Figured I'd put this here because why not/I'm bored and have nothing better to do,
1st Sydney derby: att 19,126 1st Melbourne derby: att 25,897 1st F3 derby: att 9,803
If we get 20k at the game like people are suggesting we'd have the 2nd highest first derby attendance in the league, could spell good things for NZ football leading forward
The unknown is do the Nix lose any Auckland based commercial partners, by no longer taking a 'home' game to the 09.
It seemed as much about taking games north for those sponsors, as trying to increase the overall season gate revenue income. I mean last season it was 1 game at Mt Smart (with a crowd not really any bigger than a ROF match) and 1 bigger crowd at Eden Park.
But yeah like you say, Christchurch opens a new potential window of opportunity. Like it wouldn't surprise if at some point, a closer relationship between Weenix and Christchurch United academies was announced. Paul Ifill being a link, and maybe the Nix hoping Slava Meyn could contribute to the costs of a game in the 03. Something along those lines, could eventuate.
And yes can see the crowd being very healthy for Nix games at the new enclosed ChCh stadium when it's completed from 2026 onwards. A handy option maybe for later season games when the weather can be a bit more iffy in the capital.
IMO Meyn should be communicating with Ryan Nelson, trying to at least gee him up with finding UK/US backers for a ChCh bid. Plus spraying screenshots of paradise Queenstown properties on offer. Etc.
But yeah not such a silly idea. New franchise Auckland FC looking a success after flops to date Macarther & Western United. So for sure the APL will now be interested in any ideas of a NZ 3rd team, and Pragnell wants it. Though I reckon WU once they get their new stadium & a stable location at long last, could yet widen their fan base. Western Melbs is growing rapidly.
You'd want an owner like Foley with deep pockets though. It would be a massive test of NZ's player depth to start up a 3rd team in the next few years. You'd need big money offers I feel to attract quality Kiwi players to Christchurch. That's no slight on the town, but I think an honest assessment. Like ex Wanaka/ChCh lad Joe Bell would be a huge signature signing as cpatain - but would take lots of moolah for him to give up on Europe.
You assemble a weak squad that struggles, and it quickly becomes NZ's battling small brother low budget 3rd team, with few known Kiwis, then I can see the crowds being as small as 3-4K like MAC & WU.
But yeah interesting the owner of LAFC has now bought into Auckland FC. Maybe Nellie can sweet talk the owners of DC United to setup a NZ affiliate club.
But yeah not such a silly idea. New franchise Auckland FC looking a success after flops to date Macarther & Western United. So for sure the APL will now be interested in any ideas of a NZ 3rd team, and Pragnell wants it. Though I reckon WU once they get their new stadium & a stable location at long last, could yet widen their fan base. Western Melbs is growing rapidly.
You'd want an owner like Foley with deep pockets though. It would be a massive test of NZ's player depth to start up a 3rd team in the next few years. You'd need big money offers I feel to attract quality Kiwi players to Christchurch. That's no slight on the town, but I think an honest assessment. Like ex Wanaka/ChCh lad Joe Bell would be a huge signature signing as cpatain - but would take lots of moolah for him to give up on Europe.
You assemble a weak squad that struggles, and it quickly becomes NZ's battling small brother low budget 3rd team, with few known Kiwis, then I can see the crowds being as small as 3-4K like MAC & WU.
But yeah interesting the owner of LAFC has now bought into Auckland FC. Maybe Nellie can sweet talk the owners of DC United to setup a NZ affiliate club.
Christchurch has great footballing heritage and really get behind a sports team, more than Auckland does for sure. Even if they struggled I honestly reckon they'd go alright for crowds.
I know it's only been one game, but Auckland looks pretty damn solid and you'd have to say if Western and MacArthur are still afloat then Auckland will be around for the long haul. Adding a solid Chch team to the mix would be an absolute dream, the derbies would be fantastic
It's a long time ago now, and a different code. But in the first 2 years of Super Rugby (1996 & 1997) the Crusaders were pretty woeful and so were the crowds at the old Lancaster Park. Like many locales Cantabs seem to like a winner.
But yeah that is coming up 30 years ago, and the city has grown a bit since then, and certainly so it's football community. The crowd for the Nix game at Addington in January will be a useful barometer.
Really want to see Auckland put in their place next week. I'm pretty sure Pijnaker handballed it prior to scoring, would have liked to have seen more angles. Going to be tough as we are still understrength and probably not even playing our preferred formation yet.
That is was the AFC captain called it today (Kiwi Derby)Frankie Mac
Ninja
How about the 'Kiwi Derby'.
Just keep it simple.
The Kirby.
I’m coming down from Auckland for the game, but you never change your allegiance and I will be supporting the Nix. Where do I collect my song sheet for the day? Is there a stand set up near the stadium to give them out?
I’m coming down from Auckland for the game, but you never change your allegiance and I will be supporting the Nix. Where do I collect my song sheet for the day? Is there a stand set up near the stadium to give them out?
You can change your allegiance: It’s legit if a) you did not have a local side in the pyramid to support (so that’s a-league) and now you do. b) you support a local team in lower pyramids. AND c) you supported your current team because they were the de-facto local side for you
Re: changing allegiance - don't know if it's because NZ is not much of a football nation and I'm not sure about other codes - but I've been surprised by the amount of people that have asked me if I was going to ditch the Nix for Auckland. To me it's such an obvious "no" that I was puzzled by the question even being asked. I understand adopting a second team, sure, but switching purely due to proximity and hating on your old team is rubbish.
In other places you basically inherit your allegiance from your family and you will forever be considered a snake if you switch. I'm not saying that's "right" but I find the switcherooing as jarring as I do seeing players popping up in other A-league teams from season to season.
A Phoenix spokesperson confirmed the flyover had been their doing: “We’ve got plenty of fans in Auckland and one just happens to be a pilot”.
There was also a billboard outside Mt Smart Stadium with the same message, featuring the Phoenix’s logo being projected from Auckland’s Sky Tower.
Four Auckland players have played for the Phoenix previously, with All Whites goalkeeper Alex Paulsen, who starred for Wellington last season, the most notable.
Callan Elliot, Logan Rogerson and Luis Toomey are the other Auckland players who have previously pulled on a Phoenix jersey.
A Phoenix spokesperson confirmed the flyover had been their doing: “We’ve got plenty of fans in Auckland and one just happens to be a pilot”.
There was also a billboard outside Mt Smart Stadium with the same message, featuring the Phoenix’s logo being projected from Auckland’s Sky Tower.
Four Auckland players have played for the Phoenix previously, with All Whites goalkeeper Alex Paulsen, who starred for Wellington last season, the most notable.
Callan Elliot, Logan Rogerson and Luis Toomey are the other Auckland players who have previously pulled on a Phoenix jersey.
Re: changing allegiance - don't know if it's because NZ is not much of a football nation and I'm not sure about other codes - but I've been surprised by the amount of people that have asked me if I was going to ditch the Nix for Auckland. To me it's such an obvious "no" that I was puzzled by the question even being asked. I understand adopting a second team, sure, but switching purely due to proximity and hating on your old team is rubbish.
In other places you basically inherit your allegiance from your family and you will forever be considered a snake if you switch. I'm not saying that's "right" but I find the switcherooing as jarring as I do seeing players popping up in other A-league teams from season to season.
Other places in the world though are of little relevance to the unique situation with the Nix and new kids Auckland.
As an Auckland based Nix supporter you are never likely to get to many Phoenix home games in a season. Not if you have a family life anyway! But yeah suddenly there is a new team in your home town, and you want to take your son and/or daughter regularly to live football. So you 'jump ship'. Or you support both teams, and then go with gut feel re the derby games. To me that's perfectly understandable
Different to say the UK, where maybe you are a Londoner but a Man U fan since birth. Like Beckham's old man in Leytonstone.
1. You can probably be outside Old Trafford from London in 3 hours on a train, every 2nd weekend. I understand a big number of United season ticket holders don't live in Manchester.
2. It's not like you only had one pro football team in the UK to choose from, when you emerged from the womb. You made a conscious decision to support Man U ahead of the other 90 odd EFL clubs you could have picked.
She is all very different to what's happening in Aotearoa. A country who's oldest existing pro football team, is still to have it's 20th birthday. Every Nix supporter north of Wellington will have a different personal situation. Ain't no right or wrong.
Did you just purchase your ticket? Because that seems scarily low
I purchased it 2 weeks ago, but the ticket has only today been emailed to me. So I guess the pax number is not very accurate.
Looks like the number from two weeks ago.
Most definitely would be. From a quick look at ticketek there's a few bays sold out now, quickly skimming some of the other bays there are only a handful left in a lot of them.
@queenofthequail It happens. This is a more unique situation; it’s not like someone who supported ManU under the Ferguson era switching to ManCity because they’re the ones buying the league and ManU are …manure.
It’s more like, you used travel across town because there was only one Bunnings around, now a new one has opened up round the corner, so you’re going to use that one now.
I’m a bit worried by this game tbh. Auckland look like the real deal. Their defense is really well organized and they have some excellent players. I have been surprised how well they have knitted together as a team so early. In contrast the Nix look severely underdone. If we had Rojas and all the other new recruits match fit and playing then I would be more confident. I think we will struggle to break them down and score. But as we know, football can spring surprises. It’s a home game and we will have a big hostile crowd. Head says a low scoring draw, heart says 3-0 to Nix with two red cards to Auckland
I’m a bit worried by this game tbh. Auckland look like the real deal. Their defense is really well organized and they have some excellent players. I have been surprised how well they have knitted together as a team so early. In contrast the Nix look severely underdone. If we had Rojas and all the other new recruits match fit and playing then I would be more confident. I think we will struggle to break them down and score. But as we know, football can spring surprises. It’s a home game and we will have a big hostile crowd. Head says a low scoring draw, heart says 3-0 to Nix with two red cards to Auckland
Would love the latter. Probably won’t happen, but a win is a win.
I’m a bit worried by this game tbh. Auckland look like the real deal. Their defense is really well organized and they have some excellent players. I have been surprised how well they have knitted together as a team so early. In contrast the Nix look severely underdone. If we had Rojas and all the other new recruits match fit and playing then I would be more confident. I think we will struggle to break them down and score. But as we know, football can spring surprises. It’s a home game and we will have a big hostile crowd. Head says a low scoring draw, heart says 3-0 to Nix with two red cards to Auckland
Yeah wont be easy but think the Nix have shown enough that they are working towards showing some really good form. We get some of our injured guys back and Chief has always said it will tale about 5/6 weeks to get be where he wants us. May have had the longest off season but their pre season certainly wasnt one you really want.
I'm in a strange position, in that in my heart I'm Phoenix Till I Die, but I've also felt the need to support the project of the young folks in T-AFC. Also it's hard not to feel the energy of all the little kids at Mt Smart having a great time supporting their team for the first time ever.
Ramming liberal dribble down your throat since 2009 This forum needs less angst and more Kate Bush threads
