Repeating my comment from the pod thread:
The only way the club succeeds in the long-term is by building the fanbase in Wellington. I think Greenie makes a fair point about what has not been discussed - what is the long-term strategy in taking more games to Aussie.
It clearly has an impact on home interest because it breaks up the season, it has a sporting impact because it's more games being taken away and are we really going to have no games in Auckland (when we have always been told that we need games in Auckland because the sponsors demand it).
Again, this is being floated as something that the club "has to explore". Well does it? The WELLINGTON PHOENIX playing HOME games in SYDNEY sounds absolutely fudgeing mickey mouse to me.
What about appointing a coach, giving them control over signing players, backing young kiwis, making players and management available to the media so fans (not just hardcore) know what's going on, recruiting a CEO who has some idea about football and giving it a proper go in Wellington rather than trying to deals around the country (and now in Australia) a strategy which to date HAS PATENTLY NOT WORKED!
What I am saying is that the current strategy has been a failure and I do not understand on what planet playing home games in Australia is a good idea.
When the Phoenix were a success they were a team that Wellington was proud of. We are a long way from that right now
Really need that unendorse button!!
That period where the Nix were successful, was also when they were owned by a guy who is now a bankrupt.
The long term strategy of taking some games to Aussie has been well explained. A cash injection and attempt to boost crowd metrics.
It isn’t an original cuckoo idea. Various NRL clubs bring home games to NZ. St Kilda of course tried AFL games in Wellington. Which flopped. However South West Sydney is a football stronghold, whilst AFL in NZ is more of a gimmick. FYI - AFL last year took a game to China.
NFL play games in London.
Anyway Welnix explored the idea but didn’t agree to SWS’s terms. Time to move on.