Crowds - The thread of Australian whining
It's fine, but it's not ideal for the Phoenix.
Re-vamp Newtown Park imo.
Aside from access problems, the ground might end up a bit over-used, especially if 'Nix Reserves go into the NZFC.
I think a massive mistake was made when the stadium was built. That oval shape is not good for rugby or soccer, it was only done to accommodate cricket. The things is, hardly any cricket games are played at Westpac and hardly any of them get big crowds. The Basin reserve can fit 11,600 now, if you added 4k on there it would get it up to a decent size. That way the caketin could have been rectangular and a much better place to watch rugby and soccer. It is unfortunate but we are stuck with it now.
Does the A League need a draw card to bring in new non football people to the games.
Most first time stadium football public find the game a draw card but the key is to get them to a live game. They do not get the atmosphere from television.
Ie: Each adult ticket purchased goes in the draw to win a Hyundai car or spread the market further a Harley Davidson.
Most first time stadium football public find the game a draw card but the key is to get them to a live game. They do not get the atmosphere from television.
Ie: Each adult ticket purchased goes in the draw to win a Hyundai car or spread the market further a Harley Davidson.
Did a car giveaway last year, or the year before if I recall - only valid in Aussie though, so pointless for here.
Amazed to hear the crowd size last night... Top team and couldn't pull any more punters than in the four thousands.. Once the Marshmellow man goes there won't be another GGU..
Spent yesterday watching junior teams from accross Oz & NZ in a big tournament in Qld. Spoke to many people re the A league. Bottom line is that most of them used to go but they are watching their money at the moment.Pretty smart I would think.
Brisbane v Sydney last week 7500, the same game last year 20000.
Engage brain before openning mouth.(in this case-before typing)
$30 or so saved every couple of weeks by not going?
Wow, this recession (which has not had a massive effect here or in Aussie) must be even worse than I thought 
Steve-O2009-10-04 16:46:00
Well, unless you're a fortunate one who hasn't had a wage/salary freeze then I'd find it very hard to agree with your observation that the recession has not had an effect.
There's not a lot most households can do with increasing costs of living except cut back on entertainment/travel and trivial things like health insurance, retirement plans etc.
There's not a lot most households can do with increasing costs of living except cut back on entertainment/travel and trivial things like health insurance, retirement plans etc.
Amazed to hear the crowd size last night... Top team and couldn't pull any more punters than in the four thousands.. Once the Marshmellow man goes there won't be another GGU..
Spent yesterday watching junior teams from accross Oz & NZ in a big tournament in Qld. Spoke to many people re the A league. Bottom line is that most of them used to go but they are watching their money at the moment.Pretty smart I would think. Brisbane v Sydney last week 7500, the same game last year 20000. Engage brain before openning mouth.(in this case-before typing)
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$30 or so saved every couple of weeks by not going?
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Wow, this recession (which has not had a massive effect here or in Aussie) must be even worse than I thought
Suggest you get out and about and talk to people. Unemployment rate went up 1% in the last month in NZ.Sure, we have not had the promlems of the US, but it has still had an effect.
There are also the added cost of you $30. Food,drink etc.
Football is a family affair.2 adults 2kids a $100 plus.
Well, unless you're a fortunate one who hasn't had a wage/salary freeze then I'd find it very hard to agree with your observation that the recession has not had an effect.
There's not a lot most households can do with increasing costs of living except cut back on entertainment/travel and trivial things like health insurance, retirement plans etc.
There's not a lot most households can do with increasing costs of living except cut back on entertainment/travel and trivial things like health insurance, retirement plans etc.
The ticket prices are the same though so don't see what difference a wage freeze would have?
The recession has had some effect no doubt but I think there are certain people who use it as an excuse to penny pinch.
Suggest you get out and about and talk to people. Unemployment rate went up 1% in the last month in NZ.Sure, we have not had the promlems of the US, but it has still had an effect.
There are also the added cost of you $30. Food,drink etc.
Football is a family affair.2 adults 2kids a $100 plus.
Not everyone is taking 2 adults and 2 kids? Additionally it's not even close to $100 plus for a family ticket.
You don't HAVE to buy kids food / drink etc? I don't know why parents seem to think they HAVE to? I don't remember gorging myself on food and drinks constantly when I went to the football as a kid so I don't know why this generation can't go a couple of hours without eating.
Its more a priority of peoples entertainment. Can go to a movie this week OR can go to the phoenix...whereas before we could maybe do both occasionally. Or probably more relevent is...rugby or soccer,but not both.
Well, unless you're a fortunate one who hasn't had a wage/salary freeze then I'd find it very hard to agree with your observation that the recession has not had an effect. There's not a lot most households can do with increasing costs of living except cut back on entertainment/travel and trivial things like health insurance, retirement plans etc.
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The ticket prices are the same though so don't see what difference a wage freeze would have?
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The recession has had some effect no doubt but I think there are certain people who use it as an excuse to penny pinch.
Cost of living = food to feed the whanau, electricity bills to keep them warm, petrol to keep global warming going, clothes to stop them looking like blanket man.
Oh yes and also things like going to see the moving pictures, FIFA 10, and sport.
So even though nix tickets on the day might be the same as last year, other things have gone up.
We've got the season pass as it is still very cheap if we can go to all the home games (bar ChCh) - but another reason I use to feebly justify it, is that every two weeks or so it gives a good chance to have fun and forget about mundane matters such as lack of disposable income etc.
Steve-O as a SPL team supporter and I presume from Celtic stock - you shouldn't berate people for penny pinching...being canny with their money is good!
(note I'm a Chinese Yiddo with a Celtic personal name - just imagine how canny I should be!!)
From one of my friends living on the Gold Coast. When she was living in Wellington I tried relentlessly to get her to come to Phoenix games with us.
She finally did. Went to the GC vs Nix, here was her review - plastered on my Facebook wall:
I guess goals keeps crowds...
She finally did. Went to the GC vs Nix, here was her review - plastered on my Facebook wall:
I guess goals keeps crowds...
Only mildly related but I ran into an old (sort of-) friend in the street and she said she'd gone to the last soccer (sic) game (last home game vs Central Coast Salties). She said "such a shame we didn't win" and I said "yeah, but wasn't it exciting" and she said "no it was boring, there weren't any goals".
Think we have to accept that the vast majority of the population is gratified by points scoring - not by the nervous tension of a close nil-all draw.
I'm surprised basketball isn't the most popular game in this part of the world seeing how everyone is so fond of points scoring.
Rugby and cricket always have lots of points scored. My mother is really into rugby and used to scoff at football because "why would I watch 90 minutes to see no goals" but since the last world cup she's gotten more into it and will watch football if its on. Not everyone maintains their "need a score to be entertained" ethos.
If points in football were awarded as per rugby (5 points a chance), there'd be an awful lot of matches with scores in three figures.
If points in football were awarded as per rugby (5 points a chance), there'd be an awful lot of matches with scores in three figures.
If points could be scored '5 per chance' the Phoenix would be destrying everyone at the moment!!
I'm surprised basketball isn't the most popular game in this part of the world seeing how everyone is so fond of points scoring.
I hate to say it, but basketball is pretty popular where I live
3,800 to 4,500 crowd each time [more than footie].
Cost of living = food to feed the whanau, electricity bills to keep them warm, petrol to keep global warming going, clothes to stop them looking like blanket man.
Oh yes and also things like going to see the moving pictures, FIFA 10, and sport.
So even though nix tickets on the day might be the same as last year, other things have gone up.
We've got the season pass as it is still very cheap if we can go to all the home games (bar ChCh) - but another reason I use to feebly justify it, is that every two weeks or so it gives a good chance to have fun and forget about mundane matters such as lack of disposable income etc.
Steve-O as a SPL team supporter and I presume from Celtic stock - you shouldn't berate people for penny pinching...being canny with their money is good!
(note I'm a Chinese Yiddo with a Celtic personal name - just imagine how canny I should be!!)
Oh aye us Scots can be a bit tight with the cash, but not to the extent that $28 every couple of weeks is going to make a difference!
I guess I'm just used to having football as number #1 priority - I'd have to be completely destitute before I got to the point of saying I couldn't afford to go to the football.
I actually think Kiwis are tighter than Scots based on what I've seen in terms of attendance at sports events / concerts etc etc. Most times I say to a Kiwi that something is over, say $50, they put on this face that seems shocked that I would even suggest buying a ticket for something at that price!
Another case was the other night in the pub - my mate did a sweepstake for the Tua fight, $5 a ticket. There were about 80 people there (in our group, it was a leaving party), mainly Kiwis, and he had to come back round to us lot to buy more as people had refused to part with $5 for a chance at winning about $140! Unbelievable thriftiness!
Steve-O2009-10-05 15:24:33
If points in football were awarded as per rugby (5 points a chance), there'd be an awful lot of matches with scores in three figures.
If points could be scored '5 per chance' the Phoenix would be destrying everyone at the moment!!
Two birds, one stone. FIFA needs to get its act together!
Looks a not bad crowd at Sydney today to be fair.
Public Holiday plus a derby is a pretty good combo I would have thought
We must pull in a good crowd for the Gold Coast game; surely with a bit of actual marketing from the non-existent marketing department, the all whites buzz and the return of smeltz, we can get 10,000
its labour weekend though. Quite a few kids/parents/coaches will be in napier (including myself 
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2ndBest2009-10-05 23:33:15
)2ndBest2009-10-05 23:33:15
its labour weekend though.� Quite a few kids/parents/coached will be in napier
Yep might have been a plan to hold this one at Park Island.
its labour weekend though. Quite a few kids/parents/coaches will be in napier (including myself )
)Could that work both ways? Some out of towners having an excuse to come down. Id still imagine that a long weekend would pull a bigger crowd.
I'm surprised basketball isn't the most popular game in this part of the world seeing how everyone is so fond of points scoring.
I hate to say it, but basketball is pretty popular where I live
3,800 to 4,500 crowd each time [more than footie].
Pretty popular?
Yet they don't appear to sell out the games in a Stadium smaller than the phoenix's smallest ever home gate. And that with ...
- cheaper tickets than phoenix
- a stadium "in the middle of New Zealand's strongest basketball community" (NZ Breakers' words)
- a team ranked as one of the best / favourites in the NBL.
Not entirely convinced. I've always thought basketball should also be doing better here, but I think gets a pretty raw deal from the media as well (next to no coverage of non-NZ games to build interest in the league itself).
However, the original post with the facebook quote sure was depressing, and that attitude is not uncommon. Often a rugby-centric defence strategy.
I was at the Gold Coast match and it was quite a good game to be at - even my non-football attending wife actually enjoyed the experience.
I guess, however, some are always going to be hard to please.
I was thinking along the lines of "it's not bad for another under reported sport".
In comparison to the 150 or so who turn up at a local footie match, it is pretty amazing.
Indeed.
The Blog is possibly a little over the top. However, it reflects the very real challenge that we face in getting people behind the sport (and along to games) with the incompetent / myopic sports reporting that still dominates the scene. Not corruption I would have thought, although there sure is defensive behaviour displayed (and maybe the odd lie) when the relative global (un)importance of NZ's traditional 'national' sports is highlighted.
I've come to the conclusion though that the best thing is to rise above it, focus on the pleasure we get out of our own sports, spread the word and have faith that the tide will turn. It takes time.
The Blog is possibly a little over the top. However, it reflects the very real challenge that we face in getting people behind the sport (and along to games) with the incompetent / myopic sports reporting that still dominates the scene. Not corruption I would have thought, although there sure is defensive behaviour displayed (and maybe the odd lie) when the relative global (un)importance of NZ's traditional 'national' sports is highlighted.
I've come to the conclusion though that the best thing is to rise above it, focus on the pleasure we get out of our own sports, spread the word and have faith that the tide will turn. It takes time.
I'm surprised basketball isn't the most popular game in this part of the world seeing how everyone is so fond of points scoring.
I hate to say it, but basketball is pretty popular where I live
3,800 to 4,500 crowd each time [more than footie].
Pretty popular?
Yet they don't appear to sell out the games in a Stadium smaller than the phoenix's smallest ever home gate. And that with ...
- cheaper tickets than phoenix
- a stadium "in the middle of New Zealand's strongest basketball community" (NZ Breakers' words)
- a team ranked as one of the best / favourites in the NBL.
Not entirely convinced. I've always thought basketball should also be doing better here, but I think gets a pretty raw deal from the media as well (next to no coverage of non-NZ games to build interest in the league itself).
However, the original post with the facebook quote sure was depressing, and that attitude is not uncommon. Often a rugby-centric defence strategy.
I was at the Gold Coast match and it was quite a good game to be at - even my non-football attending wife actually enjoyed the experience.
I guess, however, some are always going to be hard to please.
Are we talking about the same game. G/Coast v the Nix.
I thought it was the worst A league game this season.
Did you see the Glory v Jets? Easily the worst half of football this season.
First half wasn't too bad, but just on the basis of the second, I have to say the worst game so far.
First half wasn't too bad, but just on the basis of the second, I have to say the worst game so far.
Are we talking about the same game. G/Coast v the Nix.
I thought it was the worst A league game this season.
I've seen a lot worse. It was better than Phoenix v Central Coast the previous week for starters. And the Jets/Glory game referred to above. It is also a comment made with phoenix blinkers on in that some of Gold Coast's appalling play brought me pleasure rather than pain.
Also, the comment was "good game to be at" not just "good game". Away games are always bit more fun, particularly when you can be heard because the home fans were so non-existent.
It wan't a classic by any means!
I was thinking along the lines of "it's not bad for another under reported sport".
In comparison to the 150 or so who turn up at a local footie match, it is pretty amazing.
The blogger knows how to make a point:
"Take a look at the little amount of coverage Ryan Nelson gets"
Suggest you get out and about and talk to people. Unemployment rate went up 1% in the last month in NZ.Sure, we have not had the promlems of the US, but it has still had an effect. There are also the added cost of you $30. Food,drink etc. Football is a family affair.2 adults 2kids a $100 plus.
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Not everyone is taking 2 adults and 2 kids? Additionally it's not even close to $100 plus for a family ticket.
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You don't HAVE to buy kids food / drink etc? I don't know why parents seem to think they HAVE to? I don't remember gorging myself on food and drinks constantly when I went to the football as a kid so I don't know why this generation can't go a couple of hours without eating.
In the paper yesterday, a local MP was asking the question why a family ticket for the A league on the coast was $80.00 and in Townsville it is $34.00. Both parks owned by the Qld govermnent?
Suggest you get out and about and talk to people. Unemployment rate went up 1% in the last month in NZ.Sure, we have not had the promlems of the US, but it has still had an effect. There are also the added cost of you $30. Food,drink etc. Football is a family affair.2 adults 2kids a $100 plus.
Not everyone is taking 2 adults and 2 kids? Additionally it's not even close to $100 plus for a family ticket.
You don't HAVE to buy kids food / drink etc? I don't know why parents seem to think they HAVE to? I don't remember gorging myself on food and drinks constantly when I went to the football as a kid so I don't know why this generation can't go a couple of hours without eating.
In the paper yesterday, a local MP was asking the question why a family ticket for the A league on the coast was $80.00 and in Townsville it is $34.00. Both parks owned by the Qld govermnent?
$80 is a bit steep for the A-League, but relatively speaking, it's still not THAT bad for 4 tickets to a top level football match - i.e. $30 per adult, $10 per kid?
to be honest it should be $30 for a family.
Because what we really need is for Terry to have to pay more of his money ech year to cover even bigger losses.
This isn't the NZFC, it's professional football and that has a price.
This isn't the NZFC, it's professional football and that has a price.
[not even close to $100 plus for a family ticket.
You don't HAVE to buy kids food / drink etc? I don't know why parents seem to think they HAVE to? I don't remember gorging myself on food and drinks constantly when I went to the football as a kid so I don't know why this generation can't go a couple of hours without eating.
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I know. I think unless you have a pretty good income, you're an idiot if you buy overpriced and poor tasting food at a football match. It's only about two hours, for crying out loud! Bring your own food if your that desparate.
bennie992009-10-09 11:09:26
Because what we really need is for Terry to have to pay more of his money ech year to cover even bigger losses.
This isn't the NZFC, it's professional football and that has a price.
This isn't the NZFC, it's professional football and that has a price.
Why dont we make it free for adults who are accompanied by a paying child!
Seriously people. Why do we have to have this debate every time ticket prices/season tickets etc comes up???