mentioned, seating on the outskirts of the oval (North Hobart) to put it into rectangular form. If it is Tasmania United, it has the potential to be bigger than Hobart/Launceston individually, but no derby. I think because there isn't any suitable small rectangular stadiums that hold 10k or the like, this is probably what we'll get. Most likely with Tas Utd you'll have 8 games in Hobart, 4 in Launceston and 2 in Devonport, something like that. I would think that Tasmania United would be far more likely than Hobart FC, mainly due to the fact that I cannot ever see a 2nd Tassie team (based in Launceston and resenting the North and North West) on the radar at an A-League Level. As far as I can tell a Tasmania United approach would play games in Hobart and Launceston, I can't see Devonport being involved at all.
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paladisious
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Quality article by Senator McKim, great to see a Tassie politician backing expansion down there.
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Decentric
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+xQuality article by Senator McKim, great to see a Tassie politician backing expansion down there. Recent former Labour Premier , David Bartlett, was also a keen advocate for a HAL team. At the time he was Premier he was still playing club football, or had just finished.
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Benjamin
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+xI'd be more than happy to see a viable Tassie team come in. Viable. The key word to all expansion options. I don't care where they are so long as they are viable.
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aussie scott21
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+xQuality article by Senator McKim, great to see a Tassie politician backing expansion down there. Let the kit designing begin..... I would just straight up copy Portugal 2010 world cup kits, but reverse them to play at home in the white and away in red top    then add the "Devils" , "Tigers" or "Red Lions" I like Red Lions 
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