Sydney FC ran their first Member Forum for 2018 at the SCG on Monday night with a variety of topics discussed in an informative and insightful evening.
Hearing from Chairman Scott Barlow, CEO Danny Townsend and COO Adam Santo, Sydney FC Members had the opportunity to discuss all facets of the club moving forward.
See below the summaries from the evening:
Sydney FC Chairman Scott Barlow’s Address:
- We’ve had many successes onfield over the past 12 months, trophies, records, awards etc
- 2017/18 Hyundai A-League at top of the table 7 points clear, and Westfield W-League poised to make the finals for the 10th year in row.
- Academy won club championship by 45 points, with +291 goal difference.
- Record number of Members, holiday clinic attendees and sponsorship revenues – driving toward first ever break even point in club’s history.
- Our total club revenue is set to surpass Melbourne Victory and become largest club commercially in the A-League.
CEO Danny Townsend’s Address:
- Six key Strategic Focuses for the club over the next 12 months: facilities (stadia and elite performance centre), community/football association partnerships, organisation and staff, player transition strategies, creation of female academy and counter tactics for the southern A-League expansion.
- Stadium Displacement Survey summary:
- THE OPTION OF HAVING THE SCG HOST THE MAJOR FIXTURES WITH ONE OTHER HOME GROUND WAS ALMOST 2X MORE PREFERRED THAN ANY OTHER SCENARIO, HOWEVER THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE SWAY RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN NOT HAVING THE RESPONDENTS PREFERRED STADIUM CHOSEN.
- THE SCG WAS THE MOST POPULAR VENUE PREFERENCE FOR MEMBERS WITH 49%.
- LEICHHARDT OVAL (46%) AND JUBILEE OVAL (40%) RATE AS THE MOST PREFERRED STADIUMS AMONG THE LOCALISED VENUES.
- AN ANALYSIS ON THE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF LEICHHARDT OVAL INDICATES THAT THERE IS A LEVEL OF RISK AROUND THE PROXIMITY OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT TO THE VENUE AND ALSO THE PERCEIVED INABILITY TO CAPACITATE LARGER CROWDS DURING BIG MATCHES. ALSO ONLY ACCOMODATING SEATING FOR 3000 MEMBERS IS A MAJOR ISSUE. CONVERSELY, JUBILEE OVAL PERFORMS STRONGER ACROSS ALL THESE ATTRIBUTES.
- Results have come back in line with initial thoughts of club management, which essentially allows us to narrow potential A-League venues down to three.
- Further feasibility work has commenced to analyse pros and cons of each proposed venue: SCG, Leichhardt Oval and Kogarah Oval.
- SCG ranks strongly in relation to capacity, public transport and venue services, and poor in relation to pitch quality and viewing and proximity to the ground.
- Leichhardt ranks strongly in relation to viewing and proximity to ground, quality of pitch and light rail, but poor in seating capacity, parking, train and bus facilities, and football and corporate facilities.
- Kogarah ranks strongly in capacity to host larger matches, viewing and proximity to ground, playing surface, train access, but poor in bus access and parking and sheltered seating.
- Sydney FC are looking into an approach that considers the following priority order of capacity matches: Sydney Derbies, Big Blues, School/ Public Holiday matches and other and needs to take into consideration where each listed facility ranks in relation to criteria for those matches.
- Sydney FC will also be looking to share content across the club to other venues not selected as preferred home A-League venues. FFA Cup, W-League, NYL etc.
AFC Champions League Memberships are now available! Purchase yours and be at Sydney Football Stadium for our three blockbuster Group Stage clashes as we go on our #QuestToBeTheBest! Click here to secure your seats.
