Nix home crowd attendance

59 replies · 1,439 views

almost 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

I remain skeptical, but I do think that the Honduras turnout does justify a pre-season match. The idea that Auckland automatically deserves a regular season match, however, remains ridiculous.

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almost 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

Lease arrangements are hard to change.(especially if it is a condition of cheap rent)Hogster2011-04-08 15:24:13

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almost 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

I believe there was 18k at the all whites not 15k

Aucklanders would not turn out merely for a preseason game, that would be a waste of time. They will go if the game means something and for the occasion

2nd best I base my logic around the fact that aucklanders don't want to go to north habour stadium and nz football are fools playing their games there (admittedly they have to I believe)

If the game was played at Eden park, they would go for the occasion. Just look at the warriors crowd there early this year

If 20k turn up that will be a success. Put them all on one side of the ground, similar to the Phoenix at the cake tin and it will also look great for tv

Coupled with merchandize sales, this would be financially viable and I think it is something the Phoenix will do very shortly once they get their house in order

Auckland will rise once more

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almost 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

AucklandPhoenix wrote:

I believe there was 18k at the all whites not 15k

Taking into account those that travelled from out of Auckland.Buffon II2011-04-08 18:32:49

Three for me, and two for them.

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almost 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

Yes and that will happen as well

Auckland will rise once more

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almost 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

AucklandPhoenix wrote:

Aucklanders would not turn out merely for a preseason game, that would be a waste of time. They will go if the game means something and for the occasion

Then they don't deserve it. Save regular season matches for cities that would appreciate the opportunity.

Both Christchurch and Hamilton showed up for preseason matches. They showed interest in the Phoenix in a "meaningless" match. They've justified why the Phoenix should take a risk on either city - and with Christchurch, both occasions have been a success. Both cities deserve to have the Phoenix play in their city. Auckland has shown nothing to suggest that they do, rather they've shown the complete opposite. Until that changes, Auckland is an unwise risk. I don't see why we should risk ticket income and 3 points on the chance that a city that has shown a complete antipathy towards A-League football *might* change their minds, even though all signs suggest they won't.

I don't disagree that an exhibition match won't be attractive to Aucklanders. I've seen it with my own eyes - the Phoenix saw bigger crowds in Masterton and Queenstown than they did in Waitakere. But that's not evidence in your favour. That's just another reason why Auckland is a massive risk that the Phoenix shouldn't take - yet.

TLDR? You're suggesting we bet on the racehorse with the longest odds because it'll have the highest payout.

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almost 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

I went to the all whites and NHS and it was good, too many rugby folk telling use to sit tho.

I don't think a preseason game would work here simply because it isn't a big enough draw/event to anyone in a place where you have options. Rather than a town that just got their first traffic lights...haha.
raynes2011-04-08 21:02:54

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almost 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

Let's not get too high and mighty here - there are (a) a lot of football fans in Auckland and (b) a lot of fair weather football fans in Wellington. i don't think we're in that great a position to cricitise others for crowd size after what was a pretty poor year last year and a poor turnout for the All Whites.

Only issue is if you get less than 30k at Eden Park you'll feel like you are rattling around, and Nth Harbour has its well documented problems

Normo's coming home

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almost 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

james dean wrote:

I don't deny the presence of football fans in Auckland at all - I'm friends with several. One of the most dedicated fans I know is an Aucklander (Footpaul). And for their sake I'd love to see the Nix return to the city, as my concern is only with the general public. If we're trying to make a cash-in, it's better to sell to 14K fairweather Cantabs than 100 diehard Aucklanders.

Nor do I deny that Wellington's crowds aren't fantastic as of late. But how are our numbers poor? They're poor in relation to our own better years. Compared to Auckland's historical support for pro football, we're excellent. As for the All Whites attendances, the attendance numbers were close enough that you can hardy call Wellington's number poor in comparison. Regardless, the All Whites point is largely irrelevant anyway - a largely hyped, in-fashion All Whites squad after a massive success is a much hotter ticket than the Phoenix.

Look, I have no objection whatsoever to the idea itself of the Phoenix returning to Auckland for a more serious match than the Waitakere friendly. I'm just aware that regular season matches aren't commodities that can be wasted just to satisfy a population, rather they're opportunities for the team to earn 3 points and the franchise to earn ticket income. Christchurch was repeated not just because it was a great chance to share the team, but because it earned the club a fair bit of coinage, and the crowd support was there to help nab the points. The club was better off (at least financially) by playing the match there rather than here. Can we honestly say that Auckland can guarantee the same, based on no evidence other than in the contrary? And should we take the risk anyway given that Hamilton has stepped up to the plate? I'd love to see the Phoenix play in front of 15K at Mount Smart or even (heaven forbid) North Harbour. I'd be less keen on seeing them play in front of 5K, knowing that 7K would have attended in Wellington.

All I'm saying is that Auckland doesn't inherently, automatically nor unquestionably deserve to host a regular season match. Especially at the expense of a much more deserving city in Hamilton. It's an important market with some bloody good fans up there, but it's also one hell of a risk. And the fact is, the Phoenix succeeding is far more important than letting Aucklanders have a go. Auckland needs to prove itself first. And if pre-season won't work, hell I dunno, have the Nix play the Oceania All-Stars or something. But let's not waste regular season matches so quickly.

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almost 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

If they had the guts to play the all whites game at eden park they wouyld have got 30K and everyone would have felt great instead of moaning about atendences in Wellington and Auckland

The Phoenix are now popular, a brand, it is trendy now and it will work - but only at eden park

Look at the warriors, an average crowd of 13k and they go to eden park and they bget 36k,

Auckland would get 20k minimun and perhaps 25k. That is much needed coin for Terry rather then 7k in Wellington.

Comparing meaningless games and yes Waitakere is a meaningless game is not right.Aucklanders will not turn out to meaningless games. Yes give them to towns who have no competition for the entertainment dollar (I include hamilton there having lived there for four years)

Yes, James I agree dont let everyone get high and mighty. No Auckland can not support a team, yes Wellington can.

One game however would be an occassion and an event. Stick all 20 -25k on one side of the park and it will look great (exactly what Wellington do)

Auckland will rise once more

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almost 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

AucklandPhoenix wrote:

auckland does not need to prove itself. One quarter of the population lives here for gods sake. No to north harbour. I have been to hundred's of football matches, yes, including the dreaded rugby word, but I have never been and never will go to north harbour. Football new zealand are dumb playing anything there and that was a major part in the kingz demise.[/quote]1 million people doesn't necessarily mean 1 million football fans. As Wellington have proved with our attendances - smaller population base, yet larger fanbase. You pointed it out yourself - Auckland is culturally less likely to attend meaningless matches than smaller cities with less entertainment competition. Raw numbers alone would suggest Nix @ Waitakere would outdraw Nix @ Masterton or Nix @ Queenstown, but that is not the case for reasons you provided. Raw population only has so much value. I'm interested in how much of that population can be converted into paying customers.

AucklandPhoenix wrote:

If they had the guts to play the all whites game at eden park they wouyld have got 30K and everyone would have felt great instead of moaning about atendences in Wellington and Auckland[/quote] NZF are contractually obliged to play any Auckland-based All Whites matches at NHS. And both matches had fair attendances all things considering.

AucklandPhoenix wrote:

The Phoenix are now popular, a brand, it is trendy now and it will work - but only at eden park. Look at the warriors, an average crowd of 13k and they go to eden park and they bget 36k,[/quote] The Auckland Warriors got a higher attendance playing a major match at a different ground in the same city? Irrelevant. Those 13K would have no trouble going to Eden Park. 7K aren't going to make the trip from Wellington. And that match was the season opener - I'd guess that the average for those matches is higher than 13k. As for us being trendy - most of the media attention is about ownership problems or under-performance. We were trendy in 2009. I don't feel that we're as big as a drawcard as you suggest.

I don't get why you're so big on Eden Park as opposed to Mount Smart for any reason other than your projected attendance, but then again I'm not a local so obviously there'll be stuff I haven't considered.
[QUOTE=AucklandPhoenix]Auckland would get 20k minimun and perhaps 25k. That is much needed coin for Terry rather then 7k in Wellington.

And how exactly did you arrive at these figures?

[QUOTE=AucklandPhoenix]Comparing meaningless games and yes Waitakere is a meaningless game is not right.Aucklanders will not turn out to meaningless games. Yes give them to towns who have no competition for the entertainment dollar (I include hamilton there having lived there for four years)

Waitakere wasn't meant as a comparison but I wasn't clear on that so fair enough. The Knights were, however. Auckland has had years of meaningful matches and showed minimal interest. Why the sudden change? Because the Phoenix have some success? Because the All Whites have drawn new fans? For these reasons I agree the Phoenix do have more pulling power than the Knights, and the event factor holds some truth, but the point remains - a regular season match is not something that should be relocated lightly. And I've yet to see anything to suggest Auckland is a safe choice.

[QUOTE=AucklandPhoenix]Yes, James I agree dont let everyone get high and mighty. No Auckland can not support a team, yes Wellington can.

One game however would be an occassion and an event. Stick all 20 -25k on one side of the park and it will look great (exactly what Wellington do)

I do agree the event nature does help. But we know it'll succeed in Hamilton, yet we can only assume it may succeed in Auckland despite a history of abysmal failure. So why consider anything other than Hamilton at this point? I do want see the Nix play in Auckland some day - but it needs to be done right. Wait until the Phoenix actually is trendy and popular on a national scale. Have a product good enough to compete with all the other entertainment options Auckland has. THEN take a serious match to Auckland. Until then, there are plenty of safer options available right now around the country.

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almost 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

Robb wrote:

AucklandPhoenix wrote:

Auckland would get 20k minimun and perhaps 25k. That is much needed coin for Terry rather then 7k in Wellington.

And how exactly did you arrive at these figures?ï¿½

I can see now why AP is a lawyer.

"Phoenix till they lose"

Posting 97% bollox, 8% lies and 3.658% genuine opinion.

Genuine opinion: FTFFA

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almost 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

Nice one Terry, game for auckland. Should help the bank balence

Auckland will rise once more

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almost 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

That's the idea. You'll be going won't you AP, and roping in all your immigration chums too?

If you get 20k we'll all be happy.

"Phoenix till they lose"

Posting 97% bollox, 8% lies and 3.658% genuine opinion.

Genuine opinion: FTFFA

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almost 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

I love it how everyone tries to own AP because hes a lawyer, but they dont really.

Im not fussed Auckland got a game, i just hope it comes after a good string of results to further entice fans. I hate Auckland but it had to happen, Nix have always said they want to take the game nationwide so Auckland was inevitable. Crunch time...

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almost 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

At least now the argument will be settled. If Akl pull in a good crowd, could be good for one game a season for brand and bank balance.

However, a good crowd appearance needs to be put in context as well, like the CHCH matches. They're a bit like a gala match, fans from all around the south island may have made the journey to watch the nix down there, much like a Hamiltonian or Tauranga-ite might make the journey to Auckland to watch as well. It's not like it's a week-in week-out games for them.

However, if they can't pull a decent crowd, then i doubt the Aucklanders can't really argue that they could do better.

Yellow Whever Whanganui

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almost 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

Junior82 wrote:

That's the idea.ï¿½ You'll be going won't you AP, and roping in all your immigration chums too?

ï¿½

If you get 20k we'll all be happy.ï¿½

ï¿½

Yep, there may be a Greek or two there

Auckland will rise once more

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almost 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

AJ13 wrote:

I love it how everyone tries to own AP because hes a lawyer, but they dont really.

He isn't one.

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almost 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

Auckland definitely should be given a chance.

15k or more = 1 a season

Less than 15k = None or maybe one every several seasons.

Christchurch 1 a season as they've already proved themselves - however not this upcoming season for obvious reasons.