Auckland Pride - Make Auckland Great Again

Jessie Merino

coochiee

Jessie Merino

coochiee

Postcard from Havana 

It would have to be a postcard. Internet is unobtainable in Cuba. Well, to tourists & plebs.

Not quite true, based on my 4 week trip there in 2018. You can buy internet credit at kiosks, and then input the 12 digit card number you are given to access an hour's WIFI at some local park. It is the worst thing (and maybe the best thing) about being in Cuba, the labor intensive frustrating way to get internet access.

Then as I found in Havana some of the local Airbnbs (casa particulars) have illegally somehow got modems into the country, and so can offer their tourist guests continous WIFI. Just don't tell the party officials

There is an innovative black market for everything on the island. Like from memory gambling is illegal, but there is an undergound lottery that uses the last 8 numbers of the actual Florida daily lottery or something crazy. Fascinating joint. And yeah the 1959 revoluation there was a very good thing initially, the place being a corrupt murderous Mafia fiefdom prior. But the Commies have stayed in power there now way past their use by date. I digress.

Maybe they've since tightened up. My neighbour here in Auckland, a top lawyer, has just returned from 4 weeks holiday in Cuba. He was unable to gain any access to the internet for the entire time.

Maybe. There was quite a bit of unrest during Covid, and for the first time in a long time, some locals were openly demonstrating against the Govt - so yeah they may have gone all China and tried to shut down any social media stuff etc organising those demonstrations. 

It's very much a 2 speed economy. 
Those lucky enough who have access to $USD , ie family overseas sending remittances home, or those working with tourists. Plus the party elite.
And then the unlucky masses who barely survive on local wages, or various schemes they can hatch to scrap up a dollar

And yeah during Covid alot of that $USD pipeline ended so unrest grew.

Guys, people accuse me of having politics on the brain, but can we please take the discussion of the class nature of Cuba to the Politics thread? The question of Bill Foley is back on the Trump Train is much more significant here (and people wondered what the point of T-AFC existing was, lol)

Jessie Merino

Oi Oi Edgecumbe

Wait till Bloc 5 rise from the darkness!

Bloc 5 sold out. But who are now the occupiers we'll have to wait and see.

It better not be HN or Feverish !!

LG

Jessie Merino

Oi Oi Edgecumbe

Wait till Bloc 5 rise from the darkness!

Bloc 5 sold out. But who are now the occupiers we'll have to wait and see.

It better not be HN or Feverish !!

After 18 years nobody will be recognisable

LG

Jessie Merino

Oi Oi Edgecumbe

Wait till Bloc 5 rise from the darkness!

Bloc 5 sold out. But who are now the occupiers we'll have to wait and see.

It better not be HN or Feverish !!

Heard it’s ballane.

coochiee

https://www.inverelltimes.com.au/story/8792343/auckland-fc-arrive-set-on-making-big-a-league-splash/?fbclid=IwY2xjawF75FhleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHYwlEzqFRmhtrIjO1Wc0qQt-cey8mOZAoC8tggU35wgmv5VFRI82nL6HTQ_aem_0MJHdQAEAo7lS6t_KAAO2g

Corica estimates Auckland FC's footprint now stretches to 60 employees - about 15 backroom football staff supporting the 26 players, and roughly 20 in club operations - on par with his former employer Sydney FC.

"The Black Knights are out to make a splash in their inaugural campaign beginning on Saturday when Brisbane Roar visit Mt Smart Stadium, with 20,000 fans expected...

"Becker says the club has signed up more than 3,000 members, tracking towards their target of 5,000 by Christmas.

"Average attendance of 12,000 has been set as a pass mark, with hopes of 15,000 bolstered by their opening match and two home derbies - the "Kiwi Clasico'' - against Wellington Phoenix."

Between the Backroom and Academy, I dunno if we would even have half those staffing levels.

Yep as an example apparantly they have 3 on ticketing and we have 1.
Those 3 have managed a complete balls up when it comes to away fans. No idea.
While Steph battles on like like one arned paper hanger doing a great job given the circumstances.

It’s very much good job v people for the job. I had a job organising an event where I got a range of venue options from free, but with downsides to some at minor cost, got a whole lot of subsidised things for the event and stepped in to do the jobs of people who weren’t organised. 

Didn’t get one thank you, got static from the people controlling the budget (as they were making it rain comfortable expensive options for their own projects), and got a whole bunch of snarky comments. Next year they appointed four people to do the same job, but had to cancel the annual event for the first time in ages because between all of them they couldn’t even manage to book a venue. 

Long story short- headcount doesn’t always mean that much.

I can't speak for everyone else but I know myself and a few others are going and joining into the port because we want to be part of the fun and atmosphere of professional football.  

Joining in doesn't mean we agree with everything done by the Port, nor does that mean we have made a stance on some of the serious issues raised by T-AFC.

We just want to enjoy the football.

chopah

I can't speak for everyone else but I know myself and a few others are going and joining into the port because we want to be part of the fun and atmosphere of professional football.  

Joining in doesn't mean we agree with everything done by the Port, nor does that mean we have made a stance on some of the serious issues raised by T-AFC.

We just want to enjoy the football.

Yeah, that's cool. I wish no beef with The Port or any other organised fans who're not actual Nazis. I'm not even sure that the tiny minority of weirdos who come into our group under false pretenses, take screenshots, publish them all over the place to get a reaction, and even try to have us banned are related to The Port at all. All I can say is that that one weirdo who posted here was - as was the other guy who told me that they had to do it to "see what you're saying about us".

The only reason we went public at all was to introduce ourselves to wider fandom, and we don't know what to do with a Facebook group that now might be anything up to 90% trolls and hostiles.

Pretty sure I glanced someone on the Port FB group, having a dig at the 'Port Soldier' poster.

Parking aside the Foley changing his mind and backing Trump again - another American (owns LAFC) has bought into Auckland FC. Mayba a future pathway into the MLS for any Auckland players good enough??

And they hope to be operating break even wise by 2027. I guess that excludes any multi million dollar investment into a new stadium

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/football/auckland-fc/bill-foley-backs-donald-trump-again-while-investing-in-auckland-fcs-future/TT7SCAH7XFHV7DO5HPJ64KREVQ/

Foley also told AAP that Los Angeles FC owner Bennett Rosenthal had come on board, leaving him with about a 70% stake.

“I’ll always be owning more than 50% of the team. We don’t have any plans to sell down anymore at this time,” he said.

“I stood behind the entire investment and I did want to bring in local investors. I’m proud of the group that has been put together.’’

The club is in an investment phase, building training facilities at North Harbour Stadium, including gym spaces and a player lounge, and will welcome a women’s team next year.

It will play matches at Mt Smart Stadium in southern Auckland, but is investigating a new stadium closer to the CBD.

Auckland FC was hit by falling club distributions from the A-League, which collapsed from more than $2 million last season to roughly $500,000.

Foley said he wasn’t aware of the shortfall when he bought in, but owing to a strong commercial buy-in led by chief executive Nick Becker, it wouldn’t affect the club’s financial targets.

Previously, Foley said the club would lose about $5m in year one but start to make money about 2027.

“We over-funded so we raised more money than we really needed. And I’m glad we did now because we’re going to be short on the distributions from the A-League,” he said.

“We’re kind of on track to ... be profitable or break even by year three.

“Nick has done a really good job on the commercial side in terms of sponsorship and ticketing revenue.”

Wonder if they are holding back some Bay's for match day sales? Cuz there isn't that many tickets left on sale for Saturday's game right now.

if I was waiting till the day to decide to go id check early, see the tickets were gone and then not bother checking again. Seems like a wild strat. The marketing has been good for AFC and it's novelty. 20k tickets already sold in a city with 1.7million people is pretty realistic.

RR

Wonder if they are holding back some Bay's for match day sales? Cuz there isn't that many tickets left on sale for Saturday's game right now.

It seems kinda random that they allocated the back half of bay 43 as Brisbane Roar's away section but the front half of that section is home seating - seemingly from as soon as they allocated an away bay too

Nommag

if I was waiting till the day to decide to go id check early, see the tickets were gone and then not bother checking again. Seems like a wild strat. The marketing has been good for AFC and it's novelty. 20k tickets already sold in a city with 1.7million people is pretty realistic.

RR

Wonder if they are holding back some Bay's for match day sales? Cuz there isn't that many tickets left on sale for Saturday's game right now.

Could be opening up bays when ticket levels get too low, I really dunno. If the remaining tickets in the corners of the stands are basically the only seats left, that is fantastic news.

Half a Pint

It seems kinda random that they allocated the back half of bay 43 as Brisbane Roar's away section but the front half of that section is home seating - seemingly from as soon as they allocated an away bay too

Their allocation of away Bays is BS and something that needs to be sorted. Will be the only venue in the A League where teams cant get near their away fans after the game. 

Also thought the A league wanted there to be dedicated away Bays not ones mixed with local fans as well. Might be okay if there arnt many travelling but has potential to get ugly if not done properly and that we dont want.

This thread has been loads of fun. We have an Uber capitalist Trump supporting owner, supporter groups split between bourgeois, Trotskyist and kiwi mullets. I guess on match day you will be able to spot them by what they are drinking…..Pinot noir, vodka and Lion Brown.
As well as politics we also have  discussed the internet in Cuba. Love it! Normally the off season is deadly dull but this year it’s been excellent.

Awww man, some of the T-AFC central committee will take exception that you called them Trotskyists :D It's broad left, from Labour Party supporters on

Been a supporter since day one of the Kingz, then the Knights, and fervently followed the Nix when the licence went to Wellington.

I am absolutely stoked to have a local team in Auckland again, will have my full support, and will also continue supporting the Nix in every game they play, (except for the derby matches)

Cant wait till Saturday for the start

chopah

I can't speak for everyone else but I know myself and a few others are going and joining into the port because we want to be part of the fun and atmosphere of professional football.  

Joining in doesn't mean we agree with everything done by the Port, nor does that mean we have made a stance on some of the serious issues raised by T-AFC.

We just want to enjoy the football.

And that is a very good point. A new club and the possibility of a lot of new fans whom have no interest in politics or Left, Tight or Central. Will these ideaology fans put off your joe average "I love football" fans from either turning up or coming back once these others make themselves known? It really needs to be knocked on the head before it starts and spreads. It's all about football and Auckland being given another chance (3rd) to show that they are worth a place in the competition. I am thankful it hasn't caught on down here. Even the very brief "Thorndon Terrace" didn't last more than a couple of games and very few members.

" It really needs to be knocked on the head before it starts and spreads "

I want you to think very, very carefully about what you just said. There is a word for people who think that Lefties should be "knocked on the head" before they "spread", and it's not a pleasant one. Perhaps you didn't consider that some over-excited types might take that literally. But we have.

It's good that people who think that T-AFC should be banned or bullied out of existence feel free to say so in public; it shows everyone where we stand. But get real, mate. Half a dozen scruffy Lefties in a corner of the ground with the kind of chants you've already seen in this thread, are not even going to be noticed, let alone alienate people, unless people with a hate-on pay close attention, and start something. And reactions like yours make me increasingly worried that someone will. It crosses the line and I'm close to saying "Mods Take Control".

Doloras

" It really needs to be knocked on the head before it starts and spreads "

I want you to think very, very carefully about what you just said. There is a word for people who think that Lefties should be "knocked on the head" before they "spread", and it's not a pleasant one. Perhaps you didn't consider that some over-excited types might take that literally. But we have.

It's good that people who think that T-AFC should be banned or bullied out of existence feel free to say so in public; it shows everyone where we stand. But it crosses a line.

LG's comment wasnt just directed at the T-AFC group, it was directed at all of the politically motivated supporter groups - in that they may well turn off the average "I just want to watch the football" fan. Which is what I've been saying from the get go. Having a political rally at a football match may well turn off the very fans that Foley wants at the matches. I know I'd be less inclined to go to the Nix home games if we had left and right political banners battling for airtime!.

Well, Port obsessives have done you the service of leaking our draft chant sheet. I'm interested in what about that, or about our banner (same as on the chant sheet) is going to turn off your average fan. Or even get *noticed* by your average fan. You seem to be reacting to a straw man of "how Lefties behave" that you made up.

... okay, fine, I'll grant you this: some people might get triggered by the tino rangatiratanga symbols or by "Ngā Iwi E". Fudge them.

Doloras

Well, Port obsessives have done you the service of leaking our draft chant sheet. I'm interested in what about that, or about our banner (same as on the chant sheet) is going to turn off your average fan. Or even get *noticed* by your average fan. You seem to be reacting to a straw man of "how Lefties behave" that you made up.

... okay, fine, I'll grant you this: some people might get triggered by the tino rangatiratanga symbols or by "Ngā Iwi E". Fudge them.

Nothing about the chants or songs you provided earlier are offensive to me in anyway. in fact as a left leaning middle income NZ'r I like it. Most of what the Port group stand for is excessive for mine. But, the part that I dont want to see at a football match is political posters for or against anything in the world at the moment. ie pro Palestine/Israel support, or even worse anti Palestine/Israel sentiments. Regardless of how one feels about that particular event I dont want to see/hear about it at the footy.
I remember you saying in a post somewhere there were plans to bring Pro-Palestinian flags banners etc to matches - whilst I may agree with the sentiment, I dont see the need for it to be at a footy match - and likely some other fans might agree with me too. For the record I dont want to think about what kind of right wing sharke the Port might come up with - I also dont want to see that either!

One can do what they want as long as it doesn't contravene the terms and conditions of the match day ticket.

theprof

Doloras

Well, Port obsessives have done you the service of leaking our draft chant sheet. I'm interested in what about that, or about our banner (same as on the chant sheet) is going to turn off your average fan. Or even get *noticed* by your average fan. You seem to be reacting to a straw man of "how Lefties behave" that you made up.

... okay, fine, I'll grant you this: some people might get triggered by the tino rangatiratanga symbols or by "Ngā Iwi E". Fudge them.

Nothing about the chants or songs you provided earlier are offensive to me in anyway. in fact as a left leaning middle income NZ'r I like it. Most of what the Port group stand for is excessive for mine. But, the part that I dont want to see at a football match is political posters for or against anything in the world at the moment. ie pro Palestine/Israel support, or even worse anti Palestine/Israel sentiments. Regardless of how one feels about that particular event I dont want to see/hear about it at the footy.
I remember you saying in a post somewhere there were plans to bring Pro-Palestinian flags banners etc to matches - whilst I may agree with the sentiment, I dont see the need for it to be at a footy match - and likely some other fans might agree with me too. For the record I dont want to think about what kind of right wing sharke the Port might come up with - I also dont want to see that either!

When did the Port become right wing? As far I am aware (being a season ticket holder of the Port), they are pro supporting Auckland FC. I have sided with the left all my life, nothing in the Port has made me think this is a right wing group. Do they want to be loud, yes. Do they want to be noticed, yes. Have they made a few errors in judgement for today's society, yes. Are they a right wing group, nope. The Port does not want to be in involved in politics. 

Auckland Football fans have wanted a pro team to support for many years. This is great for Aucklanders. The Nix have carried pro Football in NZ. To now have 2 teams in the A-League, can only be good for NZ Football as a whole.

If the T-Elite break out in Tūtira Mai Ngā Iwi, you would get a fair chunk of Kiwi's from the Port joining in, the ex-pats probably not and why would they. What would a Māori song mean to a Welsh women or a Scotsman. I'm 100% this Māori/Dutch/Pakeha man would, along with his Māori/Tongan/Croatian/Pakeha wife and their mixed breed daughters and son. 

You only need to read through some of the threads where "The Port" has posted and you'll see they (being this one poster who seems to be at the head of the group) have very much situated themselves as politically right, much as Doloras has set T-AFC on the left. 

theprof

You only need to read through some of the threads where "The Port" has posted and you'll see they (being this one poster who seems to be at the head of the group) have very much situated themselves as politically right, much as Doloras has set T-AFC on the left. 

Both of those people are well within their right to do that as well.

theprof

You only need to read through some of the threads where "The Port" has posted and you'll see they (being this one poster who seems to be at the head of the group) have very much situated themselves as politically right, much as Doloras has set T-AFC on the left. 

That is one person in the wider Port group. Not the head of the Port. If this person is right wing, it is their right to be so. You can be left, right, central or not fussed and still be a member of a supporters group. Also one person does not represent a whole fan group. 

Alright, we have had enough about groups and right vs left wing politics in here. Can we go back to the topic of Auckland FC themselves please.

Any truth to the rumour that the club has paid for the P.O.R.T.S tifo this Saturday?

I don't hate a club paying for some/all of a tifo. Its marketing right, marketing with volunteers carrying it out. If im starting a club, im putting my money into the fan group big time to launch it. Its like lighting a match to start a fire and warm the house.

Renrub

Any truth to the rumour that the club has paid for the P.O.R.T.S tifo this Saturday?

Even if it is I don't see any problem with it. A football game with an atmosphere is better than a football game without one, and a tifo paid for by the club is a lot cooler than not having one.

Renrub

Any truth to the rumour that the club has paid for the P.O.R.T.S tifo this Saturday?

 Unsure. I know they raised some money from selling merch.

Yakcall

Alright, we have had enough about groups and right vs left wing politics in here. Can we go back to the topic of Auckland FC themselves please.

Unfortunately, Bill Foley getting back on the Trump train keeps bringing these issues up. A friendly journo asked T-AFC for some comment.

https://au.sports.yahoo.com/trump-backlash-auckland-fc-fan-220500152.html

Doloras

Yakcall

Alright, we have had enough about groups and right vs left wing politics in here. Can we go back to the topic of Auckland FC themselves please.

Unfortunately, Bill Foley getting back on the Trump train keeps bringing these issues up. A friendly journo asked T-AFC for some comment.

https://au.sports.yahoo.com/trump-backlash-auckland-fc-fan-220500152.html

Genuinely, if Aberdeen or the Phoenix were own by such a figure, I’d stop supporting them. Much like I have no idea how most premier league fans can deal with it these days. Fudge. That.

Am I right to assume that grey seats are taken and blue is still available on the Ticketmaster website? Looks like its close to a sell out then?

WanderingSheep

Doloras

Yakcall

Alright, we have had enough about groups and right vs left wing politics in here. Can we go back to the topic of Auckland FC themselves please.

Unfortunately, Bill Foley getting back on the Trump train keeps bringing these issues up. A friendly journo asked T-AFC for some comment.

https://au.sports.yahoo.com/trump-backlash-auckland-fc-fan-220500152.html

Genuinely, if Aberdeen or the Phoenix were own by such a figure, I’d stop supporting them. Much like I have no idea how most premier league fans can deal with it these days. Fudge. That.

Any score predictions?   

I'm going for a tense 1-0 win to Auckland FC - but honestly not knowing what to expect.

for those attending - some match day tips: 
https://aucklandfc.co.nz/news/gameday-guide-auckland-fc-vs-brisbane-roar/