Games at 5pm Sunday

Games at 5pm Sunday

The Phoenix agreeing to the current scheduling has proved to be a real blunder in my opinion. I don't understand why the games cannot be played two hours earlier at 3pm. Sunday 5pm is just such a poor time to go and watch sport.

Sure, it doesn't matter to the faithful on here, but for the casual sports fan it certainly does. It is a bit of a shame that the scheduling seems to have been based solely around the needs of the TV broadcaster, rather than the actual fans here in Wellington. What is wrong with the Phoenix kicking off at 3pm, and then the second game on a Sunday kicking off at 3pm Australian time?

Also, I hope the marketing department are busy this week coming up with ideas to get more people along to the games. I think the rugby people letting kids in for free is a great idea (one that the Phoenix successfully implemented for a game last year). All I know is that 7,000 is a bad look, and we should be getting as many people through the gates as we possibly can.

I suspect that having a 3pm game here is bad for TV ratings in Aussie

17:00 makes it a lot easier to schedule freestyle football though.

The sunday 5pm games ARE a flop.

Doesn't worry me and I'm one.

I agree. We'd do better having Sat or Fri games. For a Sunday 5pm is as good as any time for me.

The differnce in the crowd sizes will then make the nix change their minds when planning next years home games

...a home game at Aussie Stadium ?  We've buggered that up then.

Unless we still havent won a game so get 6k again...

If we don't win a game by then we'll be lucky to get 4k.

He must still be drinking that beer he is talking about.
ballane2008-09-15 16:25:37

We have a new bubs and i just cannot make 5pm KO
(5-7pm is the 'witching hour- four hands are needed to get thru)

so i had to stop working at the nix on game days and now cannot get along to the ROF

Fri/Sat 7.30pm KO's or Sunday 3pm KOs and ill be there

I agree with you Dennis, Sunday 5pm is an annoying time, If it has to be Sunday then make it 2pm. Friday or Saturday are far preferable for me though. It means I can have a few beers and not have to worry about going to work the next day. 

" I suspect that having a 3pm game here is bad for TV ratings in Aussie. "

Let me tell you that no Aussies give a crap about the Phoenix over here unless your a expat Kiwi or a Aussie Phoenic fan like myself!!

i  think the 5pm will get more people in summer cause of daylight savings but i still reckon even a 4pm start would be better

I'm wondering if we get a cheaper deal with the Stadium by playing Sundays??  I note that later in the year, after the rugby season has finished, we revert to a mix of Fri/Sat.

Ground availability will come in to it as well.  It's not a 2 minute job to swap the stadium from Rugby to Football.

Give us more friday and  saturday games TonyP. I liked the sunday family day in theory,but i dont think you pushed it enough (by giving kids in free etc). Then it was a big gamble making 8/11 games on a sunday,and it really really hasnt worked...but i think you know that already so ill shutup now

Yeah i did. But i also remember you originally saying at the start of the season that you pushed for sunday games.

If we were playing decent football then the crowd numbers would look after themselves Friday, Saturday or Sunday! Last year the Nix was novel and the atmosphere was great even though the team wasn't winning. This year frankly the football has been rubbish and the atmosphere is reflecting that and the crowd numbers will as well.

You do realise you contradicted yourself right?

Not true.  The most gorgeous looking football in the world won't bring in the general public if we're dead last and losing. 

The people who would appreciate the gorgeous football are in the main those that are there no matter what, our 6k.  Joe Punchclock with his 10 and 8-year-old kids is only going to see that the Phoenix lost again, why would I bother watching them ?

Last season the crowds came because we won some, it was unique and we actually had a marketing budget.  When I'm telling people at my club that the Phoenix are playing on Sunday there is a hole in the clubs marketing.

Clashing with the Warriors is a bad time tbh.

Sure I'm a bigger Phoenix fan, but it's been knockout football for the Warriors and sitting at home flipping between channels is easier than going to a soggy caketin over hung and not knowing what's going on in the other code.

Summer will be better.

Frankie Mac2008-09-15 23:50:26

I was at "breakers" catching some early Phoenix football but a league crowd booked a time to watch the League at 6pm so I didn't get to see the second half. I was with friends who follow the league and I always knew it was going to be a switch. A couple of Nix fans came in part way through the first half only to be told by the manager that it was going to change for the league. They watched what they can before leaving at half time trying to find a place that will show the phoenix playing.

It was very sad to see passionate fans and nowhere to go. They obviously have been searching a lot beforehand. It sucks to have a schedule clash with the league in the knockout stage. I hope there is no more clashes with the league.

Damn, AirNZ cup rugby the day before must make the ground staff working a sweat. . .

I have to say that if we can't get Saturday games, Sunday is a sure pain for many as Sports on Sat (own game) and Sun (phoenix) gives little room for a whole day break from Football [although monday is only real break from training for the serious footballer] family wise. Most non-core footballers prefer to block one day on football and the other day as a football free day. Having to go to work on Monday is annoying so Saturday is best.

So hopefully it will improve in the summer season as some are predicting. I thought the way to go was to have Friday night football in the early season supporting the preferred Saturday game when there is no Air NZ Cup and then later as it the summer arrives, Sunday games supporting the preferred Saturday game. I think that the Friday night football might surprise many and have a jump in the crowd numbers.

However as it was pointed out, Winners gets bums on seats. So they have to win more.AllWhitebelievr2008-09-16 00:32:02

ForteanTimes2008-09-16 04:03:02

I drive down from Palmy and then drive home straight after getting home around 9-30pm. Doesn't bother me at all.

The sooner daylight saving starts the better

Hard News2008-09-16 10:52:32

not great - I am going to have to start working soon

My grampa gets out of his grave and flies over on a 24-hour flight from Croatia and never bitches what time and day the Phoenix games kick-off...