I wonder if the club could find a way to promote the Yellow Fever more! ( I wish I could come up with a more specific idea.)
From personal experience I've always enjoyed a couple of beers and a singsong despite the results. My favourite thing is witnessing people enjoy the Fever experience for the first time! The YF can show the fairweather fans you can still have plenty of fun even when results aren't great, and the YF can show the Eurosnobs we've got the closest atmosphere to European Football they're going to get in a while (+ the quality of football isn't bad especialy when you're well lubricated!)
Yes, the Nix are a family-friendly club and that's great, but we know there's plenty of people in Wellington who turn up when there's a good party and a couple of drinks involved (Sevens back in the day).
Second promoting YF. It's the overall match day experience/sense of community that keeps people regularly going to games overseas. NZ has nothing like that. With the AB's, people go because they love rugby, their mates are going or it's the 'thing to do.'
When the Nix are in Auckland, I'll always go to the YF Zone as it makes the game that much more enjoyable. I know the YF lads/lasses already do a heap of work, so maybe the club could help out in some capacity (if they don't already)?
Perhaps someone should tell the Waiheke FC latino boys, that there is a nice pretty island in middle of Wellington Harbour, with a rich history, where they can relocate their team! The ROF will be clearly visible from their new home. Free season tickets, as long as they bring their drums, chants and flares to home games.
Waiheke are an excellent example of how clubs can attract fans to games by changing the atmosphere. A first division club who have had to build a standing area for their supporters as they have become so popular. That's what the Phoenix need to do to grow their fan base, make it more about the atmosphere and event of going to the football, than just about watching the match. Not everyone likes football, but if you go along and have a good time, chances are you'll come back.
Hats off to the YF crew put so much time and effort into it, it'd be great to see the club embrace that more. Below are some photos of the Waiheke supporters.
