Wellington Phoenix Men

Crowds - The thread of Australian whining

4604 replies · 379,731 views
over 11 years ago

Well the 11,000 crowd is about  1,000 times greater than the North v South Cricket game a few weeks ago. It is also about 10 times greater than Wellington Rugby's average crowd for the ITM Cup and about the same as Sevens tickets sold to date.

Based on this we are "Smokin"

over 11 years ago

I thought the clun needed 10k to make a profit. I don't know how much Eden Park charged and if it is more than the Westpac ripoff merchants but this isn't that bad.

Sure I would have preferred more had shown up but the more I think about it and considering Ragamuffin and the Park thing on an evening with light drizzle, it wasn't that bad.

I don't know why the media target us for such negativity most of the time, do they see the club as a threat to the holyer than religeon Rugby? I do agree that the club should be releasing items of a more positive note when there is an upcoming home game just to get the publics interest angle. Not everyone has the internet which might surprise some.

Proud to have attended the first 175 Consecutive "Home" Wellington Phoenix "A League" Games !!

The Ruf, The Ruf, The Ruf is on Fire!!

over 11 years ago

hepatitis wrote:

Regardless of what the experts on here say, are the Nix happy with the 11000 crowd ? Thats all that counts. Did Dome give an indication??

I think that with better scheduling,  a game again next year in Auckland will beat any other city, and that is likely what the Nix will think too.

The nix lost money on the game. So no they're weren't happy with it. 


Allegedly

over 11 years ago

One area that has not been explored by the Phoenix for games at a 'home' away from home is  playing games in the summer holidays at a holiday area. A game in Taupo/Tauranga/Napier/Nelson during the holidays must be worth consideration.   

Tickets? Tickets? We talkin’ about tickets?

over 11 years ago

Tegal wrote:

hepatitis wrote:

Regardless of what the experts on here say, are the Nix happy with the 11000 crowd ? Thats all that counts. Did Dome give an indication??

I think that with better scheduling,  a game again next year in Auckland will beat any other city, and that is likely what the Nix will think too.

The nix lost money on the game. So no they're weren't happy with it. 

Serious question, do you absolutely know that, or speculating. There are more than ticket sales to take into account here

over 11 years ago

Tegal wrote:

hepatitis wrote:

Regardless of what the experts on here say, are the Nix happy with the 11000 crowd ? Thats all that counts. Did Dome give an indication??

I think that with better scheduling,  a game again next year in Auckland will beat any other city, and that is likely what the Nix will think too.

The nix lost money on the game. So no they're weren't happy with it. 

has that been confirmed?

Not the loss of money but that they were not happy with it?

I spoke to a mate who is involved and he said considering the factors they were ok with 11k.

over 11 years ago

Taupo would be a good one but then Air New Zealand just killed the flight service so a 4-5 hour drive would be in order. Napier would be a good venue during the holidays, or even Nelson.

Proud to have attended the first 175 Consecutive "Home" Wellington Phoenix "A League" Games !!

The Ruf, The Ruf, The Ruf is on Fire!!

over 11 years ago · edited over 11 years ago · History

chopah wrote:

Tegal wrote:

hepatitis wrote:

Regardless of what the experts on here say, are the Nix happy with the 11000 crowd ? Thats all that counts. Did Dome give an indication??

I think that with better scheduling,  a game again next year in Auckland will beat any other city, and that is likely what the Nix will think too.

The nix lost money on the game. So no they're weren't happy with it. 

has that been confirmed?

Not the loss of money but that they were not happy with it?

I spoke to a mate who is involved and he said considering the factors they were ok with 11k.

I think there is a slight difference. 

They're probably not that surprised by 11k but aren't happy with it (and probably hoped for a few thousand more). I doubt Auckland will lose the annual game based on this crowd number, considering those other factors. But it'll probably get them at least discussing whether the game is worth it in future. 


Allegedly

over 11 years ago

http://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/64151764/Welli...

The Phoenix needed 12,000 to break even from the match against the Central Coast Mariners and were confident of doing so...

Phoenix general manager David Dome said competing with Christmas in the Park at Auckland Domain was partly to blame but he still expected better, given the club's hot form leading into the match.

The Auckland venture would be reviewed by the board over the next two weeks.

"Definitely a poor crowd," Dome said.

"Phoenix till they lose"

Posting 97% bollox, 8% lies and 3.658% genuine opinion. 

Genuine opinion: FTFFA

over 11 years ago

Lonegunmen wrote:

I thought the clun needed 10k to make a profit. I don't know how much Eden Park charged and if it is more than the Westpac ripoff merchants but this isn't that bad.

Sure I would have preferred more had shown up but the more I think about it and considering Ragamuffin and the Park thing on an evening with light drizzle, it wasn't that bad.

I don't know why the media target us for such negativity most of the time, do they see the club as a threat to the holyer than religeon Rugby? I do agree that the club should be releasing items of a more positive note when there is an upcoming home game just to get the publics interest angle. Not everyone has the internet which might surprise some.



The club don't need to make a profit, they'd like to make a profit. The owners are successful businessmen, who are not/who don't appear to be football lovers, but even they must realise that there is a small chance of making money out of football in NZ. I'm sure that any loss that is made from their involvement in running the Phoenix is used as a tax-write-off for their more successful businesses. If their loss is not used as a write-off then perhaps they can rationalise any loss by being thankful they don't pay top-rate tax,as a result of their astute financial planning  

However, a change in emphasis for promoting football in NZ is required from the Wellington Phoenix/Welnix. How about promoting the game in a positive manner, acknowledging Auckland football by playing a game at either Kiwitea St or Fred Taylor Park on the same weekend 
Threatening supporters of your club and your sport is not a good option,especially in a city that has experienced two failed football teams and is renowned for a lack of support of anything beyond free events involving sailing and concerts in the Domain 

This is not a post to berate Welnix. I am thankful that they stepped in and saved the club as supporters of Wellington and football in the city
Tickets? Tickets? We talkin’ about tickets?

over 11 years ago · edited over 11 years ago · History

Lonegunmen wrote:

Taupo would be a good one but then Air New Zealand just killed the flight service so a 4-5 hour drive would be in order. Napier would be a good venue during the holidays, or even Nelson.



Agreed.
My comment was aimed more at targetting an audience of fans/potential fans holidaying in Taupo, Nelson and elsewhere, based on Dome's quote about when they could schedule the game's outside of Wellington, which was stated in this or another forum.
The gist of his quote stated that if they have an early season game away from Wellington they get stick from their home supporters and they can't have January fixtures in Auckland/Chbristchurch because everyone was on holiday     
Of course, any quote from DD, the 'Disaster' Dome, exposes his fundamental lack of knowledge of/empathy for promoting the Phoenix to supporters, whether they be diehards, regulars or potential fans. 
Last years flak was a result of the huge gap between home games, not that one game was taken away from Wellington 
My experience of attending games in the post-Christmas/New Year period in Wellington is the crowd will be 3-4k
Tickets? Tickets? We talkin’ about tickets?

over 11 years ago

Teams would not travel to small venues if it involved long road trips.

"Phoenix till they lose"

Posting 97% bollox, 8% lies and 3.658% genuine opinion. 

Genuine opinion: FTFFA

over 11 years ago

Our attendances in January have been:

2007/8
14,288

2008/9
7,524
8,241

2009/10
8,927
7,727

2010/11
9,456
5,115
10,917

2011/12
8,411
3,898
13,601

2012/13
6,608
6,429

2013/14
7,005
6,813

over 11 years ago · edited over 11 years ago · History

about the same as any other game during the first 2 thirds of the season - aside from a very slight spike for the first and even second home game. 

Don't make 2B use graphs again. 


Allegedly

over 11 years ago

So one between 3-4K and that was that horrible day when Glory were here.

over 11 years ago

3,898, that was the rainy/stormy sharkty midweek game I think.

Proud to have attended the first 175 Consecutive "Home" Wellington Phoenix "A League" Games !!

The Ruf, The Ruf, The Ruf is on Fire!!

over 11 years ago

Junior82 wrote:

Teams would not travel to small venues if it involved long road trips.



An internal flight of an hour must be acceptable as we play at Gosford and Newcastle 
Tickets? Tickets? We talkin’ about tickets?

over 11 years ago

2ndBest wrote:

Our attendances in January have been:

2007/8
14,288

2008/9
7,524
8,241

2009/10
8,927
7,727

2010/11
9,456
5,115
10,917

2011/12
8,411
3,898
13,601

2012/13
6,608
6,429

2013/14
7,005
6,813



I may be wrong, it's been known to happen far too many times that I care to remember :-) 
If your stats are good enough what was the attendance for the first home game in the New Year Holiday period, say up to 7th Jan?
Tickets? Tickets? We talkin’ about tickets?

over 11 years ago

2007/8
14,288

2008/9
7,524

2010/11
9,456

2011/12
8,411

over 11 years ago

2ndBest wrote:

2007/8
14,288

2008/9
7,524

2010/11
9,456

2011/12
8,411



Good stats!
Thanks for exposing my ignorance/early onset dementia :-) 
I am Spartacus! 
Tickets? Tickets? We talkin’ about tickets?

over 11 years ago

Warwick Hunt wrote:

Agreed.

My comment was aimed more at targetting an audience of fans/potential fans holidaying in Taupo, Nelson and elsewhere, based on Dome's quote about when they could schedule the game's outside of Wellington, which was stated in this or another forum.
The gist of his quote stated that if they have an early season game away from Wellington they get stick from their home supporters and they can't have January fixtures in Auckland/Chbristchurch because everyone was on holiday     
Of course, any quote from DD, the 'Disaster' Dome, exposes his fundamental lack of knowledge of/empathy for promoting the Phoenix to supporters, whether they be diehards, regulars or potential fans. 
Last years flak was a result of the huge gap between home games, not that one game was taken away from Wellington 
My experience of attending games in the post-Christmas/New Year period in Wellington is the crowd will be 3-4k

on second reading, I think that is pretty fudgeing disrespectiful. 

over 11 years ago

Warwick Hunt wrote:

Junior82 wrote:

Teams would not travel to small venues if it involved long road trips.



An internal flight of an hour must be acceptable as we play at Gosford and Newcastle 

And Perth play us.

Do they still do international flights into rotovegas?

over 11 years ago · edited over 11 years ago · History

2ndBest wrote:

Warwick Hunt wrote:

Agreed.

My comment was aimed more at targetting an audience of fans/potential fans holidaying in Taupo, Nelson and elsewhere, based on Dome's quote about when they could schedule the game's outside of Wellington, which was stated in this or another forum.
The gist of his quote stated that if they have an early season game away from Wellington they get stick from their home supporters and they can't have January fixtures in Auckland/Chbristchurch because everyone was on holiday     
Of course, any quote from DD, the 'Disaster' Dome, exposes his fundamental lack of knowledge of/empathy for promoting the Phoenix to supporters, whether they be diehards, regulars or potential fans. 
Last years flak was a result of the huge gap between home games, not that one game was taken away from Wellington 
My experience of attending games in the post-Christmas/New Year period in Wellington is the crowd will be 3-4k

on second reading, I think that is pretty fudgeing disrespectiful. 



My experience of DD is based on emailing him several times, especially around the Bon Jovi concert and the re-arranging of that fixture. 
When I dared to express some dis-satisfacion about how the re-scheduling had been handled/presented to season ticket holders, his response was based on an argument of "it's not my fault, what should I do and you've just got to accept it" .That may of been true, but there was no acknowledgement that I was a season ticket holder and events had occured beyond the club's control of Phoenix games at the stadium. If he'd stated that, I would have understood, but I was accused of being unreasonable..

After that response I realised that, in his position of that time, that there was no point in attempting further discussion.
I have had some fruitful and very responsive discussions with the Phoenix Marketing since his change of position
Whatever you may think of DD, in my opinion, he is not a marketing person, as his recent statements about future Auckland fixtures have demonstrated
His ability to maintain his current position reflect the same talents of survival demonstrated by the current 'good' manager of NUFC, based on my life-long support of the Toon and the 'Nix, since foundation.

Tickets? Tickets? We talkin’ about tickets?

over 11 years ago

Far more respectful than your being with that "nickname" for him.


Yellow Fever - Misery loves company

over 11 years ago · edited over 11 years ago · History

"I have had some fruitful and very responsive discussions with the Phoenix Marketing since his change of position 

Whatever you may think of DD, in my opinion, he is not a marketing person, as his recent statements about future Auckland fixtures have demonstrated."


Yep.  I'd agree with that.

Maybe marketing in the sense of securing sponsors etc but not a PR (or people) person.

"Phoenix till they lose"

Posting 97% bollox, 8% lies and 3.658% genuine opinion. 

Genuine opinion: FTFFA

over 11 years ago

I've found him surprisingly open and honest actually. 

You're basically calling him that because he worded an email to you poorly a few years ago? 


Allegedly

over 11 years ago · edited over 11 years ago · History

patrick478 wrote:

Far more respectful than your being with that "nickname" for him.



I apologise for any offence caused by my throwaway comment about David Dome. I thought it was amusing 
I salute all the defenders of the faith, who support Mr Dome's achievements at the Phoenix
You are obviously better fans than me 
  
Tickets? Tickets? We talkin’ about tickets?

over 11 years ago

[quote=Warwick Hunt]

[quote=patrick478]

Far more respectful than your being with that "nickname" for him.

<delete>

Tickets? Tickets? We talkin’ about tickets?

over 11 years ago

Just in case anyone caught the quote I tried to delete 
I did try to delete it, as the <delete> above showed.

Tickets? Tickets? We talkin’ about tickets?

over 11 years ago · edited over 11 years ago · History

Tegal wrote:

I've found him surprisingly open and honest actually. 

You're basically calling him that because he worded an email to you poorly a few years ago? 



I didn't say he was dis-honest or closed, I stated he had appalling customer relationship skills

I'm calling him as 
-  a very competent professional, obviously talented and well-respected by his employers which has been reflected in his promotion within the organisation over several years
- a senior representative of the Phoenix who should not be threatening Auckland supporters regarding future fixtures in the biggest city in NZ
- a 'great' General Manager in the same way that Pardew is a 'great' Manager/Coach of Newcastle United

 

 



   
Tickets? Tickets? We talkin’ about tickets?

over 11 years ago · edited over 11 years ago · History

Tegal wrote:

I've found him surprisingly open and honest actually. 

I woud expect a CEO to be honest.  Maybe not always open, but honest.

A Marketing Manager however...

"Phoenix till they lose"

Posting 97% bollox, 8% lies and 3.658% genuine opinion. 

Genuine opinion: FTFFA

over 11 years ago

Fair enough. It just seemed harsh on the back of a single poorly worded email a few years ago!


Allegedly

over 11 years ago
Quick question. If this was not New Zealands biggest city, would we be having this discussion? Also, asking thirteen thousand from New Zealands biggest city is not asking too much considering the form the team has been in is it?
Be obscure clearly
over 11 years ago

EXALDEAR wrote:
Quick question. If this was not New Zealands biggest city, would we be having this discussion?

Also, asking thirteen thousand from New Zealands biggest city is not asking too much considering the form the team has been in is it?

ITS JUST MANNERS ...its very rude to kick your cash cow ....

over 11 years ago

David Dome is a opn, honest good guy when you speak to him face to face. Obviously there arw some commercial aspects that he cannot talk about but you will find him open to most questions.

This threatening of crowd sizes caught me by surprise when they first started and I have ever since wondered if that is from him or he is speaking on behalf of the owners.

Let's remember I believe it was Gareth that really started the sabre rattling about attendances. Terry once commmented on it that he hoped the number would increase but I think it was Gareth that said words along the line of turn up or else.

Proud to have attended the first 175 Consecutive "Home" Wellington Phoenix "A League" Games !!

The Ruf, The Ruf, The Ruf is on Fire!!

over 11 years ago · edited over 11 years ago · History

You guys say threatening. I saying reality checking.

If this is what people are getting angsty over, the club must be in a pretty good space.

over 11 years ago

Warwick Hunt wrote:

patrick478 wrote:

Far more respectful than your being with that "nickname" for him.



I apologise for any offence caused by my throwaway comment about David Dome. I thought it was amusing 
I salute all the defenders of the faith, who support Mr Dome's achievements at the Phoenix
You are obviously better fans than me 
  

The classic response of putting words in other people's mouths.

over 11 years ago

We are just getting ready for a mini-off season in January Dale. It's just the pre-mid-season-off-season-angsting.

We ARE in a good space. Best space we've been in for a long time, arguably ever.


Incredible stamina. No shame. Yellow Fever.


Phoenix fans. We have to win them over one fan at a time.

over 11 years ago

Is it so wrong to be positive about the club and most of what it's doing on the field and off?

I just want them to embrace all the good they do, not to constantly reaffirm all the things that aren't going so well

over 11 years ago

2ndBest wrote:

You guys say threatening. I saying reality checking.

If this is what people are getting angsty over, the club must be in a pretty good space.

regardless of what label you give it - the real question is - did that approach attract any more people to the game?