I feel very much for Nix fans as the Mariners also move games and it does hit you in the gut... The key difference eeerrrr maybe to strong to say key difference but certainly a difference has been reactions in both areas... on the Coast people said more than two and we walk away ... While accepting the financial position many formed the view when is a club no longer a club ... moving games meant it was no longer a club.
Midfielder, I like a lot of what you say but this statement is a load of tosh - Nix fans like this no more than any other club's fans would, CCM included - for the same reasons. The real key difference is that every signal was that the Nix's licence was likely not to be renewed - negotiations went on for well over a year. Meanwhile, all other clubs were granted 20 years, making it look even more likely Nix were on the way out (and there were other signals too). As far as i can recall, CCM were NEVER in this position.
To me Nix were held over a barrel, and I don't think for a minute FFA were not deeply involved in suggesting "NZ Nix" (yuk!) games had to be played out of Wellington to beef up attendances over a season or four - as that will help them hit a metric which needs to be hit. It's all very well saying a winning team will bring in the crouds (we all know that), but which is the safer bet to hit a metric - Auk numbers boosting crouds twice a year or HOPE the team MIGHT win more regularly? If anyone is in any doubt, the granting of a licence has nothing to do with football.