Tasmania United

Foxhawk

posted at 11:02PM on 11th Nov, 2009

I stongly encourage everyone to join this group if it is legit.

We need a voice, what with our state government abandoning a Tasmanian World Cup venue and even being opposed to teams training at the Bellerive or Aurora ovals (as they would disrupt the Tasmanian AFL side) and and other AFL sides playing matches at Bellerive.

The Tas gov't wants AFL games to be in Hobart and Launceston, we are seen as the opposition to that.

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galactica

posted at 9:20AM on 12th Nov, 2009

I agree with your sentiments foxhawk. Can you also direct me to the media releases regarding the state government's decisions on use of BO and YP disruption of training to a Tassie AFL side and also the abandonment of a World Cup venue? I appear to have missed these somehow.

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galactica

posted at 10:16AM on 13th Nov, 2009

You may well be right about the state govt wanting AFL games in Hobart & Launceston and therefore they do not want to push soccer out in front of the AFL. But I think the truth is they have no real intention of using Hobart unless we have our own AFL team which appears to be about 20 years away although there will always be the dreamers who think we can fund a $40million (thats in todays figures) per annum to run a side so these persons will incessantly keep bringing the idea of a stand alone team up into the media, especially with the Mercury hanging on to such a dead concept also ( I suppose they think it sells papers - the reality is it only serves to alienate further those who have absolutely no interest in sport and want finances spent elsewhere). There is a possibility though that we may see a NAB Cup game or even a once yearly AFL roster game in the south over time after grounds receive more upgrading. The difficulty now is that initially the state govt allocated Aussie rules to York Park and ACB matches to Bellerive so Bellerive is missing sufficient seating for AFL at present due to the hill area that they have kept. The real problem is that the timeline for this type of event is on a par with a possible A League entry from Tassie which means there may well be a concerted push by Aussie rules people to advance there desires quicker in competition for what they feel might be a loss of supporter base.

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Foxhawk

posted at 5:03AM on 15th Nov, 2009

Yes I remember the election when they decided to split the funding for Bellerive between both stadiums as Bass was a marginal seat where they needed to win votes. So sad when a party makes major decisions that effect both the economy and the sporting landscape all for the sake of getting an extra bum on a seat in the government.

As for my earlier statement - I spoke directly with a Director in the state government and asked why so little was being released to the media despite our Premier's milking the limelight at functions.

His response was to point out that we would never get a world cup quality stadium when the funds could be used for the upgrading of both Bellerive and Aurora to AFL-quality facilities.

He then added that the best that the current government in Hobart was aiming for was hosting other nations for pre-cup training, however he then went on to explain that by 2018 or 2022 the state either wanted their own AFL side or regular matches at BOTH Aurora and Bellerive by other AFL clubs, and he finalised by saying that if this was ocurring then nations could not be hosted as they would get in the way of AFL activity in Tasmania.

Thank goodness policy changes within parties over time and governments also change. Its a pity that we have such limited time.

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Foxhawk

posted at 5:14AM on 15th Nov, 2009

In my opinion, for Tasmania to host a world cup match some of the following will need to occur;

(Note - some are mandatory, others are prefereble).

The FFA fail in their bids to host the 2018 & 2022 world cups but successfully host the Asian Cup.

Both the 2018 & 2022 World Cups be hosted by non-Asian sides.

Australia Qualify for the 2014 & 2018 World Cups.

TUFC gain an A-League licence and gain a wealthy benefactor.

TUFC win the A-League and perform well in the following Asian Champions League.

Tasmania expand its football community and establish a statewide competition with increased local media coverage.

A TIS-aligned senior academy be established with three campuses, South, North & North-West.

A Tasmanian players makes it big in an overseas competition.

The A-League establish a second tier.

The A-League becomes one of the heavyweights of Asian football.

A benefactor provides for the construction of a quality 40k+ stadium.

A masive change of mindset ocurrs in state parliament.

Should the above occur then we have a good chance.

To be honest - I think even if we had a world cup quality stadium at the moment we could still miss out.

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