I cannot be bothered researching or reading this whole thread, so can someone please answer my questions:
- Is the Auckland franchise confirmed for next season? - If they are in the league from next season, any ideas on where they will be playing? - What is going on with the formation of the Blue Balls supporters group?
Jesus wept, that's not really the name they're going with is it
It is, and you should see what they take off and what they wave around if they are leading at the 80th minute..........
I reckon Real Auckland would be an appropriate name, if they're the real deal.
only appropriate if the spanish royal family bestows the name upon them
did they do that with Real Salt Lake in the US?
From the wikipedia page for Real Salt Lake -
In choosing the name Real for the Salt Lake-based team, initial owner Dave Checketts intended to create a brand name that would become well-known for its simplicity, followed the European-style naming conventions of the league, and would potentially foster a partnership with Real Madrid
Or Blue Bottles could be another name. If they don't show a consistent fan base we could say they bottled it a 3rd time. Over 100,000 football fans/players of all ages, they should be able to get 15k per every game surely??
Or Blue Bottles could be another name. If they don't show a consistent fan base we could say they bottled it a 3rd time. Over 100,000 football fans/players of all ages, they should be able to get 15k per every game surely??
Over 100,000 football fans/players of all ages
That a real stat, or a made up one?
But if the team was well promoted (you'd think Foley has plenty of cash for marketing), is successful early on, is not playing at NHS, the visa players have some 'star pulling power', plus the first year novelty factor - average 15K per game in the inaugural season would be achieveable.
Or Blue Bottles could be another name. If they don't show a consistent fan base we could say they bottled it a 3rd time. Over 100,000 football fans/players of all ages, they should be able to get 15k per every game surely??
Over 100,000 football fans/players of all ages
That a real stat, or a made up one?
But if the team was well promoted (you'd think Foley has plenty of cash for marketing), is successful early on, is not playing at NHS, the visa players have some 'star pulling power', plus the first year novelty factor - average 15K per game in the inaugural season would be achieveable.
That was a figure given when we were doing the North Harbour games as they were trying to work out a rough attendance figure.
articipation rates for football were respectable, then from 2000 and throughout the decade, registered player numbers exploded.
In 2000, the number of registered players with football clubs was around 65,000.
Okay cheers but those stats (from 2017?) are nationwide. As it was a discussion about an Auckland A League club, I thought you meant 100,000 registered players in the 09 region. Anyway if they get the major factors above right (and with Foley's cash there should be few excuses not to), I reckon they should average around 12-15K per game. I'd still plump for Eden Park as the major host ground for season 1, and then review. As a venue it consistently produces a good day out for Nix games.
But of course if the on field performances are really shark, then crowds will drop away. However again with Foley's moolah they should build a quality squad by A League standards. He & his confidants will have a thought through plan for success.
What happens to our ego if the Auckland team will have more money, more successful and more fans?
They'll likely have the first, which may well result in the second occurring sooner than we like, which in turn will probably result in more fans. Our ego's shouldnt really care though, as long as we beat them regularly enough.
Riccardo Ball mentioned in an interview with Clayton Lewis that this week he received an invite to the launch of the new Auckland side. Didn't say when though
The Australian Professional Leagues (APL) has announced the award of a full A-Leagues licence to Bill Foley.
The full licence award confirms Auckland’s entry to the A-Leagues for the 2024-25 season, with the men’s team due to join the Isuzu UTE A-League Men in Season 2024-25 and the Liberty A-League Women’s team in Season 2025-26.
Bill Foley is the founder and general partner of Black Knight Football Club, which owns AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League and has a significant investment in FC Lorient of France’s Ligue 1. He is also founder and owner of the US National Hockey League’s 2023 Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights.
Bill Foley, owner of the new Auckland A-Leagues licence said: “It’s an honour to bring a top football club to Auckland. Building a championship team from expansion has been my most exhilarating professional achievement, and I aim to do the same for the fans of New Zealand and particularly the community on the north island. It’s a special place and an area that I know will embrace this team.”
The Hon Stephen Conroy, Chair of the Australian Professional Leagues, said: “In Bill Foley we have a proven global sports investor and operator with a track record of building deep roots in the community, a passion for football, and a long-standing business and personal relationship with New Zealand. “We are delighted to welcome Bill and his team to the A-Leagues and look forward to seeing the club in action next year.”
James Johnson, Chief Executive of Football Australia, said: ““We are pleased to welcome Bill Foley’s involvement with the Auckland expansion club. His investment is an important step in the evolution of the A-Leagues, combining our regional interests with an international perspective. Bill’s experience in sports and his focus on community engagement are valuable as we look forward to the club’s debut in the A-Leagues, offering a fresh and engaging approach for our fans and players.”
Andrew Pragnell, Chief Executive of New Zealand Football, said: “The expansion of the A-Leagues into Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, and the league becoming truly Australasian, is a step change moment in the development of football in New Zealand.
“This is an exciting day and we welcome Bill Foley to the wider football system in this country. Bill has seen the potential of Auckland as a football city and is here for the long haul to help grow and develop the sport.
“The relationship between New Zealand Football and Football Australia has never been stronger and it has been great to see the benefits of co-hosting the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 spread far and wide. This expansion has been in part made possible by these positive trans-Tasman football relations and we look forward to this continuing over the coming years.
“We are truly stronger together and the region as a whole benefits from football development when we are aligned.”
A-Leagues Commissioner, Nick Garcia, joined representatives from Football Australia and New Zealand Football in Auckland to formally award the licence to Bill Foley in Auckland.
Bill Foley also confirmed the appointment of New Zealander Nick Becker, former Premier League and A-Leagues executive, as Chief Executive Officer of the Club.
Supporters who would like to receive updates on the new club – the official name of which will be announced at a future date – can visit AKLfootball24.com.
Football Australia and New Zealand Football will now seek final approval by the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC), the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and FIFA.
FC Lorient’s ultra group Merlus Ultras 1995 have published an open letter to their club president Loïc Féry, denouncing the minority ownership held by AFC Bournemouth owner Bill Foley.
FC Lorient’s ultra group Merlus Ultras 1995 have published an open letter to their club president Loïc Féry, denouncing the minority ownership held by AFC Bournemouth owner Bill Foley.
The french will kick off over anything though. Look at how many protests and strikes they have per year.
Interesting new CEO was Marketing Director at Melbourne City until as recently as Dec '22.
TBF, not an easy club to be marketing manager of but did find this from his linkedin slightly amusing:
Using data driven insights and the knowledge that has been built up over 20 years in sports marketing, we build fan experiences that are designed to capture, engage, and convert football fans into Melbourne City FC fans.
Interesting new CEO was Marketing Director at Melbourne City until as recently as Dec '22.
TBF, not an easy club to be marketing manager of but did find this from his linkedin slightly amusing:
Using data driven insights and the knowledge that has been built up over 20 years in sports marketing, we build fan experiences that are designed to capture, engage, and convert football fans into Melbourne City FC fans.
Yeah not sure he had much success there, given even with all their trophies of recent times, their crowds ain't really grown at all. Found this article from 2017 a bit interesting. Wonder if Ana Maria ever went back for a 2nd game?
Perhaps the new Auckland franchise will look to engage with the 09's big immigrant & international student communities. Certainly Foley will give CEO Becker a big marketing budget no doubt.
Melbourne City FC Director of Marketing, Nick Becker, said the Club aimed to connect international fans with the City match day experience through its latest fan-engagement initiative.
“We are always looking to innovate, particularly when it comes to ways to engage new audiences and SportsHosts are perfectly positioned to introduce sports fans from all over the world to Melbourne City matches. In a city where sporting experiences are deeply ingrained in our cultural fabric, it’s a fantastic way to empower our existing fans to share their passion and support for the club.”
SportsHosts have already facilitated several match day hosting experiences with international visitors at City matches and the results have been equally rewarding for both hosts and travellers.
Melbourne City FC fan Daniel Marantelli hosted international students at City’s season opening clash against Brisbane Roar and said it was rewarding to connect new people with the Club;
“It was an awesome experience to host people from Brazil, Colombia and China. To see them cheering with Melbourne City scarves really made me proud of my team and my city and it’s always great to win over new fans from around the world.”
Ana Maria Aguado, an international student from Colombia, was one of those who attended the Brisbane match:
“When I arrived in Melbourne I realised how important sport is to the culture here so I was really keen to go to a match. The Melbourne City game was so much fun, the crowd was singing for most of the game and we found some really cool bars in the city afterwards. I’m a City fan now!”
Speaking from the South there's going to be a big old stadium in CCH for the Nix to use soon, because they won't be back to Dunners.
Given that our club is owned by millionaires and theirs is owned by a billionaire we can now rebrand as a scrappy punk upstart waging class war on those bourgeois Auckland pigs.
