Melbourne heart

[xavi6]

This is huge for the landscape of the A-League, a real game changer. We'll rebrand Heart along the lines of NYCFC and immediately push for the salary cap to be increased (which people have been calling for anyway). Heart are shite, they just tied the longest run of games without winning one (20), and badly need a lift. This will give it to them. City have obviously identified the opportunity after United and Liverpool had their big friendlies here last year so it makes perfect sense that this would be the next spot for expansion. Good news for us Oz City fans as we'll get a friendly soon, early rumours are of one in May, so it's hard not to be anything but excited, even though I support my local Perth Glory team.

Pleased for our Oz supporters, you Daz & PBL seem quite excited.....

Questions for the uneducated if any of you wouldn't mind? A-league, how long has it been running? How will the fans/supporters take to being rebranded 'ala' Hull and Cardiff ?

NYCFC is a start up as I understand, just wondering about rebranding an existing club will sit?

It's a good question, and one I've been asked already.

The A-League is in its ninth season but for Heart, it's only their fourth. They've been very average at best so far and struggled to make their mark in a city that all houses the league's biggest team (Melbourne Victory). I think the fans will eventually, if not initially, embrace it and get excited about a fresh start. It's not like 100 years of history are being erased, and they're only being rebranded, not done away with like Gold Coast and North Queensland.

[Herb]

Fuck me - we're like the Borg . . world domination today - universe domination tomorrow - it's fantastic to appreciate the scale of commitment and investment into world football by our owners!

[CTID Hants]

It's a good question, and one I've been asked already. The A-League is in its ninth season but for Heart, it's only their fourth. They've been very average at best so far and struggled to make their mark in a city that all houses the league's biggest team (Melbourne Victory). I think the fans will eventually, if not initially, embrace it and get excited about a fresh start. It's not like 100 years of history are being erased, and they're only being rebranded, not done away with like Gold Coast and North Queensland.

Thanks Xavi,

Sounds like a win-win situation, really hope the Heart fans can embrace it? Out of interest, how is our recent coming to the fore perceived by the Aussie football followers? i.e. Are the non City fans towing the 'buying the league' line or are they fairly agnostic and admiring the breath taking footie we are now playing and embracing us breaking up the Sky 4?

[CTID Hants]

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.

How many prem teams play in red in one some form ;-)

[xavi6]

It's a good question, and one I've been asked already. The A-League is in its ninth season but for Heart, it's only their fourth. They've been very average at best so far and struggled to make their mark in a city that all houses the league's biggest team (Melbourne Victory). I think the fans will eventually, if not initially, embrace it and get excited about a fresh start. It's not like 100 years of history are being erased, and they're only being rebranded, not done away with like Gold Coast and North Queensland.

Thanks Xavi,

Sounds like a win-win situation, really hope the Heart fans can embrace it? Out of interest, how is our recent coming to the fore perceived by the Aussie football followers? i.e. Are the non City fans towing the 'buying the league' line or are they fairly agnostic and admiring the breath taking footie we are now playing and embracing us breaking up the Sky 4?

There's not been much fuss to be honest, the City community is still relatively small here compared to United and Pool. A lot of my mates are English and were pissed a year or two ago but now it's just impossible not to acknowledge that we play super football.

I've just written a piece on the whole Heart thing, might help get a bit more understanding of the move.

http://backpagefootball.com/manchester- ... der/69241/

[dazby]

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.

How many prem teams play in red in one some form ;-)

Adelaide United play in red.

Western Sydney Wanderers play in Milan colours.

Heart red and white.

[phips]

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.

How many prem teams play in red in one some form ;-)

Heart red and white.

ugh

[Ironpot]

Melbourne Storm will continue to own 20%

http://www.theguardian.com/football/201 ... urne-heart

I could understand this one if they played at Docklands (Etihad Stadium) but can't see the commercial sense at the moment.

[xavi6]

Melbourne Storm will continue to own 20%

http://www.theguardian.com/football/201 ... urne-heart

I could understand this one if they played at Docklands (Etihad Stadium) but can't see the commercial sense at the moment.

What do you re: Docklands? It's a horrible stadium for football and AAMI Park is perfect in terms of size and pretty much anything you want.

Commercially, it's about the City branding being embedded into another growing market. Makes sense.

[Socrates]

Change the white stripes to black :)

[Ironpot]

Melbourne Storm will continue to own 20%

http://www.theguardian.com/football/201 ... urne-heart

I could understand this one if they played at Docklands (Etihad Stadium) but can't see the commercial sense at the moment.

What do you re: Docklands? It's a horrible stadium for football and AAMI Park is perfect in terms of size and pretty much anything you want.

Commercially, it's about the City branding being embedded into another growing market. Makes sense.

Sure ... if they change the name to Melbourne City

The big benefit may be in identifying and developing local home grown talent - all the european clubs have scouts here now but unless the player can get a work permit (i.e. through a european-born parent/grandparent) it is very difficult for a youngster to head overseas

[dazby]

I get the feeling that with both this and NYFC, that it's mainly about profile. Shared resources, yes. Player exchange, yes. However, these two clubs (and I'm sure there'll be more) are a sign of the owners flexing their muscles and showing the world how good they are at doing things well. The A League has a wage cap so the benefits for FFP are few. But Etihad fly out of Oz. I'm sure some property/business deal will be done in future.

[xavi6]

Melbourne Storm will continue to own 20%

http://www.theguardian.com/football/201 ... urne-heart

I could understand this one if they played at Docklands (Etihad Stadium) but can't see the commercial sense at the moment.

What do you re: Docklands? It's a horrible stadium for football and AAMI Park is perfect in terms of size and pretty much anything you want.

Commercially, it's about the City branding being embedded into another growing market. Makes sense.

Sure ... if they change the name to Melbourne City

The big benefit may be in identifying and developing local home grown talent - all the european clubs have scouts here now but unless the player can get a work permit (i.e. through a european-born parent/grandparent) it is very difficult for a youngster to head overseas

I'm almost certain they will change the name. City owning a team that plays in red and white?!

Found this funny -

[Ironpot]

Melbourne Storm will continue to own 20%

http://www.theguardian.com/football/201 ... urne-heart

I could understand this one if they played at Docklands (Etihad Stadium) but can't see the commercial sense at the moment.

What do you re: Docklands? It's a horrible stadium for football and AAMI Park is perfect in terms of size and pretty much anything you want.

Commercially, it's about the City branding being embedded into another growing market. Makes sense.

Sure ... if they change the name to Melbourne City

The big benefit may be in identifying and developing local home grown talent - all the european clubs have scouts here now but unless the player can get a work permit (i.e. through a european-born parent/grandparent) it is very difficult for a youngster to head overseas

I'm almost certain they will change the name. City owning a team that plays in red and white?!

Found this funny -

too late!

Melbourne Heart will be renamed Melbourne City FC at the conclusion of the 2013-2014 season, with the club's new ownership keen to bring the A-League team into line with its other properties.

Football Federation Australia (FFA) approved the acquisition of Heart on Thursday, by a consortium led by English Premier League giant Manchester City, in partnership with a group of owners of National Rugby League side Melbourne Storm, in a deal strikingly similar to that which the English club shares with New York Yankees.

In 2013 City, in partnership with the Yankees bought the franchise expansion rights for New York City FC, a Major League Soccer team set to enter that competition in 2015.

Within minutes of the news breaking that a similar partnership has guaranteed the future of Heart, speculation turned to the future of the club's name and identity.

A group called MHFC Holdings Pty Limited lodged a trademark under the name Melbourne City Football club on 16 January 2014.

Sources close to the deal confirmed to The World Game that Heart will change to "Melbourne City FC" in a broader re-branding of the club that will take place at the end of the season.

When contacted by TWG, Storm co-owner Gerry Ryan refused to deny the speculation, saying: "Nothing has been formalised, we are going to have a look at everything in three months' time and take stock then."

http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/news/117 ... lace-Heart

[Pretty Boy Lee]

Great news today. Sat in my b license course and coming back in from lunch everyone was waiting to tell me. City taking over!

Still a roar supporter tho. You can't change clubs.

[Crossie]

Heart sound like an Australian 1990's version of City

Should be a good match

[Blue Since 76]

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

[Socrates]

Melbourne Storm will continue to own 20%

http://www.theguardian.com/football/201 ... urne-heart

I could understand this one if they played at Docklands (Etihad Stadium) but can't see the commercial sense at the moment.

We'll be able to rebill another big block of management costs to help with FFP. We'll be able to build a brand from nearly scratch in an emerging market. We will boost the City brand in that market.

[Ted Hughes]

This is Frank's idea done on a bigger scale.

He planned to do it with academies, the Sheikh has just bought whole football clubs instead.

[Mike J]

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