The Canberra A-League bid "started searching for suitable locations for a team training base" to form part of its final proposal to secure an expansion license to join the competition at the end of next year, according to Chris Dutton of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. It is understood bid officials spoke to the Australian Institute of Sport about "availability and use of training fields at the Bruce campus as well as investigating options for a commercial headquarters." The plans for a training base "will form an important part of the bid" to be submitted by Aug. 31, while negotiations have started with the ACT government about "securing a deal to play games at Canberra Stadium." More than 2,500 people have signed up as foundation members for the Canberra A-League side and the bid team "launched a call-to-arms to recruit volunteers to give them a physical presence in the capital." Bid organizers will "delay choosing" a team name, colors and logo until they find out "if it is successful," but decisions on where the team will train and where the head office will be "have to be fast-tracked" (SMH, 7/18).
