I think it's almost certain the Vic government will fund the stadium if team 11 get up. They will also have to fund infrastructure if WMG were to get up. Vic government don't want to favour any bid though. The FFA will need to tell them the preferred Vic bidder.

Canberra and Team11.

The Sydney bids will all be parked for at least a year at the request of the homeless (WSW and SFC) which is about the only thing they can agree on.

Major concern now with diverson of Government funding to the new stadiums in Victoria will affect the funding of grassroots facilities!

Sorry if this was already discussed but is their an appetite for more fans out there for team 11 or west Melbourne?

Because I would think victory and city have reached their peak with their number of members.

What evidence is there that the funding of a football stadium will impact grassroots investment? These come out of totally separate budgets.

The AFL has managed this well for years - it gets investment in both infrastructure and grassroots, and we will too.

The whole point of the Vic gov funding the stadium is to act as a catalyst for activation of Dandenong. They could not care less about football. The stadium will be marketed as a 'multi-purpose' stadium and you can expect the marketing message will be that Team 11 play there, but there will also be some NRL and Super Rugby matches.

They will market it as football to the football people, make it available for the NPL finals, and use the multi cultural angle to get local votes. They will also point out that its going to be used by other sports (On limited occasions) to let people who hate football have some news that won't lose their vote.

Was on the ABC news this morning that the Vic govt are about to make a decision on a $170 million stadium very soon.

Location mentioned was south east and stadium capacity 15,000.

Sounds imminent.

Food for thought:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12-04/sa-government-crows-grant-draws-fire-from-peak-sport-body/10580914?section=sport

I think you underestimate how much of a cancer the AFL is on grassroots sport.

@ MelbCityGuy

There’s got to be more fans out there that aren’t wedded to a team yet. City/Heart suffer from not having an identity and providing Team11 learn from that they should be okay. Especially with a boutique stadium.

Ironically FCBC’s bid in Brisbane was similar to Hearts, same geographic location (CBD ish) and their pitch was going to be “we’re not Roar” ... so lessons aren’t always learned!

@bohemia

I’ve never understood how the AFL do this. Especially now they are such a financial powerhouse. And I’ve no doubt that they would be happy to force lightening out of business or buy them up, but whatever happens it’ll be on AFLs terms.

Well it cant be used 13 times a year only. Storm and Rebels will br given incentives to play there. For $170 million it simply has to be multi purpose. As you said they need to build up that area because even now its regarded as a dump.

I think WSW are all for an additional team... We will be Parra by this time next year anyway. 

What actuslly is the problem with a multi purpose stadium? If you’re going to spend that crazy money on building a stadium it’s not going to be four thirteen or so football uses a year. As much as people love to romanticise boutique football not stadiums it’s completley illogical and a waste of money

Victoria is looking for an investment of over $250 Million in grassroots infrastructure over the next six years.
If the Dandenong Stadium affects the available pool we have a problem.
If not all good.
Hopefully the stadium isn't an Oval shape!!

Multi purpose stadium that can host RL and RU is fine.

AAMI Park is awesome as will be Parramatta.

100% yes as long as they are based in the burbs and not close to the city (which is what Heart/City should have done to begin with).


yep. that has always been my concern about the proposed Dandenong Stadium. If the state government funds this, i wouldn't put it past them to put an athletics track on it or make it "the home of AFLX" or something crazy like that considering the influence of the AFL. It will never, ever be a football specific stadium like Tarneit will.


i heard this on radio this morning as well. If Team 11 get their funding, they will automatically leapfrog WMG. I can't see it happening though. It would mean the government is backing one team over the other. and there was a bit of a backlash in the west at the recent election... which is Labor heartland. An independant nearly got up in Werribee because the locals feel neglected by the government. 

For those that don’t realise, here’s some information on the reality of how a modern stadium needs to operate.
The revenue stream is diversified.
The ‘off field’ spaces and events are just as important as the on field.
Sure, have 30 football and rugby matches and 20 concerts using the field space, but you also need more.
The stadium needs to rent out, through the week, the dining rooms and bars etc.
Corporate meetings, product launches, conferences etc all add revenue.
These spaces for hire are critical.
You can expect the Dandenong stadium to be well used in this regard. All 3 Councils and State Gov departments will be major hirers.
The location cannot be beaten. It ticks all the boxes for public transport, activation of a key part of the activity centre and central to one of the biggest growth areas of Australia.

The south east should now receive no represntation in the 2nd division if the governmemt gives the region a stadium and an A league team. Dandy thunder, city etc should be banned from even applying as the teams should come from central, north and west. Is that fair?

The Victorian Government has a week to decide whether it will fund a $150 million stadium in Dandenong as part of urban renewal for the region and deliver football's heartland an A-League expansion side.

AFTER MONTHS OF PLANNING, JOSTLING AND BICKERING AMONG BIDDERS, TEAM 11 REMAIN THE HOT FAVOURITES OF THREE VICTORIAN BIDS TO EXPAND THE COMPETITION IN TIME FOR THE 2019/20 COMPETITION.

But it needs a signed and sealed commitment from the state government to come to life, which is the focus of behind-the-scenes negotiations this week.

The Victorian election, won decisively by the Labor Government, held up a formal approach from FFA to the state government for its consideration.

With Daniel Andrews forming a new cabinet - which includes south-eastern MP Martin Pakula as Sports Minister - that approach is being considered imminently.

The plans and request are far from new to the government, which counts Dandenong MP Gabrielle Williams - promoted to Cabinet as Women's Minister - as one of its most vociferous supporters.

The state government and City of Greater Dandenong are considering the project as both a sporting investment and a continuation of a multi-million dollar long-term revitalisation project for one of Melbourne's satellite hubs.

The discussion will reach a crescendo this week, but publicly all three parties were playing a straight bat when contacted by AAP.

A Victorian Government spokesperson stressed it was "ultimately a decision for the A-League and the FFA", given local members had also been lobbied by expansion aspirants South Melbourne and Western Melbourne Group.

"The Victorian Government is very keen to see an A-League expansion club based in Victoria, and we think the case for that is undeniable," Mr Pakula's spokesperson said.

TEAM 11 SPOKESPERSON MATT WINDLEY SAID HIS GROUP'S BID HAD MOUNTED A CONVINCING CASE WITH BOTH GOVERNMENT AND FFA.

"A power of work has gone on in regards to development of Dandenong Stadium plans for almost 12 months now, involving different levels of government, the City of Greater Dandenong and Team 11 officials," he said.

"If the FFA wants us, it's now up to the FFA to have those discussions with government."

Those statements suggest a game of chicken is being played over who must hold discussions but what is undeniable is the decision is ultimately in the hands of the state government as the major funding body.

The South Melbourne bid does not require major capital for its Lakeside Stadium home ground, while the Western Melbourne Group is claiming a first in Australian sport; a privately-funded stadium build.

AN FFA SPOKESPERSON SAID THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS WOULD BE FINALISED WHEN THE BOARD MEETS IN SYDNEY ON DECEMBER 12.  (10

"A whole range of factors will be considered in determining the successful bids to ensure their future sustainability, which includes securing stadia, catchment areas and financial capital," the spokesperson said.

AAP

After FFA CEO David Gallop yesterday admitted big money licence fees will be "critical" to the successful expansion clubs, local pollies have backed cashed-up Southern Expansion's bid and insist: "It's time to give us our own club."

Southern (along with the mysterious, fiercely private backers of the West Melbourne bid) are said to have the biggest financial backing in bids hoping to join the league, supported by the owners of Chinese League One side Guizhou Hengfeng (currently home to Nikica Jelevic and Mario Suarez). 

“The company standing behind our bid own a Chinese Super League club," Southern spokesman Morris Iemma told FTBL in May.
 "It’s a marriage of excellence, that takes social media, IT and the latest methods in football to that part of NSW."

https://www.ftbl.com.au/news/money-talks-the-giant-is-rumbling-516509

No SEX in Wollongong!

Great having all the money but if fans from most of the regions dont want to get on board its a pointless venture

its very sad that ultimately it appears the bids with the deepest pockets will be awarded the licences. this is plain wrong.

yes each bid must stump up the licence fee, and yes they must produce evidence of them being able to fund the team going ahead, but to award the licence to the teams that can give FFA the biggest licence fee, is poor planning.

ultimately pick the teams based on the key metrics:
- population base
- growth corridors
 - stadium infrastructure
- grassroots participation
etc

if the criteria disclosed to the bidders says you need hypothetically $5m for a licence fee, and proof of securing $7m per year for running costs for 5 years, then that should be it.

you don't then say, hey you tick the boxes, but the other bid over here is offering us $10m upfront.

all fine and well for the coffers up front but when they cant generate a supporter base, or theyre a start up without one, or theyre going to cannibalise another licensee, etc- then the $10m means nothing.

It really is short sighted of FFA if that was to occur.

May the best bid win, not the bid with the deepest pockets, for the sake of the growth of the game.

The site won't fit an oval.  :)

;)  On that basis the centre of Melbourne should have no representatives in the 2nd division because the Government spent $300m on a stadium for Victory.

The proposed Dandenong Stadium design has already been done and shown off. It will definitely be a rectangle if built. No doubt a few rugby games will be played there as well a plenty of concerts. Nothing wrong with multipurpose stadiums. Everybody raves about AAMI Park which is multipurpose.

The interesting thing Burztur is that Campbelltown Stadium is closer to Wollongong than either Jubilee Oval or the Sharks ground.

The best solution to me would be for Canberra and Macarthur South West to get up in this first expansion and along with Sydney FC be required to play one game each annually in Wollongong to help grow the game there until a future time when Wollongong can get its own team into the A-League.

I'd also announce Team11 as an expansion club to be included as soon as their ground is completed, possibly as a replacement for Phoenix in a 12 team competition or with a yet to be named 14th club.

leaked.............

5 days before d-day.   Top Stuff

The stadium planned for the West Melbourne bid to join the A-League will be planned, approved, built and opened within three years, promises a leaked letter from the constructors.

.
.
.
.
Western Melbourne Group refused to discuss the leak, 

https://www.ftbl.com.au/news/stadium-timeline-vow-three-years-from-greenlight-to-first-game-516525

Local clubs never supported Victory. Team11 would represent the entire region since thats how how they want it.

Sutherland Mayor, Carmelo Pesce, 

“The thousands and thousands of local football fans who haven’t been engaged by existing clubs in the A-League want their own club who will play games here in Cronulla. 

We’re a grassroots football giant and the giant is rumbling - it’s time to give us our own club.”