Just K.I.S.S.
Have a lot of presence around town here and there, sign players, do community engagement events, make sure the trains are running to Mt Smart as much as possible, make sure your fan groups aren’t off base- but get some identifiable fans who are real people so the public can relax that there’ll be some normal ish folk there, engage with the local clubs, get the membership options out early and get the tickets out early…win games…
Though Ali Williams and/or the Mowbrays in a free kick type dunk tank could be popular! Just spit ballin’ here…
Have to be honest, I’m still not impressed that no one associated with local football is in the top management team, but that may not matter. They’ve got more people associated with the Blues, the ABs, Melbourne City and Sydney F.C. than any local football people of any profile. Huge potential for missteps there.
On the other hand they’ve taken care of the money side, their home ground, the training facilities, coach appointment and allegedly some very classy signings. It’s a different origin story to the Phoenix. None of this reborn battlers business. Blinged II, aiming to challenge Sydney FC and shoot straight at the top. Might mean their fans get more impatient too! Or more casuals- with Ali and Bill it’s okay to like the #^$€ ball. We’ll see…
Have a lot of presence around town here and there, sign players, do community engagement events, make sure the trains are running to Mt Smart as much as possible, make sure your fan groups aren’t off base- but get some identifiable fans who are real people so the public can relax that there’ll be some normal ish folk there, engage with the local clubs, get the membership options out early and get the tickets out early…win games…
Though Ali Williams and/or the Mowbrays in a free kick type dunk tank could be popular! Just spit ballin’ here…
Have to be honest, I’m still not impressed that no one associated with local football is in the top management team, but that may not matter. They’ve got more people associated with the Blues, the ABs, Melbourne City and Sydney F.C. than any local football people of any profile. Huge potential for missteps there.
On the other hand they’ve taken care of the money side, their home ground, the training facilities, coach appointment and allegedly some very classy signings. It’s a different origin story to the Phoenix. None of this reborn battlers business. Blinged II, aiming to challenge Sydney FC and shoot straight at the top. Might mean their fans get more impatient too! Or more casuals- with Ali and Bill it’s okay to like the #^$€ ball. We’ll see…
Foley used the phrase 'working with the community' about half a dozen times last year, at the launch. Read a bit about the Golden Knights NHL franchise, and they made big efforts with the Nevada locals when starting up.
Also read somewhere about Fred De Jong will be organising groups from Ellerslie FC to games at Mt Smart or something. I imgine there is shark loads to organise before the start of next season, especially around assembling a squad, sorting out training facilities etc etc - that the local football community stuff will come a bit later. More so when Northern Region football actually kicks off.
Edit - the Golden Knights (2017) were the first big 4 American sports franchise, to be based in Vegas. But since then the LA Raiders (NFL) relocated from Oakland to Sin City in 2020, and the Oakland 'A's baseball (MLB) team have confirmed as also relocating to Vegas. So the Foley Group will be learning fast about competition for sports fan's eyeballs, marketing etc etc. It's a super competitive sports market in the US. Some of those learnings will be handy starting up in Auckland.