120 million needed to upgrade A-league - FFA must let go.
Supporter For Ever - Keep The Faith - Foundation Member - Never Lets FAX Get In The Way Of A Good Yarn
The Handa Prem final involving an Auckland team got a crowd of 2k (admittedly on Sunday and at unpopular Albany). Half the crowd looked like ES club youngsters bused in for the occasion. Good on ES for doing so.
The Nix v Victory game (admittedly on a Fri night at Eden Park) got a crowd of 23k. Just having the Handa Prem as highest of the sport in NZ would be shark.
Losing NZ’s sole A League team would be a massive massive blow to football in NZ, and it’s profile here.
With the AWs barely playing of late the Nix, is pretty much the only Kiwi football that is consistently newsworthy.
NZF need to wake up to this and try and help Phoenix out in anyway they can. They still have $7M in Cash Reserves. Qualifying for WC 2022 which looks likely to be 48 teams and direct Oceania entry, is worth $14M.
Christ giving NLWG $500k a year for the next few years would in some way be justified, if that helped the Nix to survive. Without the Nix, Herbert and Co, there would have been no WC 2010 cash windfall.
NZF just blew $250k on a review and another $400k paying out Heraf and Martin. Not saying $500k would ensure Nix’s survival, but money Nix bring to the table seems to be one of issues Aus state federations are raising. Anyway NZF should be using whatever resources they have to support the Nix, the club is too important for football in this country to just do nothing.
Mr Positive
Realistic look at a new national league in nz? Obviously not going to be as good as A League but could be a good development league.
Meh.
Set up a NZ pro league
Offer more prize money that A-League
Allow transfer fees so clubs can recoup development money
Increase salary cap
Start with Wellington Firebirds, Auckland and Canterbury, then open up to interest from others...early bird buy-in price, Clubs own the league. Target 2nd div in 2 years and pro rel after that. Pro rel to be bottom 2 v top 2 playoff series to ensure competitive.
Allow Aussie clubs to make up numbers...new ones like Newcastle TurboProps, Melbourne Triumph, Brisbane Bark, Central Coast Seafearers, West Sydney Meanderers, Melbourne Town.....(can't have existing clubs that need to give FFA IP money)
Aussies not visa spots, but majority Kiwi rule for NZ teams.
Offer NZFootball 10% of TV money, and a grass roots payment - that's way more than they get now.
As soon as it's realistically proposed FFA will buckle, or A-League will fold and be replaced by what everyone wants it replaced by.
Those toy guys on the news sound loaded, maybe they'll back it as an ego trip.
Or get those van Dyke Chia sisters on board as sponsors ....get a parallel women's league....
Just while the FFA are is disarray, why don't all the current clubs create a new league in NZ. It can have the same teams 11 plus an Auckland team to make it 12. Get AFC/OFC approval and sell the rights to Fox Sport/Sky/Spark/Overseas.
It will effectively move the administration squabbles away from Australia, win-win problem solved. NZF can take 10% of any broadcast deal and there won't be federations low balling the NLWG
i’ll Have $100 worth of what they’re smoking. But it’s not totally an off the wall idea. The NZ Basketball League have a team from Tasmania this year and periodically there have been rugby talk about Aussie teams playing in our NPC. It all hinges on the ability to make money and that all hinges on viewing rights payments.
Fully pro league in NZ? That'd be the day...I think the first Mars colony will come first (not a joke!).
There simply isn't enough money to support the league, not enough viewership or participation, sadly.
If the Nix get axed, football in NZ will go back 50 years! Plain and simple. Let's all pray it doesn't happen or it will be very grim for us football fans here for quite a long time.
VUW AFC - Victoria University Football for life
Fully pro league in NZ? That'd be the day...I think the first Mars colony will come first (not a joke!).
There simply isn't enough money to support the league, not enough viewership or participation, sadly.
If the Nix get axed, football in NZ will go back 50 years! Plain and simple. Let's all pray it doesn't happen or it will be very grim for us football fans here for quite a long time.
Annual finals disappointment enthusiast.
Fantasy land.
And even if it somehow came to be, you’d still know that across the ditch was a much superior product (A League) that we once used to be part of, and no doubt would still have a fair number of better Kiwi players incl AWs, playing in it.
Build an OFC pro league with development money from the OFC and FIFA.
The French speaking islands would field good teams, as would Fiji, Solomons, PNG, etc. Invite in Hawaii as a guest as they don't have an MLS team and then three or four teams from NZ.
Never happen though.
Forming a league is one thing, getting people to pay to watch it is entirely different.
Just ask FFA.
E + R + O
This is our Brexit.
Well that's the least surprising thing to happen this week, the FFA, A-League clubs and state bodies need to get their act together pronto. While they've been bickering like spoilt babies the peak league has been rotting on the vine. Fix it or fudge off.
— SFCU (@SFCU) April 1, 2019
And
"If that's the case, I think it will be done. The Feds aren't in a hurry and have raised a few points they want fixed before an independent league. I think you will see the clubs give in on at least 2 of the following 3 points."
No New Zealand
Bigger say (and % for FFA)
Higher IP price for the Feds
So what will everyone on here do in that doomsday instance? All support local Handa clubs?
Not follow the A-League anymore and just watch Arsenal.
a.haak
Supporter For Ever - Keep The Faith - Foundation Member - Never Lets FAX Get In The Way Of A Good Yarn
Supporter For Ever - Keep The Faith - Foundation Member - Never Lets FAX Get In The Way Of A Good Yarn
Fully pro league in NZ? That'd be the day...I think the first Mars colony will come first (not a joke!).
There simply isn't enough money to support the league, not enough viewership or participation, sadly.
If the Nix get axed, football in NZ will go back 50 years! Plain and simple. Let's all pray it doesn't happen or it will be very grim for us football fans here for quite a long time.
Isn't that exactly what I said?
Wellington Auckland Christchurch... and a bunch of Aussie teams, and come the second division, Otago, Waikato, BoP....and a bunch of Aussie teams.
Good grief, no one is suggesting NZ could have one. That would be like suggesting Cypres, Croatia or even Trinidad could have one.
It's just about getting something running we can be part of, and if the FFA want to bee too greedy that leaves the opportunity to offer something better. Aussie club owners will go where the money is.
Have a look at cricket....
Good grief, no one is suggesting NZ could have one. That would be like suggesting Cypres, Croatia or even Trinidad could have one.
You do realise that both Cyprus and Croatia have professional leagues (and pretty decent ones at that)?
The thing that's stopping us from having a professional league isn't population, it's the fact that we have a very competitive sporting market. If you think about it a city like Dunedin with a population of 127,000 has two professional rugby teams, a professional cricket team, as well as semi-professional netball, womens rugby, football, etc.
Compare that to other markets where a city like Austin can have a population of more than two million people and yet have no (current) professional teams.
Good grief, no one is suggesting NZ could have one. That would be like suggesting Cypres, Croatia or even Trinidad could have one.
You do realise that both Cyprus and Croatia have professional leagues (and pretty decent ones at that)?
As does Trinidad and Tobago.
And Albania. And Bosnia. And Moldova. And Qatar... all of which have a smaller population than NZ, but that wasn't really the point being made, just a tongue in cheek dig.
NZ is actually unlikely to be able to afford a Pro league in the near future alone, but could be partner in one - as we are now, so why couldn't we be a bigger partner, or even the lead partner.
No way would the FFA, or the confederations, or FIFA approve a bunch of Australian sides to come play in a New Zealand professional league. It's a nonsense idea.
The hilarious part is they really think pro/rel will fix the current problems with football in australia and it will just be all sunflowers, rainbows and unicorns.
i’ll Have $100 worth of what they’re smoking. But it’s not totally an off the wall idea. The NZ Basketball League have a team from Tasmania this year and periodically there have been rugby talk about Aussie teams playing in our NPC. It all hinges on the ability to make money and that all hinges on viewing rights payments.
The fact NZ Basketball league runs winter, and NBL runs summer I guess is why Australian Basketball allowed this to happen.
That and the fact that the poor old Tassie folk, are otherwise almost completely deprived of National League teams in any sport.
i’ll Have $100 worth of what they’re smoking. But it’s not totally an off the wall idea. The NZ Basketball League have a team from Tasmania this year and periodically there have been rugby talk about Aussie teams playing in our NPC. It all hinges on the ability to make money and that all hinges on viewing rights payments.
The fact NZ Basketball league runs winter, and NBL runs summer I guess is why Australian Basketball allowed this to happen.
That and the fact that the poor old Tassie folk, are otherwise almost completely deprived of National League teams in any sport.
Yea, and with the basketball many players play in both the NZ league as well as the Australian league every year.
i’ll Have $100 worth of what they’re smoking. But it’s not totally an off the wall idea. The NZ Basketball League have a team from Tasmania this year and periodically there have been rugby talk about Aussie teams playing in our NPC. It all hinges on the ability to make money and that all hinges on viewing rights payments.
The fact NZ Basketball league runs winter, and NBL runs summer I guess is why Australian Basketball allowed this to happen.
That and the fact that the poor old Tassie folk, are otherwise almost completely deprived of National League teams in any sport.
Yea, and with the basketball many players play in both the NZ league as well as the Australian league every year.
We have footballers play in the Handy during summer and NPL during winter, does that count?
i’ll Have $100 worth of what they’re smoking. But it’s not totally an off the wall idea. The NZ Basketball League have a team from Tasmania this year and periodically there have been rugby talk about Aussie teams playing in our NPC. It all hinges on the ability to make money and that all hinges on viewing rights payments.
The fact NZ Basketball league runs winter, and NBL runs summer I guess is why Australian Basketball allowed this to happen.
That and the fact that the poor old Tassie folk, are otherwise almost completely deprived of National League teams in any sport.
Yea, and with the basketball many players play in both the NZ league as well as the Australian league every year.
We have footballers play in the Handy during summer and NPL during winter, does that count?
Not when some are proposing that the FFA, NLWG, state federations would somehow allow Aussie teams to join some sort of professional NZ football comp, running parallel to the A League.
The current top level NZ football landscape (Handy Prem & Nix) is about as good as it will ever get. A new Auckland based A League would be one big improvement. Otherwise it is what it is, and any NZ “pro” football league concepts would be several quality steps down from the A League, financed on a shoestring budget, and a bit shark. Who would bother watching it? Who would be crazy enough to throw cash at it?
Supporter For Ever - Keep The Faith - Foundation Member - Never Lets FAX Get In The Way Of A Good Yarn
What the Ausie federations cannot fathom which surprises me to be honest, is that it is about stablizing the A League off the field and yet allowing for expansion. Solution, leave the Nix in and add those clubs from the very federations complaining and get the ball rolling so to speak. Not rocket science.
Proud to have attended the first 175 Consecutive "Home" Wellington Phoenix "A League" Games !!
The Ruf, The Ruf, The Ruf is on Fire!!
The Ruf, The Ruf, The Ruf is on Fire!!
What the Ausie federations cannot fathom which surprises me to be honest, is that it is about stablizing the A League off the field and yet allowing for expansion. Solution, leave the Nix in and add those clubs from the very federations complaining and get the ball rolling so to speak. Not rocket science.
Obviously that can only happen if we are not seen as getting a slice of "their" pie, which is TV money. If we are seen as contributing an income and not taking it when it could be spent on a local AUS franchise instead, the issue of Nix presence will be less dramatic for them to accept.
And that is a business view, well away from the kneejerk "philosophical" problems Aussie state federations have with the Nix presence. The current clubs do not have the emotive issue with us (some of their fans still might).
Actually, getting outplayed quite a bit these days
What the Ausie federations cannot fathom which surprises me to be honest, is that it is about stablizing the A League off the field and yet allowing for expansion. Solution, leave the Nix in and add those clubs from the very federations complaining and get the ball rolling so to speak. Not rocket science.
Obviously that can only happen if we are not seen as getting a slice of "their" pie, which is TV money. If we are seen as contributing an income and not taking it when it could be spent on a local AUS franchise instead, the issue of Nix presence will be less dramatic for them to accept.
And that is a business view, well away from the kneejerk "philosophical" problems Aussie state federations have with the Nix presence. The current clubs do not have the emotive issue with us (some of their fans still might).
remove the nix and you automatically lose the NZ tv viewers.....not necessarily the fans but those with Sky who watch it cos nothing is on. Whilst Sky pay a pittance for the a-league (at least that's what we are told) if theres no NZ team then there's no NZ covreage.
Queenslander 3x a year.
I expect Sky to start paying more. They cant keep losing different codes to different providers.
What the Ausie federations cannot fathom which surprises me to be honest, is that it is about stablizing the A League off the field and yet allowing for expansion. Solution, leave the Nix in and add those clubs from the very federations complaining and get the ball rolling so to speak. Not rocket science.
Obviously that can only happen if we are not seen as getting a slice of "their" pie, which is TV money. If we are seen as contributing an income and not taking it when it could be spent on a local AUS franchise instead, the issue of Nix presence will be less dramatic for them to accept.
And that is a business view, well away from the kneejerk "philosophical" problems Aussie state federations have with the Nix presence. The current clubs do not have the emotive issue with us (some of their fans still might).
remove the nix and you automatically lose the NZ tv viewers.....not necessarily the fans but those with Sky who watch it cos nothing is on. Whilst Sky pay a pittance for the a-league (at least that's what we are told) if theres no NZ team then there's no NZ covreage.
And then we can all watch A-League for free on You-Tube
i feel the a-league would not be worth watching without the nix, they are the only reason i have ever watched.
i feel the a-league would not be worth watching without the nix, they are the only reason i have ever watched.
It was a bit hard football-wise moving from Sydney to Christchurch in 1993. And Sydney City folded, too!
But my luck turned when NZ Kingz played for the NSL and I could watch them live on Prime TV. Suddenly I had a local team to support, and became a local. I will not suddenly embrace another HAL team if things go pear-shape for the Nix.
Actually, getting outplayed quite a bit these days
The thing that's stopping us from having a professional league isn't population, it's the fact that we have a very competitive sporting market. If you think about it a city like Dunedin with a population of 127,000 has two professional rugby teams, a professional cricket team, as well as semi-professional netball, womens rugby, football, etc.
Compare that to other markets where a city like Austin can have a population of more than two million people and yet have no (current) professional teams.
I think the word semi should be out in front of two of the three teams you have highlighted
No way you could say the volts are fullly professional and the same would apply to the NPC Team.
Both would be semi
Auckland will rise once more
The thing that's stopping us from having a professional league isn't population, it's the fact that we have a very competitive sporting market. If you think about it a city like Dunedin with a population of 127,000 has two professional rugby teams, a professional cricket team, as well as semi-professional netball, womens rugby, football, etc.
Compare that to other markets where a city like Austin can have a population of more than two million people and yet have no (current) professional teams.
I think the word semi should be out in front of two of the three teams you have highlighted
No way you could say the volts are fullly professional and the same would apply to the NPC Team.
Both would be semi
The cricket team is paid for by the Central body and is actually financed by India.
Moneys not great but the nz cricket teams are professional.
correct, the money's not great, the lowest paid player earns 27k.
That's well below the median NZ earnings of 52k
That's why it is semi
Auckland will rise once more