Melbourne heart

[xavi6]

Sorry for sounding completely ignorant, but is the main reason for doing this to get Manchester Citys name into those markets?

I just dont feel interested in this or NYCFC at all. All im bothered about is City

It's to get the Manchester City Group more known, we're no longer just a single entity.

I don't think they expect City fans to really care about either of the new teams but I'm sure plenty will look out for their results or watch the odd game if some City players go over on loan for example.

It's about getting the Group more widespread and there is a massive market in both areas for growth.

[Tesl]

Sorry for sounding completely ignorant, but is the main reason for doing this to get Manchester Citys name into those markets?

I just dont feel interested in this or NYCFC at all. All im bothered about is City

I think thats fair, if you only care about City then I don't think these developments make much difference.

I've never had any second teams or other teams I support, so in some ways I'm happy seeing us do this only because it gives me some other teams to be interested in also :)

Theres a chance I'll be leaving China soon and maybe living fairly close to NY. If that happens I'd want to be going to see the New York City games for sure! :)

[Wonderwall]

Something about what our owners are doing is endearing too, they didnt just go and buy the biggest and best out there, they created NYCFC and will start from scratch. With Melbourne heart they have taken the team sat at the very bottom of A-League and will build them up.

[Mike J]

Cool, cheers for the answers

[CTID Hants]

Sorry for sounding completely ignorant, but is the main reason for doing this to get Manchester Citys name into those markets?

I just dont feel interested in this or NYCFC at all. All im bothered about is City

As others have mentioned (A) by having Networks out there and making them the best in their respective countries they will effectively be come feeder clubs to us the parent club i.e. the idea being we get access to the best players to come to Manchester (B) Will in theory help with the FFP as the parent club we get to bill them for the costs associated with running the club i.e. the cost of the directors etc would be invoiced 3 ways so MCFC (the only one affected by FFP) will be paying a third of these costs that can be shared? (C) Also with FFP they will probably "bundle" any sponsorship deals so that all 3 clubs will have identical sponsors which MCFC will be paid even more for than they are now? (D) the NYCFC and Aussie fans will help build MCFC's fan base by association increasing shirt sales etc.

I am sure there will be other benefits too, it doesnt mean that i will "support" the Melbourne team nor the NYCFC, but i will keep an eye out every now and then to see how things are going.

[nottsblue]

This is how it feels to be City.
This is how it feels to be small.
We own three clubs
You're gonna win fuck all

Like

[dazby]

Incidentally, last night on our version of sky sports, in the half hour bulletin there were 3 stories about the takeover. No coverage whatsoever of the league cup semi.

Interesting.

[Dubaimancityfan]

We'll have to wait and see about that. The A-League has been going for 8 seasons now. The Heart have been going for 4? They wear red and white stripes a la Sunderland but their away strip is a red sash and looks the dogs danglies. Sydney FC already wear sky blue so I don't expect them to be rebranded.

I'm currently in Sydney and went last week to see Sydney FC play Central Coast. My family in Sydney are big SFC supporters and my younger brother is actually a financial sponsor of Del Pierro (complete with his own private suite which we used on that night) and taking into consideration that they wear the famous Light Blue, I have become a supporter by default ! It would have been perfect if City had taken over Sydney FC ! I hear that they actually did make some approaches to SFC owner but he didn't bite.
This can only be good for Aussie footbal (which is now official, it's no longer soccer !). The standard is still very modest compared to European football but it's moving in the right direction. The SFC fans were as loud and vocal as any PL home side would be.16,000 attended this match which for a normal league match is quite good by any standards. I hear that the Melbourne derby (can't name the other side now !!) attracts 80,000 !!
As they say down hear, good on ya City !

[xavi6]

I hear that the Melbourne derby (can't name the other side now !!) attracts 80,000 !!

Not quite, 45,000 at most, but your point still stands.

Melbourne Victory v Melbourne City has the potential to be a massive derby shown worldwide, and there's three of them a season.

[Blackadder]

The world expansion of the brand combined with the arrival of the world's best football training facility late this year is certain to make City the most attractive club in the world for young players to aspire to join.

Not all the youngsters we attract are going to make it in Manchester but the decent ones will have a fair chance of carving out an entire career across the world whilst still being a 'City' player.

We become an even more attractive proposition for players in their peak years. They can star for us for a few years, then have a few Indian summers in Oz or the USA before continuing to work for the club somewhere in a scouting, coaching or management role.

It's mind blowing and very very clever. Watch out for deals popping up in Japan, China, Malaysia and South America over the next 18 months. Even Brechin City might be in with a chance of a takeover.

[Ironpot]

It is clever. Australian talent is nurtured very carefully and the facilities at the Australian Institute of Sport are brilliant. The scouts are shit scared of missing another Viduka or Kewell coming through due to work permit restrictions. One Viduka every few years will pay for the whole deal.

[Pretty Boy Lee]

Incidentally, last night on our version of sky sports, in the half hour bulletin there were 3 stories about the takeover. No coverage whatsoever of the league cup semi. Interesting.

Noticed that, tuned in for a laugh and no dice on the shoot out.

[Dubaimancityfan]

I hear that the Melbourne derby (can't name the other side now !!) attracts 80,000 !!

Not quite, 45,000 at most, but your point still stands.

Melbourne Victory v Melbourne City has the potential to be a massive derby shown worldwide, and there's three of them a season.

Thanks mate. Your figure sounds more realistic. I think Socceroos home matches attract crowds of 60,000 plus ?

[patrickblue]

According to some guy they interviewed om talkshite (Aussie football expert of some sort), rumour is that Shanghai is next.

[Socrates]

According to some guy they interviewed om talkshite (Aussie football expert of some sort), rumour is that Shanghai is next.

China would be my best guess too...

Press conference with Sun Jihai coming soon lol

[xavi6]

I hear that the Melbourne derby (can't name the other side now !!) attracts 80,000 !!

Not quite, 45,000 at most, but your point still stands.

Melbourne Victory v Melbourne City has the potential to be a massive derby shown worldwide, and there's three of them a season.

Thanks mate. Your figure sounds more realistic. I think Socceroos home matches attract crowds of 60,000 plus ?

The big ones attract the numbers alright but your average game against Oman and the like would only get 25,000-30,000 in the 90,000 ANZ Stadium. Part of the problem is playing almost every big game in Sydney, after awhile it becomes the norm and not as exciting so fans stop going.

Melbourne is the sporting capital of Oz though so I think this will be a big success.

The Financial Review here is reporting that City will play in both Brisbane and Melbourne in May which would be great for exposure.

[Dameerto]

According to some guy they interviewed om talkshite (Aussie football expert of some sort), rumour is that Shanghai is next.

China would be my best guess too...

Press conference with Sun Jihai coming soon lol

It depends what our intention is - I think we are aiming to have a club in each of the major geographic regions that the world is divided into for domestic club purposes, and the Sheikh already owns a club that falls into the 'Asia' category (which includes China). In fact only two of the six regions are still open to us (assuming we want one club in each) - Africa and South America. South Africa seems like the obvious choice for its region in terms of having the most developed league in Africa (and one that attracts Premier league clubs such as ourselves in preseason matches) - as for South America my head says Brazil due to it's population and emerging market status, but my heart says Argentina simply BECAUSE.

Obviously the Sheikh personally owns Al Jazira whilst Melbourne and New York are owned/controlled by Man City so this might have some influence on whether City can own a club in the same region as Al Jazira. I'm not familiar with the rules to be honest.

[Socrates]

According to some guy they interviewed om talkshite (Aussie football expert of some sort), rumour is that Shanghai is next.

China would be my best guess too...

Press conference with Sun Jihai coming soon lol

It depends what our intention is - I think we are aiming to have a club in each of the major geographic regions that the world is divided into for domestic club purposes, and the Sheikh already owns a club that falls into the 'Asia' category (which includes China). In fact only two of the six regions are still open to us (assuming we want one club in each) - Africa and South America. South Africa seems like the obvious choice for its region in terms of having the most developed league in Africa (and one that attracts Premier league clubs such as ourselves in preseason matches) - as for South America my head says Brazil due to it's population and emerging market status, but my heart says Argentina simply BECAUSE.

Obviously the Sheikh personally owns Al Jazira whilst Melbourne and New York are owned/controlled by Man City so this might have some influence on whether City can own a club in the same region as Al Jazira. I'm not familiar with the rules to be honest.

Fair points but cannot see A-League being that big in China anytime soon and this may be a market we would like to impact on directly?

[Dameerto]

I have a feeling that the move is as much about political influence as anything else. Which is why I wouldn't be surprised to see us with one club in each region. As for Oceania it may have come down to either New Zealand or Australia, with Australia being the more attractive choice.

[BlueinBosnia]

According to some guy they interviewed om talkshite (Aussie football expert of some sort), rumour is that Shanghai is next.

China would be my best guess too...

Press conference with Sun Jihai coming soon lol

It depends what our intention is - I think we are aiming to have a club in each of the major geographic regions that the world is divided into for domestic club purposes, and the Sheikh already owns a club that falls into the 'Asia' category (which includes China). In fact only two of the six regions are still open to us (assuming we want one club in each) - Africa and South America. South Africa seems like the obvious choice for its region in terms of having the most developed league in Africa (and one that attracts Premier league clubs such as ourselves in preseason matches) - as for South America my head says Brazil due to it's population and emerging market status, but my heart says Argentina simply BECAUSE.

Obviously the Sheikh personally owns Al Jazira whilst Melbourne and New York are owned/controlled by Man City so this might have some influence on whether City can own a club in the same region as Al Jazira. I'm not familiar with the rules to be honest.

Fair points but cannot see A-League being that big in China anytime soon and this may be a market we would like to impact on directly?

Wouldn't that be a massive clash of interests when it comes to the AFC Champions League, though?