Same questions were asked when A-league started, fast forward few years and we were getting 50k at Etihad.

Build it properly and the fans will come. We all knew Western United would be a cluster fuck.

How many fans will be down at Avenger Park? 200?

Fast forward another few years and you re no longer getting 50K at Etihad.... In fact some "clubs" are getting crowds reminiscent of the failed NSL from 20 years ago... Is THIS the progress you expected? Is this the "progress" new clubs brouhgt to football in Australia? Or let me guess, its the fault of the broadcaster, the administrators, the security guards cracking down on the "active wannabe groups" , mainstream meadi..... um what else? maybe its still the effniks that are to blame?

Avondale may very well only get 200 fans at the moment but thats in a go-nowhere state league, when they get a chance to play against the best of the best clubs nationally, with an increased audience the will get crowds matching if not beating 4 of the current franchises. 2k isnt that much of an amazing achievement and most other NST clubs will beat that easily.  The last "built" NPL club was in Ballarat their crowds make Avondale look like Real Madrid. 

When the A-League started there was no top flight national league. It was a year an a half between when the NSL ended and the AL started. And for some NSL clubs their fans had to wait even longer to see their team play again. That created a demand for a national comp. People were desperate for something, and it wasn't a hard sell to get them on board. Very different situation now. We have an established professional top tier. People don't follow that in large numbers. They definitely aren't going to get on board 12 rando clubs that were pulled out of the collective arses of some committee. Especially not for a 2nd tier. If I had no team and was looking for a new team, I'm not going to pick the new rando club in div 2 when I can choose the club in div 1 in the same city. Those MV 50k numbers in the early days were because it was shiny and new. MV were giving out free tickets left right and center. Up until AAMI park was built I went to nearly every MV home game and outside of finals, I never bought a ticket. Easy to pack a stadium with free tickets.
You still didn't answer where these 12 magical clubs are going to appear from. Who are these fairy god owners who are going to finance these clubs? There are clubs in div 1 that can't find owners and you think there 12 people are going to just sink cash into a div 2 club and then somehow magic 12 venues into existence. 

The NST application process was open to 'New Clubs' but only 3 showed any interest

FSA combined bid passed the EOI but didn't lodge an RFP, no sign of being interested in the Expansion
Cronulla passed the EOI but didn't lodge an RFP, no sign of being interested in the Expansion
Brisbane United passed the EOI but didn't lodge an RFP, interested in the Expansion

And that is the nub of the issue. You can start something shiny and new at the top level and people will come. You cannot below it. The NST needs the historic clubs there. These clubs will not fold if the NST folds. They have solid foundations and will continue to exist with or without the NST. 

This is why the ALM expansion should only be from outside the existing areas. Canberra, Auckland, Gold Coast, Townsville, Hobart, Dandenong, Gold Coast etc. Hopefully the NST will broaden up before it starts in 2025 and have some entrants other than Sydney and Melbourne.  

2 very sound counter posts fellas I totally agree......

Lets not forget the mention of free ticks, barring the derbies that you always expect to be great numbers free ticks has been the norm for years and years for the random every other game.
So the so called success always has alot of hidden gems people seem to ignore.

Regardless of the free ticks, people still actually made the effort to attend.

it hasn’t saved the league though - if I recall right 5yrs pre covid free ticks didn’t even help.
The casuals and more didn’t care - even so called iron on supporters left in droves, much like NSL once the league staggered and lost its plot.
You could say even they AL didnt learn from previous mistakes for they knew better and most supporters weren’t the so called bitters but the new dawners following a brand for its obvious the love really isn’t there but a fad for many.

So haarling started in the norwegian 2nd division, kagawa played three seasons in the j2 league

what other big players started in 2nd divisions (excluding brazil, arg, england, italy, france, germany and spain given their second teirs are better than most countries first)

A fairly high percentage of current big 5 league players got their senior debuts in 2nd and 3rd division clubs around the world before being signed at an early age to top tier clubs mate.... 

https://tbgaustralia.com/2023/12/04/nst-is-the-fas-chance-to-supercharge-facility-development/

So they have no solution to their venue issue, yet somehow got given the green light?
They have a bunch of options, but none of them are very good.
New Maribyrnong stadium would be nice, but that won't happen before 2025 and as mentioned in the article, not exactly an easy one to get over the line with the council.
Sharing with WU, is kinda weird. Not a club you'd want to be associated with, even if it's just a ground sharing arrangement. Might be fine as a temp solution assuming the Maribyrnong venue gets council approval. 
Merging with Brunswick Juventus. Not sure how well that sits with the fans of either club. 

If any existing club/potential new club  has the $$$ matched with ambition let them in.

Sounds like they do have a solution otherwise they wouldn't have got accepted, it just hasn't been made public.

If it's the Tarneit training ground, that's a Council owned facilty that they can hire, like anyone.  And there's little overlap in Season.

Some bare minimum requirements need to be met though, access to a ground suitable to the level being played at should be one of those at least. I thought the club licensing agreement would have had some sort of requirement that needs to be met?

They've had to have something in place otherwise their inclusion doesn't add up... Im guessing its either Tarneit ground or CB Smith ??????

So,,, now a little over 14 months till kick off, anyone had any news about clubs 9-12? Anything?

Nope, nothing of any real substance. I've heard Knights are fully expecting to be there for season 1 and are in the final stages with FA. However I heard that from someone who mostly just likes there sound of their own voice so no idea how much validity there is there.

I think it was Nick Galatas (but I can't find it) who said the applications would be entertained in the New Year

I don't know if it starts from the EOI or straight to RFP. (George Cross never entered the EOI stage)

a Knights supporter that likes the sound of their own voice ... "well I never" lol

Yep, they definitely have a type.

Bit of a media fluff piece for a sponsor, but: Adelaide city still talking NST, albeit appears they were originally out of the running due to finances. At least they're not in the never pile.

https://www.soccerscene.com.au/adelaide-city-fc-boosted-by-major-sponsorship-with-chemist-warehouse/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

I think there are many clubs both NSL and A League who are looking closely at the National League as they try to see the way forward.

Big sponsor for Juve.... nice.

Well, we can be almost certain the NST will be called The Australian Championship.
https://search.ipaustralia.gov.au/trademarks/search/view/2443020?s=7a42a39e-37d9-4380-a9e4-dcec3bc0757b&sortBy=-ID

Trademark filed a week ago.

:) 

Monoethnic Social Club	Posted Last Week#3108768
Legend Group: Forum Members Posts: 9.4K, Visits: 0	numklpkgulftumch - 15 Apr 2024 10:34 AMnumklpkgulftumch - 15 Apr 2024 10:32 AM P.S No way the name will stay secret that long Hahah thanks for the timer. You're right we'll hear a few things later this week, early next I predict, Ill try and suss out the name for ya, early gossip is Australian Championship .... BTW the sponsor (if true) will blow your mind :)

Football Australia have also registered the domain name www.australianchampionship.com.au

In contrasting colours on the sleeve would look mint :)

I reckon the FA have got this name right.
Going for A2 League or B-League or something along those lines would have been a huge mistake.
Most football people already associate the word 'championship' with 2nd division because of England.
Using the already existing 3-ribbon logo keeps things consistent but also saves a heck of a lot of money by avoiding a full blown branding exercise.
NPL clubs won't even need to change their kit's too much. Literally just replace the words 'national premier leagues' with 'The Australian Championship'.