R20 v Sydney FC | Sat 23rd Feb | 7:35 | Campbelltown (chortle)

While we can speculate whether there would be a big crowd in x place in New Zealand, haven't previous out of Wellington games been reasonably unsuccessful in terms of crowds? I'm guessing that was a reasonable part of their analysis of how financially well such an attempt would be again this time.

This was no doubt a part of the decision. If people don't turn up, why shouldn't they try and get the future of the club sorted with a large crowd elsewhere?

It's not just about crowds and availability. My understanding is that if a game is outside Wellington then the club wear the logictics costs of moving the other team to wherever as well as their own costs of relocation.  Assuming that's 30-40k the breakeven point is much higher.

Previously venues or councils have helped support that cost but as the football supporters of New Zealand don't appear to give a fudge if the Phoenix survive despite the lip service on social media I'm guessing these organisations have proven unwilling to assist this time.

I think this is actually a good way to fudge our attendance numbers. The Sydney fans should turn up as if it was a home game, average 19,923. Assuming we keep playing well and climb up the ladder I don't see why the game would pull much less than that. So roughly three times our current average at the cost of one home game. The club is being smart and basically trying to bank us an extra two home games of attendance towards the sharkty metrics. Fair enough, I dont see this working anywhere else in NZ and it was a game going away from Wellington anyway.

standard shambles

Particularly in the last couple of year's when the Phoenix have been garbage. Which has probably scared a couple of councils/stadium off. 

If it's a roaring success then all we'll have done is further prove that it's an admin ballache having to fly an Aussie team internationally to play a team in the same league in another country, when it could be done domestically.

I guess they didn't wait to see what last week's attendance was before negotiating the deal. Even if we keep winning, which I hope we do and if we keep playing in the same vein, there is no reason why we won't, when will we crack the 10,000 at home?

Someone want to remind me the last time the Hurricanes had to reschedule a game out of town due to the stadium being used. You really do have to question not only the FFA but Welnix on their inability to schedule games when there are other events booked at the stadium.

Really struggle to see how they can keep banging on about metrics when they continually pull this stuff out of the bag. Cant think of to many teams in any sport who are prepared to throw away any home advantage and play the game in the oppositions town.Yep we beat them a couple of weeks ago but cant see Sydney rolling over so easy next time.Lets hope we are securely in a playoff spot and arnt relying on this game to seal it.

Think this is an appropriate time to bring up this article. 

"Data analytics has revealed just how important home town support is to the success of the Wellington Phoenix on the field".

https://www.wellingtonphoenix.com/news/data-proves...

Again I ask so whats your solution.

That won't make Westpac available.

I'm pretty sure Hurricanes games have been played outside Wellington due to clashes with other events at the stadium.  The difference is 16k will turn up if they go to Palmerston North. 1600 would turn up if the Pheonix did.

The Phoenix got greedy after a couple of one off large crowds in Chch and at Eden park.  They then started shopping the team round the country and thought it would solve all of their problems.  Suddenly team was crap and a couple of dud matches in Waikato and New Plymouth and the whole exercise became fraught.  The club had no links to those areas and they were hard for Wellingtonians to get to.

If they had stuck with a couple of predictable away games to the same destinations, at roughly the same time, they would have given the fans something to plan for each season and as a few others have said, in the absence of away fixtures those travelling games were good for the fans to look forward to.  Look out for those games at the start of the season, and also start to build support in those places.  

Instead we had Domey telling people "if you don't turn up, we won't bring the team back".  How did that work out?  Well we are now playing home games in Australia.  

Like so much else the club has done recently, the away home games were completely reactive and shows no signs of planning or strategic thinking. 

The problem is the product is now perceived as crap and the Nix are having to shop it about further and further afield.

Do they continue to shop it about further and further afield , or fix the product ?

I have no idea where Campbelltown is. I assume its not Sydney usual home ground.

If the objective is to up the metrics, wouldn’t you play the game at Sydneys ground?

Oh well , I guess I can go to the Kapi Haka festival.

Shouldnt it be mentioned that was cricket worldcup year,dont seem to recall it happening during a normal season and given the area the Hurricanes are supposed to represent dont think games taken in those areas really count.

The Hurricanes via NZ Rugby have a shark load more negotiating power with SANZAAR, than the Nix will ever have with FFA/Fox Sports, re game scheduling. That's partly because the best 'product' in Super Rugby is brought by the NZ teams, incl the Canes - plus NZR has 5 teams to bargain with, not just one.

Also lets not forget there are more non sports events scheduled at Westpac over the summer - a big chunk of the A League season, but mostly rugby free - than the winter months. The Nix furthermore have more home games, than the Canes, having a longer season. So simply is a higher chance Welnix, will have to move the odd home game, compared to their rugby counterparts.

South Western Sydney, proposed home ground of new A League team Macarthur South-West Sydney (joining 2020/21 season).

Local council probably chucking in a wad of cash, to start building momentum to Macarthur's entry in 18 months.

Also this is the expansion team that Welnix were negotiating back with a few months ago, aiming to get a cash injection in return for taking 3 games a season to Cambelltown. They already have a relationship.  

When Macarthur's A League entry was announced - "Financed by billionaire property developer Lang Walker and backed by a local consortium of business owners, there appears to be no shortage of money behind this bid."

So Welnix maybe getting a tidy cheque, for this game. Plus hopefully supportive club owners at Macarthur, which helps if the A League goes Independant, and Welnix need to curry up support of the various club owners to retain their licence. 

Potential smart play on two fronts.

Don't the Hurricanes only play five games a season in Wellington?

Read on fourfourtwo forum that next season they will play 3 matches at Campbelltown?.

That is completely incorrect. Whoever told them that is in the wrong

That guy just makes crap up to stir the pot.

8 home matches in 2019. 

1-2 games could be in Palmy or Napier.

Very good way of analysing the situation mate. Would rather pull a 15k+ crowd and miss a home game than have one extra in NZ; hopefully our team's good enough to negate not being surrounded by a home crowd (don't think it matters as much in the A-League tbh)

It would be nice to have a game in Wanganui. 

Not too far to go, and looks like they have a stadium here:

A lot of aussies spouting this is the end of the phoenix?  is that what you guys get from this?

Not. At. All. 

St Kilda trialled a few 'home' AFL games in Wellington. 

A number of Australian NRL teams have taken 'home' games to various NZ venues.

No different.

Not hard facts, but pretty sound logical assumptions.

Have no idea why Dome thinks given the recent history of attendances in Auckland that this time it will be much better.How the hell can they expect people to buy into the team when they keep them away from home every season for such extended periods.After the crap thats been served up in recent times they really are in LaLa land if they think a couple of good performances are going to convince  the casuals into turning up.

"We're still yet to see the crowd come back to Wellington in big numbers, so Auckland have become very important in that regard. We're hoping the fans turn out in Sydney."

Come back in big numbers the only time they were here in that was when we were in the playoffs you really do just shake your head about some of the rubbish that comes out of there at times have to wonder if they actually believe some of the stuff  they release.

I like the idea of going to Campbelltown for a Nix game, If its good for Welnix then its good for us in the long run. I will be at the match supporting the Nixs!.

Home support is super important (to lazy to find the stats) if this game cost us three points, will it be worth the money?

If people think we get a big crowd over there...Sydney always get the lowest crowd numbers when they play against us.

How long were people waiting for the two 'home away' game locations to be announced so they could plan stuff?