Interesting the talk about the Warriors ruining the local league comp. IMHO the Warriors off the field illustrate what the Phoenix should be aspiring too. Solid supporter base with buy in from the media, good engagement with the community, and a production line of quality players coming through the under 20s set up.
True, but if the Warriors ever fail then domestic league , as a shadow of its former self, can't step back up to replace it.
If we put all our eggs in the A League basket and neglect our domestic national league, then we run that danger in football. Gareth Morgan is even talking of investing in an Auckland A League franchise. That would be the end of ACFC and the summer national league and we'd just be left with the winter club competition which could not step up structurally or financially should the A League involvement hit a brick wall. Personally I don't trust the Australians on this because they are putting unfair obstacles in the way of the Phoenix as it is. They are not going to encourage two fully professional NZ sides and could pull the rug out one day. We have to keep a robust national league going in NZ in case that ever happens.
One option I see, that could balance both needs, is for the Phoenix to become a NZ franchise, rather than Wellington. I know this will outrage ardent Wellington supporters but think about this. If the Phoenix play say two games in Christchurch, three in Auckland and the rest in Wellington, then crowds will be bigger by sheer local interest. In playing only a few games in either Auckland or CHCH the Phoenix will not suck up all the attention and money away from ACFC and CU, key ASBP sides. The Wellington supporters will get half a dozen home games a season and the side could be based there. I know regular supporters like to have regular games but the Wellington base is stuck in the 5,000 - 7,000 bracket which means Welnix is losing a lot of money each season playing most home games in Wellington. This option would make the chances of breaking even more viable. If the Phoenix make the playoffs then it could be split between Wellington and Auckland. This would at least allow the ASBP to soldier on. Having two NZ A League sides won't. We could simply continue as we are but that means Welnix and Morgan must be prepared to lose a lot of money each year, unless they hit the playoff jackpot.
It's vital that a robust summer national league keeps going for the sake of NZ football in case the Phoenix ever lose their license or fail. But it's a difficult balancing act. We can't even rely on Fifa keeping the Club World Cup going in the long term, especially after Blatter goes. Without the O League qualification honeypot I don't think the ASBP is financially viable for most franchises.
Personally I'd prefer if all this money poured into having a NZ A League franchise was spent on the domestic national league. Then it would be a robust semi-pro competition across the country, not dependent on the whims of the Australian football authorities.