Kardinia Park Trust boss Michael Brown pushes Geelong’s A-League case

GEELONG “is ready” to join the A-League, a key player in any potential license bid believes.

Kardinia Park Trust interim boss Michael Brown said he is yet to meet those behind Geelong’s push for an A-League club, but was keen to work closely with them if they decide to pull the trigger on a bid.

Simonds Stadium, which is managed by the Trust, looms as the jewel in the crown of Geelong’s potential submission to FFA once the expansion framework is announced next month.

Brown’s support comes after an overwhelming show of support from locals voting on an Geelong Advertiser online poll.

A staggering 80.55 per cent of the 1301 voters said they believed Geelong should be given its own A-League team when the competition is expanded in time for the 2018/19 season.

“Without question (Geelong could host an A-League club),” Brown said.

“I don't know the demographic sizes, but I would have thought (we would be up in the same space as) Newcastle, Central Coast (Mariners) and to some degree Wellington.

“It’s a call for the people who make a bid, but we would want to showcase Kardinia Park.

“We would want to showcase the facility and demonstrate not only can it deal with the players with the surface, but it can manage a good crowd.

“I think Geelong is ready. I look forward to meeting those people (behind the bid) and working with them to advance the opportunity of hosting an A-League team down here.”

Those behind Geelong’s A-League push have been happy to remain in the shadows, but have held meetings with FFA to get an gauge on feelings towards expansion into the region.

But there is also competition from cricket with a Geelong consortium also flagging an interest in joining an expanded Big Bash League once its current broadcast rights deal expires.

Brown said it was crucial Simonds Stadium had a summer entertainment offering for the community.

“Government has recognised the value of regional Victoria in terms of major events,” he said

“It’s highlighted Geelong as one of those with cricket and soccer and other things that go on.

“We have just got to keep taking that opportunity to move things out of Melbourne and will benefit a huge community.

“The Trust now, as it takes over from council, has to work with the (Geelong Football Club) to make sure we have a winter and a summer package that makes everybody happy.”

Just over 14,000 people walked through the gates for Melbourne Victory’s summer blockbuster against Newcastle last week at Simonds Stadium.

It was the last of Victory’s three game deal for A-League to be played in Geelong.

The ground is also set to host a Twenty20 International next month between Australia and Sri Lanka.

“I intend for us to be ambitious over the next 12 months (with the events we are trying to attract),” Brown said.

“Geelong has had its challenges with business and whatever, but sport has been an integral part in the community.

“To be able to connect the stadium with those over time and play a bigger role for the people of Geelong, I think that’s a really important consideration.”

http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/sport/local-sport/kardinia-park-trust-boss-michael-brown-pushes-geelongs-aleague-case/news-story/e755c9e2f2475614e4e58a0eddf3a632

I hope if they get in that MV retain their fans in Geelong also. It's good for competition in the play ground.

Positive quotes.

Really hoping Geelong and SM both get the nod along with Shire. Either SM or Geeloong would be a worthy replacement for WP.

The only way geelong doesnt get it is if the bbl moves in first, victorian isnt getting 2 more teams.

No ovals.

My gut feel is big bash will beat us to Geelong and it will be an enormous success.

so no more rectangular stadium south of the cit then

The big bash will be a success anywhere, 4-5 games in Geelong every summer will sell out, the question is which one is likely to be more viable? you would think it's the team that plays for only 6-7 weeks per year,

Kardinia park or simmonds stadium, which is it? If they're one and the same then an oval is hardly a jewel in the crown ffs

Yeah same thing. Kardinia Park was the original name, Simmonds (volume builders of ugly houses) sponsor.

Kardinia Park is actually the name of the entire sporting complex (which in the days before stadium sponsors transferred to the stadium itself).

My personal fave (positive quote):

" I would have thought (we would be up in the same space as) ........., Central Coast (Mariners) ."""""

Lol. So when i say it or leo does its blasphemy. Its disrepectul and unprofessional.  But its a positive if they say it themselves. Couldn't make this shit up.

Another nothing fluff piece from geelong, and pretty misleading to the layman too. Wow 14000 walked through the gate? (Negligible sample size of only 107 surveyed, 69 from melb, 13 of 38 locals are mv or city fans) A "staggering" 81% of 1000 people... Yeah thats 800 people.

GEELONG “is ready” to join the A-League,.......and the jewel in their crown is an AFL stadium? Is this a joke? How is a massively oversized AFL oval a good idea. He cares less about the health of the league and more about how important it is to have the rent paid at kardinia park when the footy isnt on... and all off of the back of a club that is "up in the same space as CCM".

Sombody just put a bullet in the league now.

if you're listening/watching ABC, they don't use sponsors names

Also when 'clean' stadiums needed    eg for Asian Cup or World Cup Qualifiers

Suncorp = Lang Park 

ANZ = Olympic stadium

Allianz = SFS etc

My gut feel is that the FFA know they need to get in there first and thus will ensure it is in asap rather than wait till 13 or 14th team. If it doesn't go in next, it wont go in at all. 

Does the A-League need to get into Geelong at all? Seems like the only thing going for it is the proximity to Melbourne, in which case another Melb team would make more sense.

It doesnt, but the ffa are probably salivating over having another afl/nrl venue join the a league ranks. I doubt cricket australia gives a rats whether or not the town gets a bbl team or not, meanwhile the ffa have probably hand picked the geelong consortium themselves. 

The only thing that annoys me from the outset is that it doesnt really appear like it will be a genuine football related bid, the stadium boss just wants summer sport of any kind there.

I think even if a BBL team goes in there after us it'll still be a success. 

I dont think having both is realistic, geelong would struggle to support 3 teams, a bbl team would force a cricket pitch into the stadium for at least 2 months, would be a joke

That's why a potential Geelong HAL team needs a small rectangular stadium. Doesn't look like it's going to happen. You can see them coming in, playing at the footy oval then getting a nice shaft from the Kardinia Park Trust the minute Cricket Australia puts a BBL side in there. We'll have Geelong playing on a Friday night in front of 10,000 people on a pitch worse than what Brisbane dished up the other week, with fans in the crowd using binoculars to see the game as well.

Pretty much, except its more likely to be 4-5k

Not with the "jewel of the crown" on offer.

100% agree w the rest of your post also.

Well theyve now themselves admitted that they will be a ccm..or phoenix....

5k is generous. 

Who is this mystery bid team?

You have this guys statements. Then you have the Cats Ceo saying they should take games to Ballarat or Bendigo or something.

Lol. Yeah whats with all the cloak and dagger. This is the second time theyve trotted out the "theyre happy to remain in the shadows" BS.... dafuqs up with that? Not exactly shouting from the rooftops.

"Then you have the Cats Ceo saying they should take games to Ballarat or Bendigo or something."
Yeah he said places ive never even heard of in the last article...

lol, HM twisting quotes and taking any chance he gets for his club and himself to play the victim. You can set your watch by it.

Leo's words were: "Geelong will end up being another central coast mariners disaster. They are not even close to being ready."

Apples and oranges. And yes, definitely disrespectful and unprofessional.

"Geelong will end up being another central coast mariners disaster. They are not even close to being ready."
Point to which part of this statement is wrong. Straight shooter old leo. Even if he did plaigarise me.

And who is leo being disrepectul to..A phantom bidder who wont come out of the shadows? Lol. Or to people who unashamedly sell us an oversized afl oval (for a self professed CCM/Phoenix mark II) like we're dumb... Or ccm who in any other country in the world would've been relegated by now. Just sayin.

Ps. If you want me to admit that leo is unprofessional then you have to admit FFAs whole expansion and bidding process is one big disrespectful and unprofessional sham. Lol. 

The latter point was never in question. It is a sham system. The FFA will back engineer the criteria around whatever they wanted in the first place once they've seen the bids.

The ffa is probably putting the bid team together as we speak thats why we dont know anything about it. Most likely doing the same in south sydney.