From a Wellington football perspective taking another game or two away sucks
From a business point of view I can see the logic. Running a business is not a charity....its simple, earnings must be greater than expenses. If it makes the club more financially viable having three games on the road then so be it. I would hate to go through a another Terry style financial meltdown. We can't expect Welnix to keep bankrolling our leisure activities. Look whats happening at the Jets at the moment when you rely on the largeness of rich dudes...it can all come tumbling down very quickly.
A question?
Over the last week we have had several journalists going on about how the Nix needing 10,000 people a match to break even. My understanding is the new TV deal pays all the players wages. Morrison said this is a financial game changer. So obviously when the new deal kicks in we DO NOT NEED 10,000 to break even....true??????
If that is the case then can someone tell the journalists to shut the F**k up and get their facts right!
Yes, I agree re TV deal and that is part of why I think the away 'home' games MAY not be an issue - IF we can get the on-field improving.
But I am not going to begrudge Welnix taking a few games out of town. IF the 'Nix are playing well, then a game in Auckland before Xmas when the weather is more shark in Wgtn may draw a much more decent crowd than at home. An extra 5000*$20= $100k. Versus maybe $10k costs max flying the squad in and out. And they might potentially pull an extra 10k crowd if it is a one off each year and the 'Nix are a crack team to see.
Do that twice a year at Chch/Auck say and thats $200k-$400k and if the TV deal funds most of the club player costs that is $200-400k into the acadamies.
My guess is with either 13 or 14 home games in a 27 game season we'd only have the two more games away in a year we have the extra home game. So ten games at home likely either way. But sure, I'd like to see it only two games away. If the crowds pick up in Welly we'd have a chance of that.
5,000 turning up to the stadium is not a viable footy team, from a finance or footy perspective.
A couple of games away won't solve it alone, but it's not unreasonable for Welnix to consider. And if it puts $200-$400k into football acadamies or other footy promotion in NZ then maybe the loyal wellington base should support that.
To make Phoenix a strong team I'd want at least 10k crowds at home, regardless of the financial side.
Two separate issues there - away games potentially helping to finance the game, and getting decent home crowds. But both require an improved on-field game imo.