April 20th
ABL Commish to Visit Expansion Sites
Today reported Joe Knutz sat down with the ABL's competition committee chair Stefan Albright. Albright said that both he and the commissioner would be visiting expansion sites this summer during the AABL season. At each site, a group representing the city, licencors, and support groups, will be charged to build and present their bid for a potential expansion license. Albright and each clubs officals have stated the goal to continue growth to 16 teams before the end of the 2030s decade. Albright referenced MLS expansion in late 10s and 20s as their goal to strengthen, deepen, and continue to expand the league in hopes of providing opportunities for Australian players.
The ABL has said they have the following preliminary schedule which seems to outline each potentially serious candidate:
- May 3rd - West Sydney - NSW
- May 4th - Wollongong - NSW
- May 6th - Central Coast - NSW
- May 9th - Ipswich - QLD
- May 10th - Logan - QLD
- May 12th - Hobart - TAS
- May 14th - South Melbourne - VIC
- May 15th - West Melbourne - VIC
- May 18th - Townsville - QLD
- May 20th - Cairns - QLD
- May 23rd - Port Moresby
- May 25-May 29 - Baseball New Zealand
- June 1st - Darwin - NT