They wouldn’t have announced this unless the contracts were signed, sealed & delivered. There is no hope of reversing it. 

I appreciate that the powers to be want more fanfare and preparation for that big day, BUT they sacrificed something which many thought made our code more national and had a fairer finals format. The team that gets to the Grand Final (GF) first, hosts it. What can be fairer than that. Event coordinators have plenty of time to prepare some entertainment. Do we really need the razzmatazz that goes with the AFL and NRL GFs?  Their GFs are biased, essentially state leagues that franchised new teams from other states, and hence have a biased setup. A rotating GF provides is an promotional opportunity for the host club.  Sometimes the benefits are not all immediate.

Unfortunately, what the public sees is code administrators chasing dollars - no different from the AFL or NR - only a poorer version. If they stuck with their principles, people could understand and respect them for that.

Signed.

Socceroos played for Canberra in the NSL days- Tony Henderson, Adrian Alston. Also had well known coaches like Johnny Warren, Mick Lyons

Don’t like the idea but 15 million pay off isn’t bad. 

That's just the sell to the fans.  Like when a corporate employer is about to cut your pay and conditions and comes up with an upside.for you.

They   sold    off   30%   of   the   leagues   for   $130 Million.

And   what  is   there   to   show   for   that  ??

This lad from facebook. Well said.

https://www.facebook.com/aleagues

Ian Lillywhite
Dear APL,

I have been a Victory member since season 3 and I'm also a shareholder. I have missed maybe 15 home games since the A-League began. I have been to about 50 away games interstate, and I am massively angry at this short-sighted decision.

I was there when the FFA mounted its war on active support and spied on its fans.

I was there when travelling fans were treated appallingly by security and police.

I was there when Fox Sports did its utmost to destroy the game. I have always prioritised A-League over AFL when my teams matches clashed. And I was there during pandemic when we had to endure ridiculous scheduling with very little communication and/or advanced notice of matches.

And despite all of the major Socceroos games always being played in Sydney, I was there at Fed Square last Sunday morning to cheer them on.

I have made all of this effort and spent all of this money because I love my club and I love the A-League. And I did with the knowledge that my team would host the Grand Final if we earnt the right to host it. Despite all of the controversies, you were still able to hold up the integrity of the finals series.

But if you proceed with this decision to hold the A-League Grand Final permanently in Sydney (its 3 years now, but I'm certain it will be made permanent), this might be the straw that broke the camels back.

This decision isn't about the fans. It's a greedy money grab at the expense of fans. The first thought that came to mind when I heard the news was to boycott the derby on Saturday. I’m sure I will be there as always, but will my passion for the A-League will remain knowing the system is unfair? Only time will tell. All I can tell you right now is that I am so, so angry.

But do you know the worst thing of all is? It’s that my own club sold us out. Melbourne Victory is a shareholder of the APL which means they are complicit in this crazy anti-fan, anti-football and anti-integrity decision. It's a massive kick in the guts.

I really hope this year's Grand Final is a Melbourne Derby and only 10,000 people show up.. just to stick it up the APL.

On a final note, I think its time to acknowledge that Danny Townsend needs to be moved on. He is just another Sydney centric stooge that refuses to put the fans first.

Quite a thought that the three sold out Suncorp Grand Finals I went to would not happen nowadays. Imagine Brisbane v Perth at the the end SFS. Instead of 50,000 at Suncorp you'd pushing to get 20k. 

That's possibly the only good post you've ever made. 

I think the clubs won't get anything from it.  I reckon that $5m per annum is less than the APL is losing currently.

Has the APL just found the perfect way to make the Finals format obsolete?

Fair enough too.

Dont worry guys there will be "events" in Sydney for the whole week so it will be worth it. We will have 5,6,7 or even 8 events throughout the week. I don't know what they are yet. But we will have events! 

Does this fuckin imbecile not understand football? I thought he had a football background. We dont want events. We dont want Jason Derulo singing at the Grand Final. We don't want gimmick bullshit. We have the world game and the atmosphere that goes with it unless you are trying to kill it. 

I’ve been across Reddit, Facebook and FFT tonight and I have not seen a single person post anything in a positive light. Not One. EVERYONE is against this. 

I’ve heard that one of the events will be a parade and another will have players trying to kick a football across a river.

I hope you are joking. but I fear you are not.

The ultimate 3D chess.  Townsend unites all the football tribes and the sleeping giant awakens :D

You cant make this shit up :laugh:

“We did some fan focus groups, none of what you’re reading or seeing on social media this morning didn’t come out in those sessions, it was very clear that fans' initial reactions would be ‘this is crazy’,” Townsend said.

“I think when they sat down and listened to the rationale and what it might be in ten years when the nation stops for a week in a capital city to celebrate football.

“The easy thing for me to do as the CEO and from an APL board perspective is to do nothing and just keep doing the same thing and expect change to happen organically.

:laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh: This is the one thing that they had bang on and didnt need to change. THE ONE FUCKING THING. The single marquee event on the football A league calendar, that would guarantee hype, fierce fan engagement, a sell out (or near sell out ) stadium, and an absolute orgasm of gameday colour and fandom.

Now we get to watch City v Adelaide in front of 13k fans (half of them neutral) and a 2/3 empty stadium.

What a way to shoot off your own foot. 

It will be a Sherrin. APL selling that to AFL as well..

Haha yes

I hope this forces the conversation about ditching them

X2 

massive silver lining 

Yes there is. There is always a way. We just need to keep at it. If they ignore the walkout on saturday, we keep doing it. 

Perhaps the NSW government might wake up to the realisation they won’t get the economic boost they were hoping for when no one visits due to boycotts? Or that its a politically unpopular move (even in NSW). There is also likely to be a change of government in NSW next March, so the Football fraternity could petition Chris Minns.


Do you know what makes this even more ridiculous? Townsend wants to make it a Football festival with other events going on. I assume he means another A-League all stars game.

So lets imagine you have the AL-AS playing Liverpool a week before the AL GF. Cheapest tickets are $120 (and the good seats are $250 and up), so many will be likely go to one game instead of both in the current climate. Which game do you think your run of the mill plastic theatre goer is likely to attend?  

We need to stop kidding ourselves. The APL will never EVER agree to P & R.

They just won't.

It ain't happening ever.

That's exactly what he said.

I personally think that the APL just cemented first past the post as the focus for the overwhelming majority of supporters.
And that's a good thing. 
The deal has been done. There will be a no walking it back. Sorry now we have a real football championship, not a cod-AFL/NRL title. 
At first is was outraged, but now I can see how this is going to work. Not as that klutz Townsend thinks it is will, but it's going to work. 

Gotta feel for the women's game. They already have low crowds, even at their finals. Don't know how they are gonna get anyone to turn up if there are two non-NSW teams in the GF. 

Really ?  More   "All stars "   games ?

Ahahahaha

You   can' t   make   this   up ...

100%

De ja vu with just like some NSL clubs did back in the day.

All looking after themselves - football in Australia's perpetual state of serving one's interests only.