FFA unveil A-League rebrand for next season as football bids to build on increased ratings

FOR the first time since its launch in 2005, the A-League will be rebranded next season — with club-specific logos used for the first time.

FOR the first time since its launch in 2005, the A-League will be rebranded next season — with club-specific logos used for the first time.

Months after the season was launched with the successful “You Gotta Have a Team” campaign, featuring 10-year-old Yoshi, The Daily Telegraph can reveal that the A-League, W-League and National youth League will share a common identity from the next campaign in a bid to affirm the significance of all three.

In what football chiefs believe is a unique twist, the new logo will be adapted to take in each club’s colours when used on merchandise and playing kits.

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The A-League’s new logo and club-specific branding design.

FFA has over the past 18 months put the A-League and a focus on women’s football at the forefront of its long-term strategy, with the A-League clubs viewed as the “engine room” of the sport in terms of driving revenue and awareness.

FFA CEO David Gallop said Sydney FC chairman Scott Barlow and his Melbourne City counterpart, Simon Pearce, were involved in the creation of the new design, that comes weeks after FFA signed a new $350m TV deal with Fox Sports.

How the new logo will look on club jerseys.

“The logo design is inspired by football’s three outstanding features — atmosphere, diversity and unity,” Gallop said.

“Our fans create a wonderful atmosphere, we are part of the biggest sport in the world and there’s a place for everyone to become involved.

“This is the perfect time to update our look and use the same logo across the board, especially to reinforce football’s ongoing commitment to women’s football by connecting the A-League with the W-League.”

The new look comes after FFA accepted the need to re-energise the domestic football competition, beginning with the “You Gotta Have a Team” campaign leading into this season.

Though crowds have plateaued in recent weeks after a substantial increase at the start of the season they are still up 2.5 per cent on last season’s regular-season figure, while the increase in Fox Sports ratings has held up more strongly to be ahead by 20 per cent.

Get your eyes used to a new look at A-League matches.

The launch of the new logo is likely to herald a significant period for FFA in terms of the A-League’s growth, with criteria due to be published next month that will outline how two new teams will be chosen to join the competition the season after next.

A dozen or so consortiums have expressed interest, and its believed that the new TV includes specific provisions around the timing and locality of the league growing from 10 to 12 teams.

A third team in Sydney remains the favourite, with Tasmania, south Melbourne and another Queensland team all on the table as options for the second entrant.

Originally published as FFA unveil A-League rebrand for next season as football bids to build on increased ratings