derby weekend

[sharpie]

If the AFL wanted another team in NSW, I reckon the most likely place for it would be Canberra. I would love the derby atmosphere, but I just cant see Sydney supporting a second team srongly enough at present.

If a second team was set up in Sydney, it would be in the western suburbs, but is there a ground suitable around there? Homebush is not really an option, crowds would be far too low to make it sustainable. Look at the NRL, the Bulldogs tried having the huge stadium as their home ground, but that didnt work due to poor crowds.

[Go Swannies]

ACT? Tas? More possible than a Sydney second - but small population base.

[sharpie]

Originally posted by Go Swannies
ACT? Tas? More possible than a Sydney second - but small population base.

I dont think that is really a concern. Perth doesnt have the hugest population, but it easily supports 2 teams, same with Adelaide.

And the brumbies are very well supported during the Super 12 season. There are plenty of sports fans around the ACT, and the Canberra aussie rules league seems to be a decent quality. No reason there wouldnt be plenty of followers of AFL in the region.

[footyhead]

The AFL are already developing a second western Sydney AFL ground, and the word is that is development continues in the west, a second team is being planned by 2010-2015.
Also with the inclusion of AFL being offerd in the GPS's in Sydney, the AFL are expecting a lot more interest and money to come into the sport in Sydney within the next 10 years.


A second Sydney team will happen.

[cos789]

The people who dismiss a second team for Sydney focus on certain issues .
1. The crowds of the Swans as an indicator to likely success .
2. The Roos attempts .
3 .Affordability .

1.When the Swans are going well there is a flow on effect as people want more of their footy fix .
2. Roos made the worst possible effort in attracting supporters when they said they deffinatley weren't movin to Sydney .
3. Any new team will be a relocated team with it's infrastructure intact .You're not really funding an extra team , you're allowing football each week .It should be no harder to run AFL in Sydney weekly than fortnightly .
4. As stated above city derbies are the biggest event on AFL calenders .

[robbieando]

Originally posted by cos789
The people who dismiss a second team for Sydney focus on certain issues .
1. The crowds of the Swans as an indicator to likely success .
2. The Roos attempts .
3 .Affordability .

1.When the Swans are going well there is a flow on effect as people want more of their footy fix .
2. Roos made the worst possible effort in attracting supporters when they said they deffinatley weren't movin to Sydney .
3. Any new team will be a relocated team with it's infrastructure intact .You're not really funding an extra team , you're allowing football each week .It should be no harder to run AFL in Sydney weekly than fortnightly .
4. As stated above city derbies are the biggest event on AFL calenders .

That's easy to say however, it took the Swans the best part of 20 years to settle into Sydney, a new side won't have the advantage we had of an empty market for the code. In Sydney the Swans are the AFL. A new club won't have it easy getting new fans to support them when most already that have an interest in Aussie Rules support the Swans. Its not like the NRL in Brisbane, where there is support out there for a second team of people who hate the Broncos but still love League.

The thing that gets to me about people who are calling for a second side and support the Swans really don't have any idea of how a second club will impact of the Swans off the field. A second club will fight with the Swans for what little minor sponsors that put money into Aussie Rules and remember we aren't flush with sponsorship money at the best of times and a new club will eat away at some of that. If there are fans who do jump ship and support a new side it would in turn possibly effect the Swans Membership figures in Sydney.

But the big question with fan support is if a Victorian club moves up here how many Swans fans would jump across to a side they are already use to hating?? Its not like a Port Adelaide and Fremantle that already had their own supporter base before the clubs joined the AFL. Also of the new Aussie Rules converts in the early days of a second club will start supporting that club if the Swans are topping the ladder and the new team is towards the bottom?

You don't give a city another team if that team is likely not to gain any new fans.

The decision of whether to have a second club in Sydney shouldn't come down to the "need" for a game each week in Sydney or to give the code more exposure nationwide for TV rights partners and league sponsors, but how it effects the Swans and the likelyhood of a second team being a success on and off the park because I'm sure that the AFL wouldn't want to be proping up a new side in Sydney with money left right and center, if it was possible that this new club could harm the Swans at the same time.

Its too early to even suggest a second team is needed when the Swans don't even get over 30,000 people to non glamor games at the SCG. Because if we all know one thing about Sydney-siders is that they love a winner and a BIG event. How many will want anything to do with a new club that isn't winning???