Post World Cup Friendies Angst

When're tickets on sale then? I'm flying home from Japan for these games, and the Nix vs Heart game the Sunday after. Epic week of footbaaawwwwl

That Stuff article from 27/7 which I missed until last night suggests a spread of risk for NZF? That won't do Chch hopes any harm.

You'd think AMI Stadium would cost the most to use as a venue but considering it's about 15 000 bigger than both other options surely they'd go with that?

The feeling has always been that it is all about gate takings - would AMI really be more that much more expensive?

NZF have contractual obligations to North Harbour. That stadium stood by them when they had a product that was hard to sell. The stadium could have enforced that agreement for the Bahrain game but didn't. For that generous act some on here have castigated them.

Go Christchurch!!!

Could someone (perhaps macman) please explain all this to me??

What is the background to this agreement?

ahmad2010-08-11 15:33:57

These days Ericsson is no larger (and is a bit crap).  Eden park still under construction.

Sorry, I was a late arrival to the thread and only appeared on my radar after the Honduras fixture was announced.

What are the contractual obligations to North Harbour?

Why the hell would it be at Pukekohe?

North Harbour would sell out. Easily. In fact I think Eden Park could pull 30K. It wouldn't surprise me at all. And don't mention the Knights or Kingz, or the Beckham farce, because it is irrelevant. Auckland hasn't hosted a decent international football match in years, so this one would have appeal, certainly after the World Cup. Auckland has the largest population, and also has close cities Hamilton and Tauranga. Christchurch has Ashburton!

Just because Christchurch get 17,000 to the one Nix game it has hosted, doesn't mean more people would go to a game there than Auckland. If there were regular games there, bugger all people would turn up. It was only a one-off, so people went. The same as the Warriors game held there. And the same will happen again with the Nix this season. I would be really surprised if more than 20,000 went to an All Whites game in Christchurch. With all respect I think some people on here are dreaming.

Give it to Auckland.

Well written and well said.

+1

+2
You said exactly what I was thinking

Bollocks.

1) The attendance was 19,258 for the nix match in chch. http://www.infonews.co.nz/news.cfm?id=47490
2) It is a one-off. With higher profile teams. With a sport that has a higher national profile than it did in January
3) All whites vs Malaysia in 2006 was hosted at QE2 stadium, got absolutely no publicity whatsoever and got more than 13k to that. I'd bet my left one (barring silly ticket prices and atrocious weather) that a chch match will easily get 20,000.
conorphelan2010-08-11 19:07:13

Something tells me more would attend the fixture at AMI than in Auckland.

I have no made up facts to back that up. But I think it would be so.

Footpaul, what rubbish.  With regards to the Phoenix game you got the crowd wrong by the equivalent of an Auckland crowd (just over 2 000).  We got over 10 000 in a game vs Malaysia and the only advertisement I saw was one A4 poster featuring Danny Hay.  We got over 6 000 for a pre-season friendly against the Roar in season 1 with zero advertisement.  We got about 4 000 for two meaningless pre-season friendlies (with advertisement, albeit precious little) against a Mainland XI.  We got respectable crowds for the Womens U17 World Cup considering we didn't get the games at the business end of the competition and no NZ games.  Our NZFC crowds are appalling but still better than a fair number of the crowds up north.

What do Auckland have?  9 and a bit thousand to the opening Knights game.  6 500 vs New Caledonia due in large part to the presence of the likes of Nelsen.  Years of shame.  What else?

Let's not forget the stadiums.  Auckland physically cannot get nearly as many people into the stadium as can happen in Christchurch, even with temporary seats.

Really should be a no-brainer for NZF.

Edit:  You say Auckland hasn't hosted a good All Whites game in years as though that will mean people will get behind it.  I'll point out that Christchurch hasn't hosted a good football game in years either.  We had one game (albeit not a good game) vs Malaysia four years ago and before that it had been a decade since we'd hosted a game so probably even longer before we hosted a good game.  So it has been longer for us so I assume you'd agree that we'll get an even better crowd due to that?  There is no reason to take it to Auckland unless this contractual stuff with NHS means they have to.  Incidentally, can anyone elaborate on terms of this contract?
loyalgunner2010-08-11 19:57:31

I agree. And Auckland will get it. No brainer.

I love it when people are prepared to state opinions as fact.

Of course you do, you do it all the time.

If responses like Buffy's are the best Auckland have then you lot from up north should probably sort out flights and accommodation to Christchurch before it gets more expensive.

Knowing NZF, though, I wouldn't be surprised to see the illogical move taken.

I just want the game here mate, you got a problem?

Yes, I have repeatedly stated that the game is happening in Christchurch. In fact it's such a no-brainer for NZF, I won't have to campaign for it to happen because it will.

If Auckland gets it I wish them well because something tells me it could be an embarrassment of a failure and that's not good for the game.ahmad2010-08-11 20:08:12

I do have a problem, I need to take a wizz and can't be bothered getting out of my seat, but that's not really relevant here.

Fully understand you wanting the game, we're both in the same boat in that regard.

It's just I, and a number of others, were putting forward a number of reasons why it would be a positive to have it in Christchurch as opposed to Auckland and the best response I've read in support of Auckland having it was 'I agree. And Auckland will get it. No brainer.' which made the Christchurch bid seem pretty good.  Not trying to take the piss, just having a bit of a laugh while we wait for NZF to hurry up and make the announcement.  I believe they said within a week but I don't see me being able to wait that long. loyalgunner2010-08-11 20:09:32

Didn't Hamilton get 10,000-odd for Nix v Roar a month or so back? Problem solved. Give it to the Tron.

They did following a successful World Cup campaign (by NZ standards) and a very successful previous season by the Phoenix.

We got our 6 000 on the back of what?  Losing 4-1 to Chile - maybe that was a bit earlier, so nothing.

That success (don't get me wrong, certainly a success) can be put down, in large part, to timing.  I think Christchurch would have comfortably exceeded 10 000 had we had that game down here at that time.
loyalgunner2010-08-11 20:18:02

I'm yet to see why it would be a failure. I hate Auckland as much as the next person (I lived there for 25 years and it looks like I might be going back), but there are good football supporters in Auckland and in the surrounding area who will ensure this game will be a success. Stop being such a hater!

At the end of the day, wherever it is, I will most likely be there. And wherever that is, I hope the stadium is packed and pumping. Everyone expectedly wants the game as close to them as possible, what true fan wouldn't want that? But I think Auckland deserves a chance it can get behind football by hosting a good game. And I still believe Auckland would pull more than Christchurch, and while Aucklanders may be inclined to agree with me, I'm not surprised southerners disagree!

South Island also has Dunedin, which has a devoted football community. But unlike some people up north, Southerners might actually get off their arses and drive a few hours to watch their country play.

That's harsh.  A lot of Hamilton used to go and watch the Kingz and the Knights and have watched the All Whites and games here.  It's the general populace of Auckland that can be a challenge.

It's an eight-hour drive to Wellington from Thames/Auckland. I've made the trip three times this year for Nix games, and there are several others on here who done the same from Auckland, Hamilton and elsewhere. So I don't get your point.

For sure, regardless of where it is I hope it's successful.

I don't think it'd necessarily be a failure but AMI Stadium's capacity is 39 000 while NHS is 25 000 plus some temporary seating.  I think it could sell out in either venue so mathematics (in terms of size and takings) is on the side of Christchurch.

The more I think about it the more I think it should be in Hamilton!

Harsh but that's 1 hour. If I lived in Invercargill I'd do the 7-8 hour each way drive to Christchurch for that game.

Mate, if you and I are watching the game alongside 39,000 others, I'll buy you a beer!

It was in response to people 'up north' not driving two hours.

then the auckland football fans could surely road trip to wellington for the paraguay match?

Having a match in both islands will allow football fans from the whole of the country to see their national team play. Not giving the south island that opportunity is unfair IMO.

p.s about your earlier comment about North Harbour selling out. Yes it probably would, but even if AMI didn't sell out, it'd still draw a bigger crowd.

Sorry. Roger that.

Exactly my thoughts all along. People forget also that airfares from Auckland to Wellington are SIGNIFICANTLY cheaper than from Dunedin/Invercargill to anywhere. It's true. I checked online, and the closer you get to the event the worst it will get. There is simply no competition on our routes.

For those that can't afford the flights for a family (kids pay full price these days), then road tripping it is the only option and a road trip from Dunedin to Wellington is ARSE. I've done it - probably never again. A game in both Islands allows families to get to at least one of the games by road.

Remember Christchurch also has Nelson/Marlborough and Queenstown.ahmad2010-08-11 20:41:28

I get your point, but an eight-hour drive is long haul and it's not cheap, and the flight to Wellington would be similar whether you left from Auckland or Christchurch (maybe not, I wrote this before I read your post, Ahmad). Whatever they choose will be "unfair", as you put it, for the city/region that dips out.

At the end of the day, around half the country live within two hours of Auckland, so to be "fair" to the majority of the country, the choice is a no brainer.

25,000 in Harbour would be more than a half full AMI.
Footpaul2010-08-11 20:43:16

f**k it. Play it in some paddock in Hokitika. I'm just happy we've got 2 games.

In very rough estimates, Auckland to Welly or Chch domestic fares on Air New Zealand start at around $60 each way, and regularly available from $40 on special. There is also competition on the route and more flights available.

Dunedin to Wellington starts at $90, occasionally from $59 on grabaseat in strictly limited numbers and sales period. Auckland starts at $100. There are also fewer flights and seats available at these "headline" airfares.

Not trying to prove any point here except to say that those outside of Christchurch do pay a lot to travel to North Island games and I personally believe it is cheaper for a North Island family to get to Christchurch.

That doesn't make it right to have a game in Christchurch but that's a big reason I think the South Island should get a game.

Note that for the record I don't like Christchurch much as a city but it's the only obvious South Island venue for this.