Phoenix v Newcastle United | Sat 26th | Westpac | 4:30pm

Yeah it was the surprise that got me. But once I was over that I thought that it was actually a really good and perhaps more meaningful gesture than that just the usual silence - especially as it was coming from a New Zealand game. That would have made it more special for those who were really affected most by the loss - that is what some of the Newcastle feedback suggests anyway. I didn't think it was it disrespectful or inappropriate in any way. But I agree it was a mistake not to announce it.

Nice positives there. To add to it I think the Dom Post said the retailers actually reported it was a bit better than an All Black test. Whatever it  was a great event for sure.

Great day but whoever stole my mates program during the match needs to be ousted and punished accordingly!!.. Shameful etiquette you don't expect among fellow fans. 

Totally agree on the positives coming from the Tour.  I must admit I was feeling really flat at the end of last season. Now I wish it was starting next week.

A big pat on the back for Welnix for pulling this off. The whole thing has been brilliant. Football in NZ has been put in a positive light again. The media are happy, the fans are happy....I was not in Wellington but I have heard that it was full on for the weekend. The retail, bar, hotel and restaurant sector got a big shot in the arm from the whole thing.

But what has really pleased me is how much kudos has been shown to the Nix as a footballing team. We could have got dicked by these EPL teams....big time, we could have parked the bus and tried to reduce the damage. But we played a great style of football. For large parts of both games we matched them, we put them under pressure and we created goal scoring chances. Sure man for man they were better, but it was nice to hear the positive comments about us, coming from the UK pro's.

I'm proud to be a Nix fan.

Too right the bars would have got a huge shot in the arm , Courtney Pl was heaving and if our foreign visitors spent half of what I did $$$

Had a drunken chat with a hammer who traveled from England and he was saying how well we played and told me that the english media had said that the league was for old hasbeens and school children.
Was also complimenting the stadium facilities (mezzanine bar) and how close it was to transport , bars , hotles etc. He also said he loves the fever and the banter between the fever and hammers was quality.

Summary of match, from Newcastle fans who travelled from Newcastle : The last section "Waffle" gives a fan's view of the day and the game  
Summed by by the following 

Thank you New Zealand for putting on a show and thank you to the players and the approachable staff for making this a memorable experience. That midweek trip to Sheffield will certainly bring everyone back down to earth.

www.nufc.com/2014-15html/2014-07-26wellington-a.ht...

tee hee, given all the angst here

"The 'Cake Tin' as it is affectionately known by Wellingtonians is a simply fantastic stadium ..."

When it has 30,000 people in it, it is a fantastic stadium.

It's still oval when it's full though

So's the Maracana :P

The view from nearly the back of the Maracana felt about the same as the middle of the feverzone. 

Just sayin', every man and his dog complain of the view you get at Westpac...

Well, yeah, its shit. If its full and you're stuck in one of the lower seats it gets even worse. Dont know what the Maracana has to do with it either, a rectangular stadium is always going to get you closer.

I know all of that. Just comparing what the toon fans thought to what most nix fans think of it. 

Nothing really, except I don't think I've ever heard people saying it sucks because it's oval. So maybe an oval stadium isn't necessarily sh*t. Westpac is still sh*t though.

They need to ditch the yellow seats and go multi coloured like Napier. It would make it look fuller unless they drape stupid big banners over the empty seats.