Crowds - The thread of Australian whining

Why are we talking $29 tickets for Nix? Don't they start at $25??

Good work.

3% actually (see Jag)

Jag - I'm sorry I called you a twunt.  Will you "un-unfriend" me from facebebo?

Get a chatroom

Okay. Fair point. One more chance. I'll un-unfriend you from MyFaceBebo now. Last warning Jag2012-01-24 15:18:13

I like being on your face bebo!

Bit early to start digging at the Wn fans, though have always thought a successful Wn based A league football model would have to play some matches in Ak, ChCh and Dunedin. Agree with Woodcock, that financial viability and longterm survival is everything, so whatever it takes. 20,000 turning up at Eden Park when the Nix were playing fairly averagely at that stage, says it all really.

However after seeing my first match at Suncorp the other night (BR v Syd) it's clear how much work the new owners and the club have to do - was like a flippin carnival - sideshows outside, the full deal. Wot a night !! Great crowd.

The Black Out The Heart deal is a start - and we should try anything - but there's such a long way to go with marketing, and can't judge that until the new season when the new CEO and staff are in place properly.

At least this week we can test the first theory - that 10,000 + fans will only turn up when we can start winning back to back. That's my theory, so if it's a fine day, I expect 10+.

My observation is that there's a helluva lot of football people (not just sports fans)who are not going right now - and they arguably have valid reasons not to - up until recently, RH has been tactically too defensive and conservative - RH doesn't have a Ass Coach - he doesn't have a GK Coach - he has a reduced squad - has no crowd pulling star (Ifill still getting matchfit + Sanchez shown glimpses of being a potential big star) - and the club has no new signings to excite the floating fans to come back and have a look. Feel sorry for the players who are the gutsiest in the comp, and deserve so much better.

Their marketing arm needs to take a real close look at media coverage - Sky TV desperately need an ex top player frontman to be the face of TV football here. The Fox analysis, whether you like Andy Harper or not, is so damn good. The broadcasters here are only allowed to do good news coverage because of their football deals - which they do well - but that's stink if you're looking for backup to your own theories about why we're behind in a game, what changes need to be made etc. Only Harris and Hay have a go - though Woodcock and Worthington have written the odd honest opinion piece.

Papers (and other media) are hampered by RH's football cliches, so he needs media training real bad, or get someone else to do it. Generally you have to scroll thru this forum to track down any rumours about what's going on in the club. Even to find out who's on the plane to travel ! Feel sorry for journos.

The new owners need to understand there is no widespread awareness of when each match is on. They're tied up with a couple of radio stations here - but most Mummies and Daddies listen to National Radio in this town.

However it's obvious the owners are working hard to get the right biz plan and structure in place - just don't blame us yet.

So is this 10K figure accurate??

What have the attendance averages been through Nix history? Is 10K totally unrealistic??

How early do you have to be though?

I got a park right next to the concourse stairs but was REALLY early to the game.

If the car park is empty at $30 then the Nix need to pressure the Stadium to lower that cost. Would $20 be a reasonable cost if $10 wasn't sustainable?

Gareth talked to me about stadium costs when I chatted about the 10K break even and being short of it.

He said there is huge variance in stadium costs around the League due to various factors including weird setups.

But sadly the Nix have nowhere else to play in Wellington so not much incentive for the monopoly player to do anything about it.

I suspect the Nix WILL apply the heat on Westpac in the near future though.

Sorry - I can be such a twatter at times.

I'm not sure I follow?

I suspect he was talking to me! 

You know the sad thing about those stats?

It shows that excluding Season 1 the Nix have NEVER been able to consistently generate crowds of 10,000+ at Westpac, let alone average 10,000.

Just putting it out there. Just as Gareth has. You want to keep the games in Wellington? How are you going to do it Wellington?

It's not an ultimatum really. It's a challenge.

C'mon don't make me explain my gag

#rebuilditinDunedin

The one advanatge of small crowds is it is extremely easy to get a park. You can pull up 10 minutes before kick off and feel confident about getting in easily. There are exceptions though depending on the day and time of the game. I almost missed the start of the big wednessday game because of parking hassles. rjmiller2012-01-24 15:49:24

The $40 parking fine isn't that great though, parking wardens are paid extra for weekend work

OUT-OF-TOWNERS

Do you car pool? Do you have difficulty finding a ride-share and does this impact on your attendance at the RoF?

The vast majority of games are at times where there is no charge or time limit.

considering the crowds are a bit lower than they have been, I could probably park closer. previously I have had to park on tinakori road or on one of the side streets.

its a little stupid to buy the club (with its crowd issues) using the "we want to keep the club in weelington" line and then as soon as garreth has his man period says they are going to move it around the country.

reposting in this thread : Jeff Vader2012-01-24 16:19:16

I don't see huge crowds at CCM or Roar and they are two clubs who have been high flyers on the table (Roar used to be at least).

Mind you, they are both in financial difficulties.

So I question the "win games, get crowds" argument that seemed to be pushed by Smith this morning on the radio.

Why/how did we get 20k+ crowds during the final series?

I don't think its technically possible at present but delaying Phoenix home games on Sky for those in Wgtn could help :P

Otherwise the best I think they could do is try to leverage clubs in Wgtn to get those that play football more interested in wanting to watch live football, lack of season overlap doesn't help but in the two different clubs I have played for in the past few years there has been no engagement that I can tell of with my teams, not sure if this is a breakdown between club and teams/players or the Phoenix and club.

Any chance that the Phoenix could compete with Wellington Indoor Sports and operate a Wellington Phoenix indoor competition?

Edit: And to add, when the new TV deal comes on board the clubs should be receiving a bigger payout from the FFA would put less pressure on crowds to break even. I imagine that the new TV deal $ would be pushed towards setting up new franchises so would be splitting the bigger pie between more clubs than now but FFA have said they want it to be enough that each club gets enough to cover salary cap.Bullion2012-01-24 16:41:03

yeah, I should have said 'had been'. Thank goodness for rich folk like Terry right?