I still think it's a crazy idea. It's not about people wanting something for nothing (particularly when Sky is not free). If this was such a huge draw, Sky would be giving Phoenix money for the rights to show it, and enough that PPV was not required for income.
Dangerous precedent IMO. Next it'll be finals all on PPV, World Cup qualifiers, Rugby World Cup etc...
Won't be paying the $40 as I'm going to the Wellington games but will prob watch the Auckland game at the pub. Zero interest in the Dunedin game.
The thing is we have no idea what conditions any of the clubs etc requested to get these matches off the ground. I would imagine the prospect of Sky showing these games would have been a large part of the reason West Ham and Newcastle came over. Why come over if no one outside the stadiums are going to see them?
Yeah it's crap paying extra. It's crap paying extra for anything but It's the real world not some fairy lala land where companies do stuff out of the goodness of their hearts.
I don't remember signing my Sky contract on the condition that I should be able to watch premier football clubs without extra cost should they ever appear in New Zealand - silly me.
"A dangerous precedent?" Sky have been charging extra for some sporting events for years including frankly appalling boxing that is often lucky to go past the first couple of rounds. I don't understand this outrage, this is nothing new, at least if you pay you'll be getting 90 minutes.
I've not see a live premier football team in years, when I went back home I only got a chance to see my local team Cambridge United. I think it's f*cking amazing we are having these games. I can't imagine what a West Ham or Newcastle Phoenix fan must be feeling to see their two favorite teams playing each other.
We are always going on about raising the profile of the game and getting people interested. What better way is there than having these sorts of tours?
Rather than moaning, as others have said just go and watch it down the pub, no one is forcing you to pay.