2010 World Cup to help ALeague4Canberra bid

Most watched PAY TV program ever!

So the Socceroos are off to another World Cup...and Canberra's A-League bid can only benefit...

There have been a few doubters, naysayers and general moaners when it comes to the prospect of an A-League side in Canberra.

Canberra's Rugby Union and League Administrators have made noises to get the thing blocked if possible. Thus far they've failed.

And even, amazingly to me, some members of Canberra's football fraternity have poo-pooed the idea.

Citing lack of interest, finances, and the Cosmos decline as various spurious reasons for the reasons why a Canberra bid will fail.

Well the Socceroos appearance, now guaranteed in my book, has clearly assisted the Canberra business case and may assist to change some people's views.

Any new business, especially one which significant start-up and running costs will always be focussed on the long-term, profile, growth and success of it's products.

Two things assisted the Canberra A-League business plan on Wednesday night.

Qualification for South Africa 2010 ensures the Socceroos and football will get increasingly positive coverage for the next 18 months or so, enabling the FFA to build on the previous successful years.

This momentum will be transferred to the young players and expect record crowds for various events in the coming couple or years.

That could be a Socceroos game in Melbourne, Sydney or dear old Canberra. And of course the A-League will make headway in Townsville, and Gold Coast and who is to say Robbie Fowler won't bring a record crowd to Sydney for an A-League game.

And expect an increase in registrations among our young people in the coming years as well.

And increasingly the business community are recognising the potential of the game and the connection to the kids, mums and dads and fans. Even a Wall Street Banker could exploit that...and succeed!

Also perhaps equally important for Canberra the record PAY TV viewing audience for any programme was broken on Wednesday night. Over 400,000 with a million tuning in at various times to watch perhaps, Australia's favourite national team. This figure didn't count ANYONE in pubs and clubs.

So the next TV deal will increase,and the current measly $1 million distributed to A-League Clubs could rise to $3 million per year. Enough to cover salaries and more, making any team profitable.

So Canberra A-League can benefit.

The growth of football in the city and region is so strong, aligned to the Socceroos brand, we got 20,000 recently for a Socceroos game, and I'm confident we can match this crowd for our first A-League game.

In fact I think we'll sell it out....and the TV future increased revenue sources aligned to a relatively low salary cap will ensure the games future.

There's a lot of work to be done but there has never been a better time to get a football team in Canberra.

And despite the naysayers none of them has been able to convince me that it can't be done. Indeed most seem hell-bent on destroying the business plan...never mind the dream.

If the numbers add up..we can do it.

And they do.

After Wednesday they just got a whole lot stronger.

With the Socceroos off to the next World Cup, TV viewing audiences continuing to rise, the interest in our game will continue to rise.

Canberra needs to get into the A-League sooner rather than later, to build on the swell of support for the game across the city and the region.

For someone involved with the Canberra bid, Wednesday night gave me many reasons to smile.