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Posted November 22, 2021 23:36 · last edited November 22, 2021 23:50

YoungHeart
coochiee
YoungHeart
Royz

Auckland has had several chances already, and it will probably get another chance at some point in the future - based on the fact it's our most populous city, full of big business, and holds a lot of our countries wealth/well heeled individuals.
 
But I don't see another way that doesn't end up going pear shaped. Aucklanders are fickle beasts and only turn up in the good times. I mean, just look at Auckland Rugby... 👀

And then there's the geography of the city:
QBE - North
Eden Park - Central
Mount Smart - South
Trusts Arena - West
Unless they're based around Eden Park then you're alienating most of the other parts of Auckland. Personally I hate Eden Park as anything other than the rugby ground it is. You're not going to sell it out for a football club, and then if/when times get tough, playing in front of 5-10k fans in a 50k capacity stadium, well, it just looks silly, and then factor in the financial loss. Everything just starts snowballing from there.

Could you make something work at Kiwitea? Possibly, but even then that would need a substantial upgrade. Auckland United - fantastic clubrooms, but it's no stadium. So then you go North/South or West, but then run the risk of alienating opposite sides of the city. These are just the geographical factors of the city for why a club would struggle to get off the ground. Because it's a nightmare in general. 

Any prospective owners/consortiums would have to have extremely deep pockets and look over the long term to build a club in that city. Even then it would just be very hard work for any involved.

Here's an out there thought - Why not look out of the confines of Auckland? Go Christchurch Waikato/Hamilton for instance.
Auckland does many things well, and has many things going in it's favour, but unfortunately it has a poor track record in maintaining professional football clubs. 

Just my thoughts of course. Would love another opinion on this. Someone from Auckland perhaps?






I'm not an Aucklander, but have had two 6 month stints living there last 3 years, visited plenty of times prior, and walked the 6 blocks to Eden Park, from my uncle's Mt Eden abode often. Love going to EP, and strolling around Sandringham pre match. Good energy going on.

YH to suggest that an A League team would consider basing itself anywhere but EP is sorry lunancy. Have you been there often? Surely the good to great crowds Nix have got an EP last few times, just puts any agrument to bed. If you are driving up there from New Plymouth or wherever, navigating through shark traffic, struggling to find a park nearby, and then just driving back to your home province, you will have a different experience to an Auckland local.

Western United may well have a good long term future, based in a Tarneit/Western Melbourne heartland, and achieve okay crowds. But at the moment their large Geelong AFL oval stadium is just all wrong, and the crowds a joke. A sure sign you have your stadium central to your popn base.

EP is central to the big sprawling city, has good public transport, a very close fun entertainment precinct (ask Dolaras by sounds of it), and the viewing experience there I personally find is good for football/rugby. Closer to action for me than the ROF, with more natural sideline feel. Complaints about EP are it's fit for purpose as cricket ground, whilst with the ROF/Cake Tin it's the bemoaning of why did they build it as an oval for 2 Black Caps cricket games a year.

If A League regular games were in range 8-15K you just open the ASB Stand, shutting off most of the stadium. That still seems to produce an okay crowd atmosphere, and looks alright on the telly. For the big games - Nix derby, alot of the novelty first season, any home finals you open up the whole joint.

Eden Park CEO is aggressively chasing events, and apparently offering favourable lease terms. Getting 4 summer music events approved despite the ex PM's objections a big win for them. I'm sure they would love to house an A League team. Plenty of space in the summer with NZ Cricket completely bypassing NZ's biggest city now. Though you might get the odd clash with one of those music events. Then you go to Mt Smart as no 2 option. Plus 1-2 times per season head to the Tron or Tauranga Domain for a New Years game maybe. Albany you avoid like the plague. Souless, distant wasteland of a joint.

Are Blues rugby fans, any more fickle than Canes fans? Don't really think so. But pre Covid Super Rugby crowds nationwide had been on a downhill slide. I reckon you would get very good first season crowds (12-25K range) for an Auckland A League side. Novelty value of some summer night sport entertainment, for a city that just continues to become more muticultural each year, many of those increasing immigrants being football fans. That's presuming the league stays mostly a summer comp.

Then you just need 1-2 marquee signings (1 maybe of Asian background), some smart marketing, engaging with local football clubs (esp the kids), a YF replica supporter group, better drummers, and yes winning as much as losing.

But the biggest obstacle to any of this happening, is someone to throw crazy cash at it all. Phoenix Football Club are so lucky to have a group of proud Wellingtonians in Welnix as their ownership group. So lucky.

But has been no one mentioned in Auckland in recent times, silly enough to do similar in the City of Cars. Warriors at last seem to have a sound true Auckland owners, who are also die hard league fans.

I once emailed Owen Glenn's office, asking if he would consider starting up an Auckland A League side. Did actually get a reply. Along lines of 'Mr Glenn, after his bad experience with NZ Warriors is unfortunately not interested........."! Though think he stills sponsors NZ Hockey heavily??

Isn't the Chairman of the Auckland United joint venture, an IT guru worth $40M plus or something?? Giltrap Motors (Auckland City) also bandied around once as maybe having the cash?? Pity Slava Meyn seems only interested in football in ChCh. Just think Garden City is too small, and too much of a rugby town to support an A League team. This from someone who lived in Canty til age 14.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/domestic/113678115/christchurch-united-eye-aleague-as-ultimate-goal

But without that deep pocketed, thick skinned ownership group with at least 1 football tragic likely onboard, hard to see Auckland making the bid line any time soon. If there was any group close to being interested, there would be rumours, and there have been none. Just seems sadly still in the too hard basket for NZ's biggest city. Rich (white) Aucklanders prefer to throw their money at yacht racing maybe.

When Western and Macarthur got chosen, there were 15 serious bids from all of Australia. Plenty of rich deep pocketed mining, real estate, shopping centre magnates all through Aussie. Much bigger, flashier economy than NZ. You also have a culture of State Govts and Councils not being afraid to throw tax/rate payers cash at type 'investments, esp if they also plan to build a nice new stadium and want a tenant.

Ipswich City were very very disappointed/bitter to be over looked for the new recently announced NRL expansion side. They plan to build a new stadium along Ipswich River. The Gong football community obviously want a team. Gold Coast will always be in the frame. Took them about 3 failures over 20 odd years, to finally have a somewhat stable NRL team there. Sunshine Coast Council I know are upgrading their stadium heading towards the Brisbane 2032 Olympics. South Melbourne would probably go okay, and they have a ready stadium at Albert Park. Will APL be as fixated on 'derbies', like Gallop was re expansion options? Will any new teams have to pay that ridiculously expensive $10M license entry fee or whatever it was, that from memory was lumbered on Snakes & Bulls??

My bet Canberra, and one other for the next expansion.
https://www.theroar.com.au/2021/07/03/whos-next-for-a-league-expansion/

But an Auckland team would be great for NZ Football, and for the Nix. A true tribal rival, with travelling fans and all that at long last. Welnix are genuinely supportive of the idea, and rightly so.



See this is the type of post I knew I was going to get! Good on ya. 😊

I also didn't touch on how good it would be for New Zealand Football to have a second professional football club, but yes, it would indeed be fantastic, wherever a new club may eventually be based, imagine another NZ side churning out more Singh's, Cacace's and Waineo's like the Nix have recently, it'd be brilliant!

Umm well where to start. I lived in Auckland for about 20 years (4-24). Lived, worked, studied centrally during that time, and have been to Eden Park plenty of times, for a mixture of cricket and rugby games. I don't know what it is, but something just doesn't do it for me (maybe it just boils down to my dislike/general apathy towards Auckland overall 🤷‍♂️) which probably doesn't help my bias. Centrality would help a fledgling Auckland clubs cause, but you need the right people on board from the get go to at least be moving the club in the right direction. When I say people as well, I'm meaning top down, right through to supporters, but an owner who 'Knows Auckland' or 'Lives and breathes Auckland' would be a great asset to building a club from the ground up too.

Alas, I think to get it off the ground, someone's going to have to part with $30-50 million just as a start up, easily...

Visa players, surely have to go all out and fill them all with quality players - European/Eastern European, right through Asia - I'm thinking Iraqi, South Korean, Chinese. Do that right and you'd be setting up the club the right way. Even if it is a bit of a slog to getting it going initially.

I don't think Auckland will be in the near future, Canberra + 1 (South Melbourne for mine) maybe down the line Auckland will come back into the picture, but for now I think it falls in the too hard basket. 

I was trying to find that article about Christchurch too, I still think that would be interesting. Slightly different population demographic (British/European expats). Obviously smaller than Auckland, but I'd give that one more of a chance of getting off the ground. I dunno, all very long term thinking of course. I just hope whoever gets the chance next in NZ, that they do it right.

Well there is a shiny new sports stadium coming to ChCh, right in the city centre. Plus meat magnate Slava Meyn now seems the standout football tragic in NZ with serious moolah. And he seems to be playing the long game down there in Canty, making it home.

Unfortunately Google can't seem to find me an estimate of his net worth! Still think ChCh is too small & rugby dominated to make it happen. But would be great if I'm wrong. A contrarian Forest Green Rovers!

The more you look at it, from every angle. The huge financial outlay/risk, is the giant obstacle to NZ getting a 2nd A League side. And for that Nix supporters should every day pay a quiet thanks to the soundness of the Welnix group.

Here is an interesting Mike Cockerill (RIP, you are missed) article from a few years back. From memory Cockerill lived in ChCh for a time??

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/aleague-fans-should-no-longer-be-treated-like-poor-cousins-for-stadiums-20160115-gm6ikm.html

A solution, believe it or not, could lie across the Tasman. I don't know Slava Meyn, but I'd like to. A passionate, committed, football man, who on the edges of Christchurch is building a football dream.

One day, although he is in no hurry, that may include an A-League bid. But only if there is the right stadium.

What makes Meyn different, and innovative, is that he refuses to accept the status quo in terms of construction costs. The clues are everywhere in his impressive Christchurch Football Academy complex near the airport - the best of its kind in New Zealand. The grandstand was first put together in China and properly certified before being shipped to Christchurch, where it was re-assembled. Like the goals, the partition nets and the artificial turf, Meyn scoured the world to source the best quality products at the best possible price and then imported them - thus circumventing the cosy cartel of local builders who have managed to make Australasian stadium costs the highest in the world.

It is an approach the wealthy Meyn is committed to because he knows what he is talking about. Before emigrating to New Zealand, he was part-owner of his hometown club in far-eastern Russia, Okean Nakhodka - where current Russian international Viktor Fayzulin remains the most famous graduate.

Meyn did not get around to building a stadium before he left, but he had done his homework on how to get the right fit at the right price. His favourite example is in Belarus, where BATE Borisov recently opened a 13,000 all-seat stadium which was given the highest rating by UEFA despite costing just $45 million to build.

That - albeit with a few more thousand seats - is what Christchurch needs, what the MLS has, and what the A-League needs more of. It will require richer owners, and more committed ones. It is by far the best long-term solution, but in the meantime there is a crucial consolation prize to be sought. Better rental agreements at existing stadiums or - in the case of Parramatta - smarter ones. It is better than nothing.

Previous versions

4 versions
Unknown editor edited November 22, 2021 23:50
YoungHeart
coochiee
YoungHeart
Royz

Auckland has had several chances already, and it will probably get another chance at some point in the future - based on the fact it's our most populous city, full of big business, and holds a lot of our countries wealth/well heeled individuals.
 
But I don't see another way that doesn't end up going pear shaped. Aucklanders are fickle beasts and only turn up in the good times. I mean, just look at Auckland Rugby... 👀

And then there's the geography of the city:
QBE - North
Eden Park - Central
Mount Smart - South
Trusts Arena - West
Unless they're based around Eden Park then you're alienating most of the other parts of Auckland. Personally I hate Eden Park as anything other than the rugby ground it is. You're not going to sell it out for a football club, and then if/when times get tough, playing in front of 5-10k fans in a 50k capacity stadium, well, it just looks silly, and then factor in the financial loss. Everything just starts snowballing from there.

Could you make something work at Kiwitea? Possibly, but even then that would need a substantial upgrade. Auckland United - fantastic clubrooms, but it's no stadium. So then you go North/South or West, but then run the risk of alienating opposite sides of the city. These are just the geographical factors of the city for why a club would struggle to get off the ground. Because it's a nightmare in general. 

Any prospective owners/consortiums would have to have extremely deep pockets and look over the long term to build a club in that city. Even then it would just be very hard work for any involved.

Here's an out there thought - Why not look out of the confines of Auckland? Go Christchurch Waikato/Hamilton for instance.
Auckland does many things well, and has many things going in it's favour, but unfortunately it has a poor track record in maintaining professional football clubs. 

Just my thoughts of course. Would love another opinion on this. Someone from Auckland perhaps?






I'm not an Aucklander, but have had two 6 month stints living there last 3 years, visited plenty of times prior, and walked the 6 blocks to Eden Park, from my uncle's Mt Eden abode often. Love going to EP, and strolling around Sandringham pre match. Good energy going on.

YH to suggest that an A League team would consider basing itself anywhere but EP is sorry lunancy. Have you been there often? Surely the good to great crowds Nix have got an EP last few times, just puts any agrument to bed. If you are driving up there from New Plymouth or wherever, navigating through shark traffic, struggling to find a park nearby, and then just driving back to your home province, you will have a different experience to an Auckland local.

Western United may well have a good long term future, based in a Tarneit/Western Melbourne heartland, and achieve okay crowds. But at the moment their large Geelong AFL oval stadium is just all wrong, and the crowds a joke. A sure sign you have your stadium central to your popn base.

EP is central to the big sprawling city, has good public transport, a very close fun entertainment precinct (ask Dolaras by sounds of it), and the viewing experience there I personally find is good for football/rugby. Closer to action for me than the ROF, with more natural sideline feel. Complaints about EP are it's fit for purpose as cricket ground, whilst with the ROF/Cake Tin it's the bemoaning of why did they build it as an oval for 2 Black Caps cricket games a year.

If A League regular games were in range 8-15K you just open the ASB Stand, shutting off most of the stadium. That still seems to produce an okay crowd atmosphere, and looks alright on the telly. For the big games - Nix derby, alot of the novelty first season, any home finals you open up the whole joint.

Eden Park CEO is aggressively chasing events, and apparently offering favourable lease terms. Getting 4 summer music events approved despite the ex PM's objections a big win for them. I'm sure they would love to house an A League team. Plenty of space in the summer with NZ Cricket completely bypassing NZ's biggest city now. Though you might get the odd clash with one of those music events. Then you go to Mt Smart as no 2 option. Plus 1-2 times per season head to the Tron or Tauranga Domain for a New Years game maybe. Albany you avoid like the plague. Souless, distant wasteland of a joint.

Are Blues rugby fans, any more fickle than Canes fans? Don't really think so. But pre Covid Super Rugby crowds nationwide had been on a downhill slide. I reckon you would get very good first season crowds (12-25K range) for an Auckland A League side. Novelty value of some summer night sport entertainment, for a city that just continues to become more muticultural each year, many of those increasing immigrants being football fans. That's presuming the league stays mostly a summer comp.

Then you just need 1-2 marquee signings (1 maybe of Asian background), some smart marketing, engaging with local football clubs (esp the kids), a YF replica supporter group, better drummers, and yes winning as much as losing.

But the biggest obstacle to any of this happening, is someone to throw crazy cash at it all. Phoenix Football Club are so lucky to have a group of proud Wellingtonians in Welnix as their ownership group. So lucky.

But has been no one mentioned in Auckland in recent times, silly enough to do similar in the City of Cars. Warriors at last seem to have a sound true Auckland owners, who are also die hard league fans.

I once emailed Owen Glenn's office, asking if he would consider starting up an Auckland A League side. Did actually get a reply. Along lines of 'Mr Glenn, after his bad experience with NZ Warriors is unfortunately not interested........."! Though think he stills sponsors NZ Hockey heavily??

Isn't the Chairman of the Auckland United joint venture, an IT guru worth $40M plus or something?? Giltrap Motors (Auckland City) also bandied around once as maybe having the cash?? Pity Slava Meyn seems only interested in football in ChCh. Just think Garden City is too small, and too much of a rugby town to support an A League team. This from someone who lived in Canty til age 14.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/domestic/113678115/christchurch-united-eye-aleague-as-ultimate-goal

But without that deep pocketed, thick skinned ownership group with at least 1 football tragic likely onboard, hard to see Auckland making the bid line any time soon. If there was any group close to being interested, there would be rumours, and there have been none. Just seems sadly still in the too hard basket for NZ's biggest city. Rich (white) Aucklanders prefer to throw their money at yacht racing maybe.

When Western and Macarthur got chosen, there were 15 serious bids from all of Australia. Plenty of rich deep pocketed mining, real estate, shopping centre magnates all through Aussie. Much bigger, flashier economy than NZ. You also have a culture of State Govts and Councils not being afraid to throw tax/rate payers cash at type 'investments, esp if they also plan to build a nice new stadium and want a tenant.

Ipswich City were very very disappointed/bitter to be over looked for the new recently announced NRL expansion side. They plan to build a new stadium along Ipswich River. The Gong football community obviously want a team. Gold Coast will always be in the frame. Took them about 3 failures over 20 odd years, to finally have a somewhat stable NRL team there. Sunshine Coast Council I know are upgrading their stadium heading towards the Brisbane 2032 Olympics. South Melbourne would probably go okay, and they have a ready stadium at Albert Park. Will APL be as fixated on 'derbies', like Gallop was re expansion options? Will any new teams have to pay that ridiculously expensive $10M license entry fee or whatever it was, that from memory was lumbered on Snakes & Bulls??

My bet Canberra, and one other for the next expansion.
https://www.theroar.com.au/2021/07/03/whos-next-for-a-league-expansion/

But an Auckland team would be great for NZ Football, and for the Nix. A true tribal rival, with travelling fans and all that at long last. Welnix are genuinely supportive of the idea, and rightly so.



See this is the type of post I knew I was going to get! Good on ya. 😊

I also didn't touch on how good it would be for New Zealand Football to have a second professional football club, but yes, it would indeed be fantastic, wherever a new club may eventually be based, imagine another NZ side churning out more Singh's, Cacace's and Waineo's like the Nix have recently, it'd be brilliant!

Umm well where to start. I lived in Auckland for about 20 years (4-24). Lived, worked, studied centrally during that time, and have been to Eden Park plenty of times, for a mixture of cricket and rugby games. I don't know what it is, but something just doesn't do it for me (maybe it just boils down to my dislike/general apathy towards Auckland overall 🤷‍♂️) which probably doesn't help my bias. Centrality would help a fledgling Auckland clubs cause, but you need the right people on board from the get go to at least be moving the club in the right direction. When I say people as well, I'm meaning top down, right through to supporters, but an owner who 'Knows Auckland' or 'Lives and breathes Auckland' would be a great asset to building a club from the ground up too.

Alas, I think to get it off the ground, someone's going to have to part with $30-50 million just as a start up, easily...

Visa players, surely have to go all out and fill them all with quality players - European/Eastern European, right through Asia - I'm thinking Iraqi, South Korean, Chinese. Do that right and you'd be setting up the club the right way. Even if it is a bit of a slog to getting it going initially.

I don't think Auckland will be in the near future, Canberra + 1 (South Melbourne for mine) maybe down the line Auckland will come back into the picture, but for now I think it falls in the too hard basket. 

I was trying to find that article about Christchurch too, I still think that would be interesting. Slightly different population demographic (British/European expats). Obviously smaller than Auckland, but I'd give that one more of a chance of getting off the ground. I dunno, all very long term thinking of course. I just hope whoever gets the chance next in NZ, that they do it right.

Well there is a shiny new sports stadium coming to ChCh, right in the city centre. Plus meat magnate Slava Meyn now seems the standout football tragic in NZ with serious moolah. And he seems to be playing the long game down there in Canty, making it home.

Unfortunately Google can't seem to find me an estimate of his net worth! Still think ChCh is too small to make it happen. But would be great if I'm wrong. A contrarian Forest Green Rovers!

The more you look at it, from every angle. The huge financial outlay/risk, is the giant obstacle to NZ getting a 2nd A League side. And for that Nix supporters should every day pay a quiet thanks to the soundness of the Welnix group.

Here is an interesting Mike Cockerill (RIP, you are missed) article from a few years back. From memory Cockerill lived in ChCh for a time??

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/aleague-fans-should-no-longer-be-treated-like-poor-cousins-for-stadiums-20160115-gm6ikm.html

A solution, believe it or not, could lie across the Tasman. I don't know Slava Meyn, but I'd like to. A passionate, committed, football man, who on the edges of Christchurch is building a football dream.

One day, although he is in no hurry, that may include an A-League bid. But only if there is the right stadium.

What makes Meyn different, and innovative, is that he refuses to accept the status quo in terms of construction costs. The clues are everywhere in his impressive Christchurch Football Academy complex near the airport - the best of its kind in New Zealand. The grandstand was first put together in China and properly certified before being shipped to Christchurch, where it was re-assembled. Like the goals, the partition nets and the artificial turf, Meyn scoured the world to source the best quality products at the best possible price and then imported them - thus circumventing the cosy cartel of local builders who have managed to make Australasian stadium costs the highest in the world.

It is an approach the wealthy Meyn is committed to because he knows what he is talking about. Before emigrating to New Zealand, he was part-owner of his hometown club in far-eastern Russia, Okean Nakhodka - where current Russian international Viktor Fayzulin remains the most famous graduate.

Meyn did not get around to building a stadium before he left, but he had done his homework on how to get the right fit at the right price. His favourite example is in Belarus, where BATE Borisov recently opened a 13,000 all-seat stadium which was given the highest rating by UEFA despite costing just $45 million to build.

That - albeit with a few more thousand seats - is what Christchurch needs, what the MLS has, and what the A-League needs more of. It will require richer owners, and more committed ones. It is by far the best long-term solution, but in the meantime there is a crucial consolation prize to be sought. Better rental agreements at existing stadiums or - in the case of Parramatta - smarter ones. It is better than nothing.
Unknown editor edited November 22, 2021 23:43
YoungHeart
coochiee
YoungHeart
Royz

Auckland has had several chances already, and it will probably get another chance at some point in the future - based on the fact it's our most populous city, full of big business, and holds a lot of our countries wealth/well heeled individuals.
 
But I don't see another way that doesn't end up going pear shaped. Aucklanders are fickle beasts and only turn up in the good times. I mean, just look at Auckland Rugby... 👀

And then there's the geography of the city:
QBE - North
Eden Park - Central
Mount Smart - South
Trusts Arena - West
Unless they're based around Eden Park then you're alienating most of the other parts of Auckland. Personally I hate Eden Park as anything other than the rugby ground it is. You're not going to sell it out for a football club, and then if/when times get tough, playing in front of 5-10k fans in a 50k capacity stadium, well, it just looks silly, and then factor in the financial loss. Everything just starts snowballing from there.

Could you make something work at Kiwitea? Possibly, but even then that would need a substantial upgrade. Auckland United - fantastic clubrooms, but it's no stadium. So then you go North/South or West, but then run the risk of alienating opposite sides of the city. These are just the geographical factors of the city for why a club would struggle to get off the ground. Because it's a nightmare in general. 

Any prospective owners/consortiums would have to have extremely deep pockets and look over the long term to build a club in that city. Even then it would just be very hard work for any involved.

Here's an out there thought - Why not look out of the confines of Auckland? Go Christchurch Waikato/Hamilton for instance.
Auckland does many things well, and has many things going in it's favour, but unfortunately it has a poor track record in maintaining professional football clubs. 

Just my thoughts of course. Would love another opinion on this. Someone from Auckland perhaps?






I'm not an Aucklander, but have had two 6 month stints living there last 3 years, visited plenty of times prior, and walked the 6 blocks to Eden Park, from my uncle's Mt Eden abode often. Love going to EP, and strolling around Sandringham pre match. Good energy going on.

YH to suggest that an A League team would consider basing itself anywhere but EP is sorry lunancy. Have you been there often? Surely the good to great crowds Nix have got an EP last few times, just puts any agrument to bed. If you are driving up there from New Plymouth or wherever, navigating through shark traffic, struggling to find a park nearby, and then just driving back to your home province, you will have a different experience to an Auckland local.

Western United may well have a good long term future, based in a Tarneit/Western Melbourne heartland, and achieve okay crowds. But at the moment their large Geelong AFL oval stadium is just all wrong, and the crowds a joke. A sure sign you have your stadium central to your popn base.

EP is central to the big sprawling city, has good public transport, a very close fun entertainment precinct (ask Dolaras by sounds of it), and the viewing experience there I personally find is good for football/rugby. Closer to action for me than the ROF, with more natural sideline feel. Complaints about EP are it's fit for purpose as cricket ground, whilst with the ROF/Cake Tin it's the bemoaning of why did they build it as an oval for 2 Black Caps cricket games a year.

If A League regular games were in range 8-15K you just open the ASB Stand, shutting off most of the stadium. That still seems to produce an okay crowd atmosphere, and looks alright on the telly. For the big games - Nix derby, alot of the novelty first season, any home finals you open up the whole joint.

Eden Park CEO is aggressively chasing events, and apparently offering favourable lease terms. Getting 4 summer music events approved despite the ex PM's objections a big win for them. I'm sure they would love to house an A League team. Plenty of space in the summer with NZ Cricket completely bypassing NZ's biggest city now. Though you might get the odd clash with one of those music events. Then you go to Mt Smart as no 2 option. Plus 1-2 times per season head to the Tron or Tauranga Domain for a New Years game maybe. Albany you avoid like the plague. Souless, distant wasteland of a joint.

Are Blues rugby fans, any more fickle than Canes fans? Don't really think so. But pre Covid Super Rugby crowds nationwide had been on a downhill slide. I reckon you would get very good first season crowds (12-25K range) for an Auckland A League side. Novelty value of some summer night sport entertainment, for a city that just continues to become more muticultural each year, many of those increasing immigrants being football fans. That's presuming the league stays mostly a summer comp.

Then you just need 1-2 marquee signings (1 maybe of Asian background), some smart marketing, engaging with local football clubs (esp the kids), a YF replica supporter group, better drummers, and yes winning as much as losing.

But the biggest obstacle to any of this happening, is someone to throw crazy cash at it all. Phoenix Football Club are so lucky to have a group of proud Wellingtonians in Welnix as their ownership group. So lucky.

But has been no one mentioned in Auckland in recent times, silly enough to do similar in the City of Cars. Warriors at last seem to have a sound true Auckland owners, who are also die hard league fans.

I once emailed Owen Glenn's office, asking if he would consider starting up an Auckland A League side. Did actually get a reply. Along lines of 'Mr Glenn, after his bad experience with NZ Warriors is unfortunately not interested........."! Though think he stills sponsors NZ Hockey heavily??

Isn't the Chairman of the Auckland United joint venture, an IT guru worth $40M plus or something?? Giltrap Motors (Auckland City) also bandied around once as maybe having the cash?? Pity Slava Meyn seems only interested in football in ChCh. Just think Garden City is too small, and too much of a rugby town to support an A League team. This from someone who lived in Canty til age 14.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/domestic/113678115/christchurch-united-eye-aleague-as-ultimate-goal

But without that deep pocketed, thick skinned ownership group with at least 1 football tragic likely onboard, hard to see Auckland making the bid line any time soon. If there was any group close to being interested, there would be rumours, and there have been none. Just seems sadly still in the too hard basket for NZ's biggest city. Rich (white) Aucklanders prefer to throw their money at yacht racing maybe.

When Western and Macarthur got chosen, there were 15 serious bids from all of Australia. Plenty of rich deep pocketed mining, real estate, shopping centre magnates all through Aussie. Much bigger, flashier economy than NZ. You also have a culture of State Govts and Councils not being afraid to throw tax/rate payers cash at type 'investments, esp if they also plan to build a nice new stadium and want a tenant.

Ipswich City were very very disappointed/bitter to be over looked for the new recently announced NRL expansion side. They plan to build a new stadium along Ipswich River. The Gong football community obviously want a team. Gold Coast will always be in the frame. Took them about 3 failures over 20 odd years, to finally have a somewhat stable NRL team there. Sunshine Coast Council I know are upgrading their stadium heading towards the Brisbane 2032 Olympics. South Melbourne would probably go okay, and they have a ready stadium at Albert Park. Will APL be as fixated on 'derbies', like Gallop was re expansion options? Will any new teams have to pay that ridiculously expensive $10M license entry fee or whatever it was, that from memory was lumbered on Snakes & Bulls??

My bet Canberra, and one other for the next expansion.
https://www.theroar.com.au/2021/07/03/whos-next-for-a-league-expansion/

But an Auckland team would be great for NZ Football, and for the Nix. A true tribal rival, with travelling fans and all that at long last. Welnix are genuinely supportive of the idea, and rightly so.



See this is the type of post I knew I was going to get! Good on ya. 😊

I also didn't touch on how good it would be for New Zealand Football to have a second professional football club, but yes, it would indeed be fantastic, wherever a new club may eventually be based, imagine another NZ side churning out more Singh's, Cacace's and Waineo's like the Nix have recently, it'd be brilliant!

Umm well where to start. I lived in Auckland for about 20 years (4-24). Lived, worked, studied centrally during that time, and have been to Eden Park plenty of times, for a mixture of cricket and rugby games. I don't know what it is, but something just doesn't do it for me (maybe it just boils down to my dislike/general apathy towards Auckland overall 🤷‍♂️) which probably doesn't help my bias. Centrality would help a fledgling Auckland clubs cause, but you need the right people on board from the get go to at least be moving the club in the right direction. When I say people as well, I'm meaning top down, right through to supporters, but an owner who 'Knows Auckland' or 'Lives and breathes Auckland' would be a great asset to building a club from the ground up too.

Alas, I think to get it off the ground, someone's going to have to part with $30-50 million just as a start up, easily...

Visa players, surely have to go all out and fill them all with quality players - European/Eastern European, right through Asia - I'm thinking Iraqi, South Korean, Chinese. Do that right and you'd be setting up the club the right way. Even if it is a bit of a slog to getting it going initially.

I don't think Auckland will be in the near future, Canberra + 1 (South Melbourne for mine) maybe down the line Auckland will come back into the picture, but for now I think it falls in the too hard basket. 

I was trying to find that article about Christchurch too, I still think that would be interesting. Slightly different population demographic (British/European expats). Obviously smaller than Auckland, but I'd give that one more of a chance of getting off the ground. I dunno, all very long term thinking of course. I just hope whoever gets the chance next in NZ, that they do it right.

Well there is a shiny new sports stadium coming to ChCh, right in the city centre. Plus Slava Meyn now seems the standout football tragic in NZ with serious moolah. And he seems to be playing the long game down there in Canty, making it home.

Unfortunately Google can't seem to find me an estimate of his net worth! Still think ChCh is too small to make it happen. But would be great if I'm wrong. A contrarian Forest Green Rovers!

The more you look at it, from every angle. The huge financial outlay/risk, is the giant obstacle to NZ getting a 2nd A League side. And for that Nix supporters should every day pay a quiet thanks to the soundness of the Welnix group.

Here is an interesting Mike Cockerill (RIP, you are missed) article from a few years back. From memory Cockerill lived in ChCh for a time??

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/aleague-fans-should-no-longer-be-treated-like-poor-cousins-for-stadiums-20160115-gm6ikm.html

A solution, believe it or not, could lie across the Tasman. I don't know Slava Meyn, but I'd like to. A passionate, committed, football man, who on the edges of Christchurch is building a football dream.

One day, although he is in no hurry, that may include an A-League bid. But only if there is the right stadium.

What makes Meyn different, and innovative, is that he refuses to accept the status quo in terms of construction costs. The clues are everywhere in his impressive Christchurch Football Academy complex near the airport - the best of its kind in New Zealand. The grandstand was first put together in China and properly certified before being shipped to Christchurch, where it was re-assembled. Like the goals, the partition nets and the artificial turf, Meyn scoured the world to source the best quality products at the best possible price and then imported them - thus circumventing the cosy cartel of local builders who have managed to make Australasian stadium costs the highest in the world.

It is an approach the wealthy Meyn is committed to because he knows what he is talking about. Before emigrating to New Zealand, he was part-owner of his hometown club in far-eastern Russia, Okean Nakhodka - where current Russian international Viktor Fayzulin remains the most famous graduate.

Meyn did not get around to building a stadium before he left, but he had done his homework on how to get the right fit at the right price. His favourite example is in Belarus, where BATE Borisov recently opened a 13,000 all-seat stadium which was given the highest rating by UEFA despite costing just $45 million to build.

That - albeit with a few more thousand seats - is what Christchurch needs, what the MLS has, and what the A-League needs more of. It will require richer owners, and more committed ones. It is by far the best long-term solution, but in the meantime there is a crucial consolation prize to be sought. Better rental agreements at existing stadiums or - in the case of Parramatta - smarter ones. It is better than nothing.
Unknown editor edited November 22, 2021 23:41
YoungHeart
coochiee
YoungHeart
Royz

Auckland has had several chances already, and it will probably get another chance at some point in the future - based on the fact it's our most populous city, full of big business, and holds a lot of our countries wealth/well heeled individuals.
 
But I don't see another way that doesn't end up going pear shaped. Aucklanders are fickle beasts and only turn up in the good times. I mean, just look at Auckland Rugby... 👀

And then there's the geography of the city:
QBE - North
Eden Park - Central
Mount Smart - South
Trusts Arena - West
Unless they're based around Eden Park then you're alienating most of the other parts of Auckland. Personally I hate Eden Park as anything other than the rugby ground it is. You're not going to sell it out for a football club, and then if/when times get tough, playing in front of 5-10k fans in a 50k capacity stadium, well, it just looks silly, and then factor in the financial loss. Everything just starts snowballing from there.

Could you make something work at Kiwitea? Possibly, but even then that would need a substantial upgrade. Auckland United - fantastic clubrooms, but it's no stadium. So then you go North/South or West, but then run the risk of alienating opposite sides of the city. These are just the geographical factors of the city for why a club would struggle to get off the ground. Because it's a nightmare in general. 

Any prospective owners/consortiums would have to have extremely deep pockets and look over the long term to build a club in that city. Even then it would just be very hard work for any involved.

Here's an out there thought - Why not look out of the confines of Auckland? Go Christchurch Waikato/Hamilton for instance.
Auckland does many things well, and has many things going in it's favour, but unfortunately it has a poor track record in maintaining professional football clubs. 

Just my thoughts of course. Would love another opinion on this. Someone from Auckland perhaps?






I'm not an Aucklander, but have had two 6 month stints living there last 3 years, visited plenty of times prior, and walked the 6 blocks to Eden Park, from my uncle's Mt Eden abode often. Love going to EP, and strolling around Sandringham pre match. Good energy going on.

YH to suggest that an A League team would consider basing itself anywhere but EP is sorry lunancy. Have you been there often? Surely the good to great crowds Nix have got an EP last few times, just puts any agrument to bed. If you are driving up there from New Plymouth or wherever, navigating through shark traffic, struggling to find a park nearby, and then just driving back to your home province, you will have a different experience to an Auckland local.

Western United may well have a good long term future, based in a Tarneit/Western Melbourne heartland, and achieve okay crowds. But at the moment their large Geelong AFL oval stadium is just all wrong, and the crowds a joke. A sure sign you have your stadium central to your popn base.

EP is central to the big sprawling city, has good public transport, a very close fun entertainment precinct (ask Dolaras by sounds of it), and the viewing experience there I personally find is good for football/rugby. Closer to action for me than the ROF, with more natural sideline feel. Complaints about EP are it's fit for purpose as cricket ground, whilst with the ROF/Cake Tin it's the bemoaning of why did they build it as an oval for 2 Black Caps cricket games a year.

If A League regular games were in range 8-15K you just open the ASB Stand, shutting off most of the stadium. That still seems to produce an okay crowd atmosphere, and looks alright on the telly. For the big games - Nix derby, alot of the novelty first season, any home finals you open up the whole joint.

Eden Park CEO is aggressively chasing events, and apparently offering favourable lease terms. Getting 4 summer music events approved despite the ex PM's objections a big win for them. I'm sure they would love to house an A League team. Plenty of space in the summer with NZ Cricket completely bypassing NZ's biggest city now. Though you might get the odd clash with one of those music events. Then you go to Mt Smart as no 2 option. Plus 1-2 times per season head to the Tron or Tauranga Domain for a New Years game maybe. Albany you avoid like the plague. Souless, distant wasteland of a joint.

Are Blues rugby fans, any more fickle than Canes fans? Don't really think so. But pre Covid Super Rugby crowds nationwide had been on a downhill slide. I reckon you would get very good first season crowds (12-25K range) for an Auckland A League side. Novelty value of some summer night sport entertainment, for a city that just continues to become more muticultural each year, many of those increasing immigrants being football fans. That's presuming the league stays mostly a summer comp.

Then you just need 1-2 marquee signings (1 maybe of Asian background), some smart marketing, engaging with local football clubs (esp the kids), a YF replica supporter group, better drummers, and yes winning as much as losing.

But the biggest obstacle to any of this happening, is someone to throw crazy cash at it all. Phoenix Football Club are so lucky to have a group of proud Wellingtonians in Welnix as their ownership group. So lucky.

But has been no one mentioned in Auckland in recent times, silly enough to do similar in the City of Cars. Warriors at last seem to have a sound true Auckland owners, who are also die hard league fans.

I once emailed Owen Glenn's office, asking if he would consider starting up an Auckland A League side. Did actually get a reply. Along lines of 'Mr Glenn, after his bad experience with NZ Warriors is unfortunately not interested........."! Though think he stills sponsors NZ Hockey heavily??

Isn't the Chairman of the Auckland United joint venture, an IT guru worth $40M plus or something?? Giltrap Motors (Auckland City) also bandied around once as maybe having the cash?? Pity Slava Meyn seems only interested in football in ChCh. Just think Garden City is too small, and too much of a rugby town to support an A League team. This from someone who lived in Canty til age 14.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/domestic/113678115/christchurch-united-eye-aleague-as-ultimate-goal

But without that deep pocketed, thick skinned ownership group with at least 1 football tragic likely onboard, hard to see Auckland making the bid line any time soon. If there was any group close to being interested, there would be rumours, and there have been none. Just seems sadly still in the too hard basket for NZ's biggest city. Rich (white) Aucklanders prefer to throw their money at yacht racing maybe.

When Western and Macarthur got chosen, there were 15 serious bids from all of Australia. Plenty of rich deep pocketed mining, real estate, shopping centre magnates all through Aussie. Much bigger, flashier economy than NZ. You also have a culture of State Govts and Councils not being afraid to throw tax/rate payers cash at type 'investments, esp if they also plan to build a nice new stadium and want a tenant.

Ipswich City were very very disappointed/bitter to be over looked for the new recently announced NRL expansion side. They plan to build a new stadium along Ipswich River. The Gong football community obviously want a team. Gold Coast will always be in the frame. Took them about 3 failures over 20 odd years, to finally have a somewhat stable NRL team there. Sunshine Coast Council I know are upgrading their stadium heading towards the Brisbane 2032 Olympics. South Melbourne would probably go okay, and they have a ready stadium at Albert Park. Will APL be as fixated on 'derbies', like Gallop was re expansion options? Will any new teams have to pay that ridiculously expensive $10M license entry fee or whatever it was, that from memory was lumbered on Snakes & Bulls??

My bet Canberra, and one other for the next expansion.
https://www.theroar.com.au/2021/07/03/whos-next-for-a-league-expansion/

But an Auckland team would be great for NZ Football, and for the Nix. A true tribal rival, with travelling fans and all that at long last. Welnix are genuinely supportive of the idea, and rightly so.



See this is the type of post I knew I was going to get! Good on ya. 😊

I also didn't touch on how good it would be for New Zealand Football to have a second professional football club, but yes, it would indeed be fantastic, wherever a new club may eventually be based, imagine another NZ side churning out more Singh's, Cacace's and Waineo's like the Nix have recently, it'd be brilliant!

Umm well where to start. I lived in Auckland for about 20 years (4-24). Lived, worked, studied centrally during that time, and have been to Eden Park plenty of times, for a mixture of cricket and rugby games. I don't know what it is, but something just doesn't do it for me (maybe it just boils down to my dislike/general apathy towards Auckland overall 🤷‍♂️) which probably doesn't help my bias. Centrality would help a fledgling Auckland clubs cause, but you need the right people on board from the get go to at least be moving the club in the right direction. When I say people as well, I'm meaning top down, right through to supporters, but an owner who 'Knows Auckland' or 'Lives and breathes Auckland' would be a great asset to building a club from the ground up too.

Alas, I think to get it off the ground, someone's going to have to part with $30-50 million just as a start up, easily...

Visa players, surely have to go all out and fill them all with quality players - European/Eastern European, right through Asia - I'm thinking Iraqi, South Korean, Chinese. Do that right and you'd be setting up the club the right way. Even if it is a bit of a slog to getting it going initially.

I don't think Auckland will be in the near future, Canberra + 1 (South Melbourne for mine) maybe down the line Auckland will come back into the picture, but for now I think it falls in the too hard basket. 

I was trying to find that article about Christchurch too, I still think that would be interesting. Slightly different population demographic (British/European expats). Obviously smaller than Auckland, but I'd give that one more of a chance of getting off the ground. I dunno, all very long term thinking of course. I just hope whoever gets the chance next in NZ, that they do it right.

Well there is a shiny new sports stadium coming to ChCh, right in the city centre. Plus Slava Meyn now seems the standout football tragic in NZ with serious moolah. And he seems to be playing the long game down there in Canty, making it home.

Unfortunately Google can't seem to find me an estimate of his net worth! Still think ChCh is too small to make it happen. But would be great if I'm wrong. A contrarian Forest Green Rovers!

Here is an interesting Mike Cockerill (RIP, you are missed) article from a few years back. From memory Cockerill lived in ChCh for a time??

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/aleague-fans-should-no-longer-be-treated-like-poor-cousins-for-stadiums-20160115-gm6ikm.html

A solution, believe it or not, could lie across the Tasman. I don't know Slava Meyn, but I'd like to. A passionate, committed, football man, who on the edges of Christchurch is building a football dream.

One day, although he is in no hurry, that may include an A-League bid. But only if there is the right stadium.

What makes Meyn different, and innovative, is that he refuses to accept the status quo in terms of construction costs. The clues are everywhere in his impressive Christchurch Football Academy complex near the airport - the best of its kind in New Zealand. The grandstand was first put together in China and properly certified before being shipped to Christchurch, where it was re-assembled. Like the goals, the partition nets and the artificial turf, Meyn scoured the world to source the best quality products at the best possible price and then imported them - thus circumventing the cosy cartel of local builders who have managed to make Australasian stadium costs the highest in the world.

It is an approach the wealthy Meyn is committed to because he knows what he is talking about. Before emigrating to New Zealand, he was part-owner of his hometown club in far-eastern Russia, Okean Nakhodka - where current Russian international Viktor Fayzulin remains the most famous graduate.

Meyn did not get around to building a stadium before he left, but he had done his homework on how to get the right fit at the right price. His favourite example is in Belarus, where BATE Borisov recently opened a 13,000 all-seat stadium which was given the highest rating by UEFA despite costing just $45 million to build.

That - albeit with a few more thousand seats - is what Christchurch needs, what the MLS has, and what the A-League needs more of. It will require richer owners, and more committed ones. It is by far the best long-term solution, but in the meantime there is a crucial consolation prize to be sought. Better rental agreements at existing stadiums or - in the case of Parramatta - smarter ones. It is better than nothing.
Unknown editor edited November 22, 2021 23:38
YoungHeart
coochiee
YoungHeart
Royz

Auckland has had several chances already, and it will probably get another chance at some point in the future - based on the fact it's our most populous city, full of big business, and holds a lot of our countries wealth/well heeled individuals.
 
But I don't see another way that doesn't end up going pear shaped. Aucklanders are fickle beasts and only turn up in the good times. I mean, just look at Auckland Rugby... 👀

And then there's the geography of the city:
QBE - North
Eden Park - Central
Mount Smart - South
Trusts Arena - West
Unless they're based around Eden Park then you're alienating most of the other parts of Auckland. Personally I hate Eden Park as anything other than the rugby ground it is. You're not going to sell it out for a football club, and then if/when times get tough, playing in front of 5-10k fans in a 50k capacity stadium, well, it just looks silly, and then factor in the financial loss. Everything just starts snowballing from there.

Could you make something work at Kiwitea? Possibly, but even then that would need a substantial upgrade. Auckland United - fantastic clubrooms, but it's no stadium. So then you go North/South or West, but then run the risk of alienating opposite sides of the city. These are just the geographical factors of the city for why a club would struggle to get off the ground. Because it's a nightmare in general. 

Any prospective owners/consortiums would have to have extremely deep pockets and look over the long term to build a club in that city. Even then it would just be very hard work for any involved.

Here's an out there thought - Why not look out of the confines of Auckland? Go Christchurch Waikato/Hamilton for instance.
Auckland does many things well, and has many things going in it's favour, but unfortunately it has a poor track record in maintaining professional football clubs. 

Just my thoughts of course. Would love another opinion on this. Someone from Auckland perhaps?






I'm not an Aucklander, but have had two 6 month stints living there last 3 years, visited plenty of times prior, and walked the 6 blocks to Eden Park, from my uncle's Mt Eden abode often. Love going to EP, and strolling around Sandringham pre match. Good energy going on.

YH to suggest that an A League team would consider basing itself anywhere but EP is sorry lunancy. Have you been there often? Surely the good to great crowds Nix have got an EP last few times, just puts any agrument to bed. If you are driving up there from New Plymouth or wherever, navigating through shark traffic, struggling to find a park nearby, and then just driving back to your home province, you will have a different experience to an Auckland local.

Western United may well have a good long term future, based in a Tarneit/Western Melbourne heartland, and achieve okay crowds. But at the moment their large Geelong AFL oval stadium is just all wrong, and the crowds a joke. A sure sign you have your stadium central to your popn base.

EP is central to the big sprawling city, has good public transport, a very close fun entertainment precinct (ask Dolaras by sounds of it), and the viewing experience there I personally find is good for football/rugby. Closer to action for me than the ROF, with more natural sideline feel. Complaints about EP are it's fit for purpose as cricket ground, whilst with the ROF/Cake Tin it's the bemoaning of why did they build it as an oval for 2 Black Caps cricket games a year.

If A League regular games were in range 8-15K you just open the ASB Stand, shutting off most of the stadium. That still seems to produce an okay crowd atmosphere, and looks alright on the telly. For the big games - Nix derby, alot of the novelty first season, any home finals you open up the whole joint.

Eden Park CEO is aggressively chasing events, and apparently offering favourable lease terms. Getting 4 summer music events approved despite the ex PM's objections a big win for them. I'm sure they would love to house an A League team. Plenty of space in the summer with NZ Cricket completely bypassing NZ's biggest city now. Though you might get the odd clash with one of those music events. Then you go to Mt Smart as no 2 option. Plus 1-2 times per season head to the Tron or Tauranga Domain for a New Years game maybe. Albany you avoid like the plague. Souless, distant wasteland of a joint.

Are Blues rugby fans, any more fickle than Canes fans? Don't really think so. But pre Covid Super Rugby crowds nationwide had been on a downhill slide. I reckon you would get very good first season crowds (12-25K range) for an Auckland A League side. Novelty value of some summer night sport entertainment, for a city that just continues to become more muticultural each year, many of those increasing immigrants being football fans. That's presuming the league stays mostly a summer comp.

Then you just need 1-2 marquee signings (1 maybe of Asian background), some smart marketing, engaging with local football clubs (esp the kids), a YF replica supporter group, better drummers, and yes winning as much as losing.

But the biggest obstacle to any of this happening, is someone to throw crazy cash at it all. Phoenix Football Club are so lucky to have a group of proud Wellingtonians in Welnix as their ownership group. So lucky.

But has been no one mentioned in Auckland in recent times, silly enough to do similar in the City of Cars. Warriors at last seem to have a sound true Auckland owners, who are also die hard league fans.

I once emailed Owen Glenn's office, asking if he would consider starting up an Auckland A League side. Did actually get a reply. Along lines of 'Mr Glenn, after his bad experience with NZ Warriors is unfortunately not interested........."! Though think he stills sponsors NZ Hockey heavily??

Isn't the Chairman of the Auckland United joint venture, an IT guru worth $40M plus or something?? Giltrap Motors (Auckland City) also bandied around once as maybe having the cash?? Pity Slava Meyn seems only interested in football in ChCh. Just think Garden City is too small, and too much of a rugby town to support an A League team. This from someone who lived in Canty til age 14.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/domestic/113678115/christchurch-united-eye-aleague-as-ultimate-goal

But without that deep pocketed, thick skinned ownership group with at least 1 football tragic likely onboard, hard to see Auckland making the bid line any time soon. If there was any group close to being interested, there would be rumours, and there have been none. Just seems sadly still in the too hard basket for NZ's biggest city. Rich (white) Aucklanders prefer to throw their money at yacht racing maybe.

When Western and Macarthur got chosen, there were 15 serious bids from all of Australia. Plenty of rich deep pocketed mining, real estate, shopping centre magnates all through Aussie. Much bigger, flashier economy than NZ. You also have a culture of State Govts and Councils not being afraid to throw tax/rate payers cash at type 'investments, esp if they also plan to build a nice new stadium and want a tenant.

Ipswich City were very very disappointed/bitter to be over looked for the new recently announced NRL expansion side. They plan to build a new stadium along Ipswich River. The Gong football community obviously want a team. Gold Coast will always be in the frame. Took them about 3 failures over 20 odd years, to finally have a somewhat stable NRL team there. Sunshine Coast Council I know are upgrading their stadium heading towards the Brisbane 2032 Olympics. South Melbourne would probably go okay, and they have a ready stadium at Albert Park. Will APL be as fixated on 'derbies', like Gallop was re expansion options? Will any new teams have to pay that ridiculously expensive $10M license entry fee or whatever it was, that from memory was lumbered on Snakes & Bulls??

My bet Canberra, and one other for the next expansion.
https://www.theroar.com.au/2021/07/03/whos-next-for-a-league-expansion/

But an Auckland team would be great for NZ Football, and for the Nix. A true tribal rival, with travelling fans and all that at long last. Welnix are genuinely supportive of the idea, and rightly so.



See this is the type of post I knew I was going to get! Good on ya. 😊

I also didn't touch on how good it would be for New Zealand Football to have a second professional football club, but yes, it would indeed be fantastic, wherever a new club may eventually be based, imagine another NZ side churning out more Singh's, Cacace's and Waineo's like the Nix have recently, it'd be brilliant!

Umm well where to start. I lived in Auckland for about 20 years (4-24). Lived, worked, studied centrally during that time, and have been to Eden Park plenty of times, for a mixture of cricket and rugby games. I don't know what it is, but something just doesn't do it for me (maybe it just boils down to my dislike/general apathy towards Auckland overall 🤷‍♂️) which probably doesn't help my bias. Centrality would help a fledgling Auckland clubs cause, but you need the right people on board from the get go to at least be moving the club in the right direction. When I say people as well, I'm meaning top down, right through to supporters, but an owner who 'Knows Auckland' or 'Lives and breathes Auckland' would be a great asset to building a club from the ground up too.

Alas, I think to get it off the ground, someone's going to have to part with $30-50 million just as a start up, easily...

Visa players, surely have to go all out and fill them all with quality players - European/Eastern European, right through Asia - I'm thinking Iraqi, South Korean, Chinese. Do that right and you'd be setting up the club the right way. Even if it is a bit of a slog to getting it going initially.

I don't think Auckland will be in the near future, Canberra + 1 (South Melbourne for mine) maybe down the line Auckland will come back into the picture, but for now I think it falls in the too hard basket. 

I was trying to find that article about Christchurch too, I still think that would be interesting. Slightly different population demographic (British/European expats). Obviously smaller than Auckland, but I'd give that one more of a chance of getting off the ground. I dunno, all very long term thinking of course. I just hope whoever gets the chance next in NZ, that they do it right.

Well there is a shiny new sports stadium coming to ChCh, right in the city centre. Plus Slava Meyn now seems the standout football tragic in NZ with serious moolah. And he seems to be playing the long game down there in Canty, making it home.

Unfortunately Google can't seem to find me an estimate of his net worth! Still think ChCh is too small to make it happen. But would be great if I'm wrong. 

Here is an interesting Mike Cockerill (RIP, you are missed) article from a few years back. From memory Cockerill lived in ChCh for a time??

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/aleague-fans-should-no-longer-be-treated-like-poor-cousins-for-stadiums-20160115-gm6ikm.html

A solution, believe it or not, could lie across the Tasman. I don't know Slava Meyn, but I'd like to. A passionate, committed, football man, who on the edges of Christchurch is building a football dream.

One day, although he is in no hurry, that may include an A-League bid. But only if there is the right stadium.

What makes Meyn different, and innovative, is that he refuses to accept the status quo in terms of construction costs. The clues are everywhere in his impressive Christchurch Football Academy complex near the airport - the best of its kind in New Zealand. The grandstand was first put together in China and properly certified before being shipped to Christchurch, where it was re-assembled. Like the goals, the partition nets and the artificial turf, Meyn scoured the world to source the best quality products at the best possible price and then imported them - thus circumventing the cosy cartel of local builders who have managed to make Australasian stadium costs the highest in the world.

It is an approach the wealthy Meyn is committed to because he knows what he is talking about. Before emigrating to New Zealand, he was part-owner of his hometown club in far-eastern Russia, Okean Nakhodka - where current Russian international Viktor Fayzulin remains the most famous graduate.

Meyn did not get around to building a stadium before he left, but he had done his homework on how to get the right fit at the right price. His favourite example is in Belarus, where BATE Borisov recently opened a 13,000 all-seat stadium which was given the highest rating by UEFA despite costing just $45 million to build.

That - albeit with a few more thousand seats - is what Christchurch needs, what the MLS has, and what the A-League needs more of. It will require richer owners, and more committed ones. It is by far the best long-term solution, but in the meantime there is a crucial consolation prize to be sought. Better rental agreements at existing stadiums or - in the case of Parramatta - smarter ones. It is better than nothing.