Welcome!

By registering with us, you'll be able to discuss, share and private message with other members of our community.

Sign Up Now!

The Western United Thread

HappyGuus said:
Learning that a "Victoria Patriots" Geelong bid became Western United, I've gone on a bit of a search tonight reading into their origin story. Thought I'd paste some links here for anyone else interested in the scam... I mean the bid.

Geelong A-League hopefuls 'will be new Wanderers', says Horvat

Victoria Patriots: Our A-League bid reveals plans for soccer stadium

A-League expansion bid: Simonds Stadium to host A-League football in Geelong if licence granted

Western Melbourne Group secures an A-League licence

Funding behind WMG still a mystery


Some of the gold quotes:








I wonder why they moved away from Geelong??? It surely would've found more than the 3,000 they get at Tarneit.
Click to expand...
Why would you think that? It's not a big city at all
 
They had bigger crowds in Geelong but they werent wanted there, as mentioned above told to beat it. I think the preference would have been Geelong all along, the whole stadium in the west thing was a con from the get go.
 
melbcityguy said:
No stadium to play in Geelong skilled stadium told them to beat it
Click to expand...
southmelb said:
They had bigger crowds in Geelong but they werent wanted there, as mentioned above told to beat it. I think the preference would have been Geelong all along, the whole stadium in the west thing was a con from the get go.
Click to expand...

I remember that Kardinia Park Trust dumped Western United a few years into their life. But why did the Patriots choose to change from Geelong to Tarneit? This was years before Kardinia Park dumped WU, and the articles state that KPT was happy to have the Patriots while the stadium was built in Geelong-Armstrong Creek.
 
HappyGuus said:
I remember that Kardinia Park Trust dumped Western United a few years into their life. But why did the Patriots choose to change from Geelong to Tarneit? This was years before Kardinia Park dumped WU, and the articles state that KPT was happy to have the Patriots while the stadium was built in Geelong-Armstrong Creek.
Click to expand...
Probuild was in discussions with Tarneit at the time of the bid and it all changed councils very rapidly as to where the land was goign to be gifted.

This was always a real estate deal first and football team as a justification to council second....
 
Monoethnic Social Club said:
Probuild was in discussions with Tarneit at the time of the bid and it all changed councils very rapidly as to where the land was goign to be gifted.

This was always a real estate deal first and football team as a justification to council second....
Click to expand...
Ahh. So it was because Geelong council didn't gift them the land first or pulled out? What a bitter disappointment.

I can't say I'm against property development being part of a club, especially in bustling Melbourne. It's worked around the world. But damn Tarneit was a bad choice.

Having other assets and income streams is smart, though. But we're not Saudi or Las Vegas where they can settle people in the desert 😅
 
HappyGuus said:
Ahh. So it was because Geelong council didn't gift them the land first or pulled out? What a bitter disappointment.
Click to expand...
Land was never on offer in Geelong. This bid was always a bit incognito. Never much info, and when there was it was always changing. I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't actually expect to win the bid. Very much a case of "we'll figure it out later". Maybe it would have worked out better if we didn't have such lengthy lock-downs, but who knows.
 
Interesting to read all the posts about Western U's demise.

I'd love them back. Despite their bid being favoured over a Tassie bid.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top