Victory and city fans doing a walkout on 20

Absolutely ludicrous decision.  Also, what does Destination NSW get for their (taxpayers) money? Have they been sold a pup by APL as well?

You're not wrong. Those lickspittle shills made me sick.

Here's the thing. Yes me and my mates would probably travel because it's not a big cost impost but imagine some mum and dad with a couple of kids that have been watching MVFC or Brisbane all year and now they have to spend $2k or more for a days entertainment.

That's absolutely pathetic.   It's quite a weird decision.  

They're willing to tarnish the reputation of the league by having a 1/4 to half full stadium with two out of Sydney teams.   

Rat gatt claiming expansion from canberra and auckland


one of these is a good idea i guess

Screw it lets put vlandys in charge, lets go out with a bang

goals from outside the box are now worth 2, teams have to do a triathlon before the game to make everyone fatigued and any one who touches someones head gets sent off, even if someone falls face first onto you

Auckland v Perth Grand Final at the SFS.   Can't wait. I figure you'll only need one food and beverage outlet open.

Oh get fucking FUCKED.

I’m a Sydney-sider and I’ll probably go to all three GFs, but this is an absolutely retarded, fucked-up decision that is worse than all the other fucked up decisions I’ve seen. This is worse than the 26 round uneven season.

This is tragic levels of bullshit. 

They’ll probably put it in Homebush.

Auckland??? I hope this is a joke. The last thing we need in this league is another NZ team.

It' s   all   about   putting   " football   first" ,  " fan  engagement"   blah   blah   blah .. .

Fairly   certain   it   would   not  be   the  first   time   it   has  been    mentioned    that   the  owners  consider    Auckland   as   a   potential   expansion   "market " .  

Can't see how Auckland is a good idea.

Canberra, a city full of public servants that go down the coast every weekend in summer. That is the half that are still there.

I will walk to Wollongong if Canberra does any better than Townsville. An absolute disaster waiting to happen.

May as well stick a team in Tasmania if you're going to put one in Canberra. Call their matches the 'Tumbleweed derby'. 

I have some optimism for canberra to get around 7k 

Damn right.

I can't think of one decision from the APL that has benefited football other than themselves.

But I guess, you know.........anything is better than Lowy.

wouldn't Wollongong be a better bet?

I guess the main benefit is the independence of the fa. A second division and eventual p and r is only possible with an independent fa

Canberra did get good crowds when their team (Arrows, Cosmos or whatever they were called) were doing well.

Usually they didn't do well though. A Canberra franchise now would certainly get bigger crowds than MacArthur and Western United.

A second division was already on the drawing board with the original FFA. This FA has now lost control of the professional league and the money to distribute that came with it.

But most of you said the clubs should have their own control, so here you have it. Reap what you sow! (not directed at you)

Both Canberra and Auckland are realistic expansions options.

Canberra

- couple hours from Sydney, will draw decent away support from WSW and FC supporters
- there is a large Canberra diaspora in most capital cities so should get decent away support
- stadium not perfect but suitable for football
- the nations capital should be represented in the national soccer league
- less travel expenditure due to proximity to Sydney clubs
- Quenbeyan, ACT population close to 500k
- Average crowds around 7k+
- Canberrans wont be turned away from the cold like they are in the winter

Auckland

- Wellington v Auckland blockbuster derby
- Numerous stadium options not perfect but suitable for football
- wont be the clusterfuck that was the NZ knights
- 1+ million Auckland population
- Average crowds should around 10k+

So   basically   a   derby   and   "fish  where   the   fish  are"...

Imagine yourself as a valuable player, given the contractual money is about the same from all clubs, why will you choose Canberra over say, Sydney fc, Melbourne Victory, Brisbane Roar or Perth Glory to play for?

https://chng.it/fxjd6ZyHDL

Sign the petition

This simply goes to show that the clubs owners act in their own short term interests.

Cosmos I thought.

Yes they'd do better than those 2 abortions if we think 4000 or 5000 is 'better'. That's a pretty low bar we're setting.

Baffled as to why anyone would want another NZ team in. Get the hell out of our A-League. Who is going to see Wellington now when they play in Australia let alone Auckland.

To make history.

It’d be worth having Auckland in just to see the massive Wellington vs Auckland GF crowd in Sydney.

Positive momentum following a World Cup you say...Aaaannnddd it's gone.

Just a dumb divisive decision that pisses off the core fanbase.
Basically if you bought a season ticket and follow a club outside NSW you now know you can't witness a home GF, how shit is that!

It's not like the UK where the english fans can get to Wembley via a train trip or the Scottish fans head to Hampden for a cup final.
Interstate travel in Australia is expensive and can be difficult at the best of times.

I truly hope they reverse the decision

So.....we now like Grand Finals?