T & R
In the speech Gallop said the next expansion teams would be in large population areas ... my guess is Auckland meets this .. however there is the AFC issue .. If NZF can get the AFC to allow another NZ team in the A-League I think Auckland is a very good chance of getting a team... not sure about a third as a third Sydney, second Brisbane, third Melbourne are in large population centres...
Population of Illawarra ('gong plus Shoalhaven & Kiama) as of 2012 was 450,000 plus and climbing. They're definitely keen on a team based at WIN Stadium. And of course Auckland is 3 times bigger still...
True, but we know Aucklanders don't give a shit.
10,000 for the first Kingz game at Nth Harbour, about same for the last v Sth Melbourne at Ericcson, when Rufer was sacked and replaced by idiot Stevenson ... when the rot set in and management wheels fell off ... 10, 000 for first Knights game at Nth Harbour ... then the big drop-off as it grew obvious both team and club weren't up to it ... then the rats abandoned the sinking ship - and who'd want to go watch a ship sink other than desperadoes and ghouls?
When Rickie popped up and came riding to the rescue it was much too late far as the FFA and a disillusioned jafa public were concerned.
I stand by Aucklanders don't give a shit as I grew up as one before moving to the Waikato.
Both teams had significant numbers of people attending the games from the Waikato and the BoP. Quite a number also commuted regularly from the Naki, Hawkes Bay and even Wellington.
Its those people who were/are the diehards and supported the club/s through the mess Sky ownership made of the Kingz and the rubbish the South Africans (who I was involved with sadly) produced owning the Knights.
Needless to say many of those same people are heavily involved in the "fever" and are now lost forever to the Nix as fans (or ACFC). Aucklanders are far too "fair-weather" to support a team week in week out.