I wrote this back on page 159 6 weeks ago and believe it's relevant.
----------------------------------------------
The answer to this is simple - WIN!
I would imagine that if the Nix have a great start to the year, by playing good football, scoring goals, and in the top 3, then the crowds will come. I believe that a sustained winning run would see crowds to regularly top 10k and then if the Nix are in contention, the last few home games of the season may see crowds of up to 15k depending on weather etc.
Nix mgmt have said they believe regular home marketing pushes does little towards increasing crowd sizes, so i guess we need to take them at their word on this as i assume they will have done some analysis of their marketing spend and subsequent outcomes.
They are better off putting their marketing dollar in their pocket and use it for the really big games (say Mel City with Villa) and then when the team is doing well to help further fuel the buzz that will have naturally been created.
To me it's about winning. We've all been to games and know the fantastic atmosphere and most of us have raved about it to our friends, work colleagues etc until we're blue in the face, but I would say that avenue is done and dusted now in terms of increasing the numbers on a regular sustainable basis. As mentioned the club have tried marketing and believe it doesn't work.
Crowds are static, the only thing we haven't really done is a sustained winning streak, other than perhaps the tailend of the season in which we played Newcastle and Perth in the playoffs.
---------------------------------------------
There is quite good debate on that page - http://www.yellowfever.co.nz/categories/wellington...
Although the starting point to a season is an interesting one and I admit i thought the crowd would have been around the 8.5-9.5k on Saturday given the new signings, EPL games, nice day etc etc...
I also said this a few posts down on that page...
----------------------------------------------
I have worked in Sports Marketing at domestic sports franchise so I guess have some idea. I suspect the Nix have tried as much as they can, remember they've been doing this since 2007 now. I am loathe to say to them 'don't bother its too hard' as plenty of people told me that too when I was working in the industry but I believe their marketing and promotions dept because they're on a limited budget are best left to capitalise on momentum...
It's a good debate, but sometimes practicalities win through.
The only real thing we haven't 'tried' is winning...
I still think that winning should be the icing on the cake, if you rely on winning - one bad season/stretch and all good will/momentum could be gone.
This. Feel like the Wellington and NZ sporting public in general are mostly bandwagoners, though, and it's hard to shift an entire culture.
Look at Toronto FC for a complete counter point to the Phoenix - they haven't won anything in 8 years; haven't even made the playoffs. They are a complete shambles. They still get 20k+ to every game. Of course, there is a huge population difference, but there is also way more competition in the sporting market there.