Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Feasibility study into Tasmanian A-League team officially released


Photo (L-R): John McGirr, Brian Downes and Martyn Wells, members of the Tasmania United A-League Taskforce, at today's media conference

The Tasmania United A-League Taskforce released the feasibility study into their bid for a Tasmanian A-League team at a media conference this morning at The Old Woolstore in Hobart.

The feasibility study was carried out by Melbourne firm Stratcorp and is available at:

www.development.tas.gov.au/sportrec/

www.tasmaniaunited.com.au

The 70-page document was handed out to the media representatives in attendance.

The key points of the document are:

  • The study clearly demonstrates demand for an A-League team
  • An A-League team is a sustainable financial entity in its own right in the short to medium term
  • There would be considerable socio-economic benefits for Tasmania in having an A-League team
  • There is a good state-wide support base, an indication of a solid state-wide membership base, and potential strong community involvement
  • York Park (Aurora Stadium) and Bellerive stadia are acceptable to FFA and both venue managements are supportive of hosting matches
  • A recommendation that a youth team plays from the first season, providing a much-needed career pathway for juniors

The chairman of the Taskforce, John McGirr, said that a number of potential sponsors would be approached to finance the Tasmania team.

When asked whether the sheikh, who had been touted earlier as the main backer for the bid, had agreed to be involved, Mr Girr said that the Taskforce had not actually talked with the sheikh but that negotiations were being conducted by a 'third party'.

He said that a delegation from the Taskforce would visit Dubai to hold talks with the Sheikh once negotiations had developed further and if the sheikh expressed interest in supporting the team.

McGirr said the attendances are likely to average between 8,000 and 14-15,000 per game and it was recommended that 7 games be played in Launceston and six in Hobart per season.

$8 million would be spent in the first season with a 23-man squad and five coaches and four key support staff.

The CEO would attract a salary package of $300,000 per annum.

The report also states that "...it may be difficult for Tasmania United FC to gain the 12th license [sic]. If, however, Tasmania United FC was overlooked for the 12th license [sic], the FFA has indicated that they may expand the competition to 13 or 14 teams in the short to medium term. Formally bidding for the 12th license [sic] now is likely to enhance Tasmania's chances of gaining a future license [sic] if unsuccessful at this stage".

9 comments:

Unknown said...

Good work to everyone involved. Let's hope FFA sit up and take notice of this!

I for one will be supporting the whole bid, plus a team if we get it. We need better pathways for coaches, players and referees all the way up...and this can only help!

Dmitri Nester said...

Any news on when the north vs south squads will be announced for pre-match to A-league.

They are leaving it a bit late this year?

Chuq said...

Interestingly enough, I see the naysayers have kept out of this one, perhaps now that there are 70 pages of facts and figures supporting the bid! Great work TUFC!

jerrie kruijver said...

chuq,if you actually read the complete comments of the socalled naysayers you would realise there no naysayers.all we did was point out the negative effects on our existing football,if i go by walters figures of attendances at premier league games we barely make 500 people that watch the whole competition.also personally i am on record in this blog of stating often we have talent galore here,as the youth games proved.again i say mike mckenna is spot on.

Chuq said...

Fair point Jerrie, but I don't think SPL crowds have much relevance. We might get 500 to SPL games but we also get 6k-8k to A-League pre-season matches. The same as we get 2k to TSL games and 15-17k to Hawthorn matches, or under 1k to state one-day cricket games but 5k to state Twenty20 games and 16k to internationals.

The market research shows that 50% of Tasmanians have said they would attend one or more match in the first year. The exact calculations are in the PDF, but this works out to averages of 9k in Launceston and 15k in Hobart. (This assumes no-one attends more than one game, no-one attends games more than 50k away from them, and no interstate visitors.) A great result!

jerrie kruijver said...

chuq,i simply fear that those few that pay to watch premier league will save their pennies to go and watch aleague.the backbone of tassie football is not the elite but the thousand or so net very talented plodders that play their hearts out every weekend.they are the ones that keep fft and tassie football financial with their fees etc.they deserve a lot better then rhe shabby treatment they get now

jerrie kruijver said...

all that aside chuq i love to see our best talent get every chance to shine

Chuq said...

I always thought the players played for the fun of it - not for the crowds. I wouldn't have expected the people watching Premier League to stop doing so because there was an A-League team. TUFC's statement that they will take on a Youth team from the first year (it is optional for the first two years) shows that they are willing to assist in providing a link for our players from state leagues to the national league.

jerrie kruijver said...

chuq it would be a real benefit if the aleague bid took on an existing tasmanian club that still had teams playing right thru all the tassie leagues,by all means they have to spend money to buy a league standard players but at the same time they would get to see all best tassie players week in week out.that way there would be a direct benefit to tassie football,provided we have a state league.just imagine the benefit it would be to tassie football if they took on a northern club in an area that needs the growth.that way it would benefit tassie football as a whole.