Can we just sort something out here. The size of the croud on Friday night has absolutely no bearing on the ongoing license discussions with the FFA. Those are all about money. Large sums. Not a couple of thousand extra punters buying $2 tickets.
I'm actually pretty disappointed that the attempt has been made by the club to make this about us. About croud numbers. When really it's about NZF and Sky. We box above our weight division on the croud front.
While it'll be great if we have a heart-warming turnout on Friday it will make not a jot of difference in the overall license conversation.
True that; though for me, it's more to galvanise support. If we get 6k again I think you'll find that the support from other A-League fans will wane.
This, After all of the drama and media/FFA implying the croWds are the issue, A massive turn out will be a nice big finger to the FFA. Cant blame the croWds if the croWds are good.
One good turnout does not a big finger make.
I love a big croud as much as the next man, don't get me wrong. I just think it's the wrong focus in terms of the license discussion.
100% correct Smithy, but a big croud this week IS part of the qualitative context which FFA seems to not understand - the emotional outpouring, the passions, the creativity of fans, the feeling that this is "our" team, buying memberships for volunteers, scarfing the city. These things are the DNA, the essence of The Phoenix. They ARE important too. We need this AND the long stakeholder game on the licence. Plus, it's fudgeing fun.
I agree with that. If a local game pulls consistently decent number of punters to the stadium, eventually a broadcast deal is built on these figures as it translates indirectly into potential ad viewers for sponsors, etc. which is what FFA business model seems to be driven by.
It also may indirectly help FFA into thinking "hmmm...if this is in Wellington... what would a new Auckland club in HAL attract?...hhmmmm... derbies, derbies...hmmm....".