I honestly think nearly 20,000 turning out in Auckland for a Wellington team and a fading EPL name isn't too bad. I also think the 4-0 drubbing Sydney FC got the night before in Dunedin put people off, fearing the same again in Eden Park. I think that could have cost you two or three thousand bums on seats. There was also bugger all promotion in Auckland for the game.
The pity is the Phoenix's performance deserved more and it would have been great if 30,000 had turned out. But considering you've had 18,000 odd turn out for the Nix in a regular A League season game at Eden Park it appears that's about your level of interest here. Remember table topping Everton only got about 17,000 at Mt Smart when they came to Auckland in the 80s.
Had it been the All Whites against WHU then you could be talking 30,000. Auckland's a crowded sports marketplace with the Blues and Warriors.
I just hope Welnix don't lose too much on the whole tour. They've earned a lot of brownie points as far as I'm concerned for their ambition. Any chance they could take over from NZF and run NZ football? They're certainly doing a better job.