The Road To Brazil 2014 via Wellington feat. Mexico

The voters will have their say.

People have short memories. Besides, the situatuon in 2009 was completely different to now. Phoenix were new and exciting, and so was football. We'd brought in Paul Ifill and Chris Greenacre, Terry was splashing the cash around, AWs pulled off an improbable quality result away from home a month before the game to put us within believable result away of the World Cup, the game was on a Saturday allowing plenty of out of towners to come down.

Situation is quite different now - there is a lot more apathy (compare 24k we got for the play-off game in the same season as the Bahrain play-off with the 10k we got for the play-off game at the same stage of play-offs last season) with regard to football, the AWs aren't inspiring a lot of confidence, they will have little public presence ahead of the play-offs, and the short turnaround between the games will not help in that respect. Add in the fact that the game will not be on the weekend like last time, and I think selling this out in Wellington would a major achievement. I think there's next to no chance of selling out a 50k stadium for this game.

Are there large attendances for play-off games in A-League for many teams?

Melbourne had 20,000 last week.

I think Auckland would attract a bigger crowd. They'd get all the football die-hards from Wellington and Christchurch flying up and they'll get a lot of Aucklanders jumping on the bandwagon. Let's face it, if people want to go to this game a $50 flight either way isn't gonna stop them. It's a massive game and people want to be a part of it.
Auckland can't get it though. NZF can't reward pitiful crowd attendances to previous AWs games with the biggest match of all.
It would be an absolute insult to the rest of the country.
Wellington is the home of NZ Football.

Regardless, just make the decision and deal with the fallout. That way everyone can start looking at flights, accommodation, applying for leave etc. More time to start the marketing campaign too, to ensure a sellout. Won't be able to rely on the away result this time, too short a turnaround. 

Thats right ....the " home of Football "...... tho I seem  to recall there was bugger-all at home a few years back .....still it is NZF and a cock up is guaranteed !!

I seem to recall a huge sellout crowd at home a few years back. 

but very little else I suspect.....

 I've watch the All Whites play in front of under 1000 at NHS so shit crowds aren't the preserve of any city in this country.

This is pointless, people are just suggesting to have the game wherever they live ..so yeah bring the game to Nelson so the conditions suit Jeremy Brockie.

Have to agree with Ali,

The numbers mean very little as stand alone facts. The Bahrain game in Welly would have sold out anywhere in my honest opinion.

Quick question if Wellington is the home of NZ football as stated, can I assume this in part because of the Nix,and if thats the case is it ok now to refer to them as a New Zealand team that should look to play more throughout the country to keep the profile of the game as high as we can.

Auckland for the larger crowd and extra revenue. The only reason they may go for Welly is through fear they wont sell out if we don't do well in the first leg.

I don't see this selling out without major promotion and I have no faith in NZF when it come to that. They should have this sorted by now anyway so I can book some flights.

The fault with your thinking is the term "since"

Thats because what happened 5 years ago is hardly relevant anymore, a lot has changed in football in this country over the last 5 years. 

I will be so pissed off if it goes to Auckland. So many games and opportunities and the crowds are no shows.
In saying that though of course I'll still make the trip. But Wellington and the cake tin is my Meca, no comparison.

The fans made the atmosphere last time, not the location.

By all accounts the world cup final atmosphere was pretty good (especially for a rugby game) and that was at Eden Park.

I cannot believe that this has still not been decided. 

Have they announced a decision date or anything? I want to start booking flights, tickets and accommodation now regardless of who we play or what the situation is from game one.

How are people surprised that they haven't announced a venue? The last set of venues were announced absurdly close to the match day, and although this is obviously a more important game, I wouldn't be holding your breath for an announcement on this venue any time soon either.

Avoid the Auckland vs Wellington controversy and play it in Palmy?

I get the feeling a team like Panama or Honduras would feel right at home in a stadium where the fans are seperated by a chicken wire fence.

I did always feel that the Palmy showgrounds had a Latin American vibe to them. Masterton then?

Memories...

http://www.sportsfreak.co.nz/wp/2013/04/get-it-right-on-the-night-nz-football/ 

Ugh this guy 

Adds nothing really

Neither does your post. 

I've said my piece. He's about a fortnight late with his "blog"

Yo! does anyone have any idea how the ballot system works for the next years world cup?? if (when) NZ qualify is there an allotment of tickets to NZ, or does everyone just jump into a big pool?? 

NZF say they'll make a decision on venue by "late next month" - because they're too busy turning over stones.

Well, no. they are asking for tenders. Pretty good way to get decent deal on stadium hire, council support etc etc.

Hello my name is Chris...and i am an Aucklander(it feels so good to get that off my chest)

play the bl00dy game in wellington. don't fix something if it ain't broke. look at the atmosphere from the 1-0 win over bahrain. and more importantly look at the windy horrible weather that helped get us there. I will never forget the after match interview on the sideline where some paper and rubbish in the background was flying up and then horizontally. Great stuff! :)