I used to be against South in the A-League but I'm starting to come round to the idea.  There's no harm in at least asking the question....as long as the bidding process doesn't require a large outlay...why not?

Scheduling a Derby at Etihad or AAMI during that week would be the smart thing for FFA to do. Take advantage of all the extra tourists.

There will be no issue with Grand Prix. We made it work for 8 years in the NSL, and every year since then in the VPL/NPL.
Away matches and use of AAMI park will be the key there.

For anyone unfamiliar with Melbourne, below is a link to map showing the proximity of the three stadiums. They are basically all in the inner suburbs of Melbourne. Depending on traffic they are all around 15-25 mins drive from each other. Meaning any derby would get good attendances as people won't really be travelling any further than they are already used to doing. One little issue that will happen towards the end of the season, is that the F1 grand prix is held in either March or early April and that whole Albert Park area is pretty much inaccessible. This would just mean that the FFA would need to schedule a few consecutive away matches over those weeks that the F1 is being held.

http://118.127.47.51/~tempff2com/melbourne-stadiums.gif

Was at least 1500-2000 heidelberg fans at that game...relax with the 20 people lol.

No need to justify the last season of the nsl...we had 3 games over 10k+ whilst newcastlr, wollongong and brisbane were getting about 2000

Long time reader, but figured its time to join in on the discussion.

Firstly, I am still reserving my excitement for this bid till I see the full details. Yes its a great plan, but as a member of a club ive followed since I could walk and talk, I want to see the finer details first.

Anyway, barring that, theres no need to worry about the crowd issues with SMFC. Whatever attendances we had in the final years of the NSL are not relevant for comparison. We were playing in a dying league that was on its last legs with no advertising or promotion. Give the SMFC brand name the same advertising treatment that every other A-League team gets, and watch us fly.

On top of that, our crowds at times can be all over the shop, and many of our original fans that left the club for greener pastures (Victory etc), still come back to the odd game when its a spectacle. Case in point our first VPL game back in 2005 against rival Heidelberg was played in a jam packed Bob Jane Stadium (and at the time Heibelbergs fan base was 20 people, a yellow and black tarp and a drum). Then once the winter months kicked in, our crowds settled into the 1,000+ mark consisting of the hardcore SMFC fans. Then ones things go spectable wise again, e.g this years grand final, you couldnt fit another ass into that grandstand unless you had a wench.

South Melbourne FC playing in a summer league, with actual advertising, i dont see us getting anything lower than 8k to a game, and thats even against CCM.

"Selling Out" doesn't quite fit, when you're also paying $5-10 mil for the privelege

Jump on interview via world of football senradio
Via SoundCloud for full interview

Herald sun has now released a poll also

The fact that we have ...
A politically well connected lawyer
A prominent property investor
A representative from our girls team who is also a prominent property investor
A politician former sports minister

.....Makes this bid very real 

 Source?

And not sure how you can interpret 'curiosity', as support. I can guarantee that many opponents to SM joining also read the article.

Smfc drives a passionate response

What I am saying is city in particular will grow their fan base if south gets in because there are more fans that hate us as their are that supports us

Was announced that smfc article in herald sun was most highly read sports story for the day beating AFL and Cricket and the rest

Massive catch 22's  here.

1- SM cant be successful without leveraging their ethnic heritage, and FFA don't want SM WITH this ethnic heritage,
eg. Hellas, Hellas chant.

2- SM can't be successful without leveraging their ethnic heritage - but in turn this means there is no prospect for the broad appeal that a new club can offer.

Will be interesting to see what happens.

Success Factor Timmy,

what do you mean by your last post. Can't make heads or tails from it.

SMFC would be quite solid for an ache of about 8 to 9k on the upside or 7k on the low end of the spectrum as a minimum for non derby days.

Derbies a different matter completely - circa 20k.

As for crowds, I guess it depends on the marquee/s they sign.

If they came through with a big name good crowds are possible.

@m_t

It is more important they get in first.

My club used to play all derbies at the national stadium. The first year we played at home there was a pitch invasion during the 2nd home derby.

Because of the thing that happened and to apise FFA and police for now, it is better to suggest Aami.

Used to piss me off though that we & the other club got 13 home games and the other team got 17 home games. It is an advantage for MV to play at home.

Once they play a few seasons without trouble they can move to Lakeside.

I didn't think you were in 'the fold' 

Great news!

It's gonna be fantastic with SMFC in the fold.

If you think City v South would get ~35k you're havin a larf mate. 25k maybe - MAYBE. Probably looking more 18-22k.

Home derbies played away from lakeside would be pretty shit. Can we please just have one fucking regular away game in this state.

@ Heart fan

If it wasn't for CFG I'd be worried for City but CFG have the plan and the resources to execute the plan. I actually think South coming in would actually help City by growing interest in the HAL down there.

SMFC are based in Albert Park so that is an inner city Melbourne team.

They can claim to be a south-east corridor team all they like but at the end of the day it is still a long way from much of that corridor.

I see value in South Melbourne joining but still have my doubts.

I will freely admit though that the challenges that face Melbourne City in building a place in the sporting landscape do concern me and can't see how the club will find a way to gain a stronger fan base. It's hard work even with some of the bigger investments they are making along the way.

Will SMFC have an easier time? Potentially but I also don't see it being as smooth as their PR seems to spin it.

Good interview here.

https://soundcloud.com/worldfootballau/bill-papastergiadis-interview

Thanks Benjamin.

Souths attendance will be fine, that's the least of any errors. assuming 16 games:

- let's say non derby games average only 8k thant would be 104k

- then the three derby games let's say only average 35k that's another 105k

So in a 16 game season they'd average 13k which would put them in the top 5. It's not actually all that hard to see them hitting a 15k average tbh

Would South be a CBD team?  I'd say they would be a South-East corridor team based well outside the CBD, with a distinct identity.  It would still leave long (long long) term options in the outer East, the North, the West, and shouldn't effect Geelong at all.

2nd division's (don't call it B-League, we're not Bangladesh, Bahrain or Bhutan) roll wouldn't be affected - it will still be required whether South get in to the A-League or not.  The best thing that's come out of the last few days is the confirmation that there are plenty of potential bids...  Personally I think all options (including South) should be tested in a 2nd division, with the potential to add to the A-League either by promoting on results, or expanding on 'metrics'.

For the Grand Final last season they put the cameras on the opposite side of the stadium looking back at the main stand, which was pretty much full - and it looked good enough.

The ends of the ground will never look impressive due to the running track - but they would be a last resort for most fans.  Behind the goals at Central Coast, and previously the hills at Townsville, have never looked that impressive.

I would guess 8-10k average at lakeside..the derbies will boost the total figure to over 10k. If we go through stages of being an on field basketcase 5-6k deff possible. If we are on top prob 12-13k. Its not really going to matter in terms of viability, we will always be in the black playing out of lakeside..none of the bidders could make that guarantee.