Post no 2:FFA vs AFL: FIFA World Cup is a great marketing opportunity. AFL & NRL will risk missing out!

(Please also refer to the previous blog on this topic posted on 11th December)

The FIFA World Cup will be staged in Australia regardless of short sided panic driven attempts by the likes of Andrew Demetriou to derail Australia's bid. BUT Australia's bid will be successful ONLY IF the GODS want it to be. Here are the 4 major players:

1) Major Group 1: FIFA, the not much loved powerful international body (due to its lax treatment of cheating by players on the field) wants Australia to stage the WC because:

a) FIFA is interested in the untapped markets of INDIA/CHINA in particular & the rest of Asia in general (2/3 of the world population & a fast rising living standards)

b) Its rotation policy will mean that Oceania has to be given a chance as a continent to stage the games now that Africa will be doing so in 2010.

2) Major Group 2: Frank Lowy & the Federal Government: Mr Lowy & Kevin Rudd have worked tirelessly to position Australia as the ideal location to achieve a win win situation for all interested parties & we need their tireless lobbying & support to continue for the next few years. Our bid emphasises:

a) Australia's time zone being closer to Asia's making it easier to reach the untapped Asian TV audiences compared to Europe/USA, and hence better potential advertising revenue (and higher TV rights for FIFA)

b) Australia's infrastructure/political stability (NSW Govt aside!) & track record of successful large events management

3) Major Group 3: the Media giants like News Ltd & multinational sponsors of WC: they see the World Cup in Australia as a giant opportunity for marketing & promotion to football mad Asian audiences. (2006 WC in Germany had an approximate cumulative audience of 24 billion). By 2018/2022 Asia's prosperity means millions more TV sets & potentially 100s of millions of more TV viewers per match

What has to happen is of course agreement amongst all of the above, and reasonable compensation to other codes for altering their seasons for the year when it happens.

The "Poofters, Sheilas, Wogs" strategy by "football haters" in Australia to protect their miserable market share is no longer effective because:

a) Many AFL & NRL fans are second generation Europeans/ethnics of "Soccer loving" parents. These fans would welcome & support the bid for FIFA WC Australia
b) Many younger Aussies now attend soccer matches during their travels around Europe & have been exposed to the great atmosphere of competitive football
c) Internet & Pay TV are fast educating sports fans about football and creating new fans and/or making more Australians less negative or neutral towards football!