MVFC Blog

Five of Melbourne’s professional sporting teams have joined forces to create TEAMelbourne, which is kind of like Team America, except not. The Melbourne Victory have not signed up. Why not?

According to TEAMelbourne’s website, the group aims “to create valued benefits for member clubs and stakeholders by strengthening business, membership, partnerships and community relationships.” Seamus Pike, director of the NBL’s Melbourne Tigers, appears quite over-the-moon about the whole prospect: “I’ve been a believer in TEAMelbourne since day one, I think it’s an innovative concept and it’s great to see it finally coming to fruition… The teaming up of Melbourne ’s iconic sporting clubs is a bold and visionary move.”

Innovative concept? Bold and visionary move? Iconic sporting clubs? Why isn’t the Melbourne Victory part of this group?

Geoff Miles says that Melbourne Victory is “a very young club, only two years old and we’re still endeavouring to establish our identity in our own right in a very competitive market.” And as the Herald Sun pointed out yesterday, the Victory is doing quite well on its own at the moment, considering last year’s stadium busting crowds and A-League triumph. The Sun also suggested that the Melbourne Victory might be trying to avoid alienating certain fans based on their allegiance in the other football:

“Nor does it make sense to be getting into bed with one AFL club when one of the key elements of its box-office success has been — to the surprise of many — its popularity with footy fans from all clubs.”

Has the Victory missed a valuable opportunity, or is it a better idea to go it alone?