The VFL were trying to introduce aussie rules to the US West Coast in the 1930s.
This continued long term obsession is sad and pathetic.
But as you say it keeps the deluded devotees back home impressed.
And it doesn't end there.....
When Andrew Demetriou was the chief honcho at the AFL he would often speak about expansion into Asia, particularly into Japan....
The AFL’s grand plan to conquer the land of the rising sun was the ultimate corporate fever dream.. .
A cocktail of whiteboard synergy and pure, unadulterated hubris!
Demetriou looked at a country obsessed with baseball, soccer and to some extent rugby union and thought....
"What they really want is a chaotic game played on a massive cricket oval that doesn't exist in Tokyo."
That be Tokyo, the most expensive property market in Asia, where buying a plot of land to fit in a footy or cricket oval would probably cost the thick end of A$1billion!!!
Same again and some for the actual stadium build!!
The entire strategy relied on a map and a clock convincing themselves that sharing a time zone meant Japanese corporate giants would magically line up to pour millions into broadcasting a sport they’d never heard of....
Naturally, the reality check hit hard. Outside of a few expats punting a sherrin around on muddy rugby pitches, Japan didn't bite.
The grand crusade eventually whimpered into a brief, heavily subsidised stunt in China, where traveling Australian tourists outpopulated the locals....
So the AFL quietly packed its bags and realised that maybe. just maybe...they should try selling football to Tasmania first.
It turns out that convincing an entire foreign nation to adopt an insular, century-old colonial game requires a bit more than a sleek PowerPoint presentation and a dream.
footballuslife.blogspot.com
we all we're too busy partying haha
