The New Format

[SydneyFC]

The eight foundation clubs:

Sydney: Sydney FC

Adelaide: Adelaide United FC

Auckland: Kingz Football Club

Brisbane: Queensland Lions SC

Gosford: Central Coast Mariners

Melbourne: Melbourne Victory Consortium

Newcastle: Newcastle United

Perth: Perth Glory SC

All of these will get a 5 year license.


The key elements of the new national competition are:

* It will be called A-League and its major sponsor is Hyundai.
* It will involve eight privately owned clubs with one team per city.
* It will involve a team from Gosford for the first time.
* It will commence in August 2005; 21 rounds and, top four finals series in February 2006.
* Clubs will have a roster of 20 players and a salary cap of $A1.5million.
* Total crowds are forecast at one million – averaging 10,000 a game.
* Teams will play in some of the best sporting venues in Australia.
* A financial turnover of $A50million in year one.

Looks very positive and uplifiting. Hope everyone gets out their and supports their local teams. Personally I dont see how it will fail.

For me 4 key concepts will be the reasons for it to succeed.

1) Not ethnic based clubs anymore - Clubs will attract everyone in an area as apposed to one community.
2) Less teams means only the best quality players will be on show this will lead to better quality football.
3) New faces mean the old corrupt 'guard' is out. I'd imagine the replacements would be honest.
4) Firmer control by the ASA on clubs and the league

Go on A-League, Go on Football in Australia
Support Your Teams.

(btw Auckland Kingz is very lame)

[Tancred]

Times and terms can change aplissoshit.
20 Years ago the AFl was just a southern Sport (and in many ways it still is). For many Association Football will always be Football and who knows what changes will happen in the future.

[Nedstaaa]

I personally dont care if they continue to call it soccer. Its a minor issue, and if we're to broaden the base of the game then calling it by a different name to the masses is IMO pointless. Its good to gradually get people calling it Football, but there shouldnt be any official push.

[Giallorosso]

Nedstaaa said:

I personally dont care if they continue to call it soccer. Its a minor issue, and if we're to broaden the base of the game then calling it by a different name to the masses is IMO pointless. Its good to gradually get people calling it Football, but there shouldnt be any official push.

The name Sydney FC suggests that the backers of our bid want it to be known as football, quite possibly to rival the other codes in the state.

[SydneyFC]

I prefer football. It more realistic to our game and it sounds classy which is exactly what football is. But it is menial in the scheme of things..