New National Rugby League side Cronulla Sharks CEO Lyall Gorman "believes the club can own the next A-League franchise" and said that it could be ready for the '17 season when Football Federation Australia "is expected to expand the competition," according to Michael Chammas of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD.
Gorman is not "afraid to dream big and believes an A-League franchise is a logical option to help build the Sharks brand."
While Gorman "has held only preliminary discussions with the club's powerbrokers over the prospect of entering a Sharks A-League team, he is confident a team could be up and running in time for the 2017-18 A-League season." Gorman: "Absolutely it can be ready. That's a conversation with the board to have within the Sharks, but you own your own ground, it's rectangular, you're in the heartland of the participation base. I have no doubt if the board thought it was the appropriate thing to do, time wouldn't be a challenge." Despite rejecting interest from the NRL Penrith Panthers to purchase the Western Sydney Wanderers last year, FFA CEO David Gallop "is open to interest from the Sharks given there are sporting organisations around the world that have enjoyed success with teams in multiple codes, like the Seattle Seahawks and Seattle Sounders in the NFL and MLS competitions." Remondis Stadium, which is owned by the Sharks, "is currently used about 12 times a season for NRL," costing the club A$50,000 ($41,500) per match in maintenance and utilities, as well as another A$70,000 in operational costs.
Gorman said that "it was important for the business to get the most out of the venue." Gorman:
"If you own a venue today, you want content. The venue the L.A. Galaxy use is used 275 times a year. To make stadiums viable, you always need content" (SMH, 12/8).
