Less byes? 2024/25 season started 18th October, with a 31st May 2025 Grand Final.
Finishing a week earlier is going to make it tight, re Nix trying to play a late regular season game at the new flash ChCh stadium due to open about mid April next year.
I read Super Rugby are trying to lock in a Super Round at the new ground around ANZAC Day, which maybe is when the ALM regular season will end, if the GF is yes to be weekend 22nd-24th May??
Less byes? 2024/25 season started 18th October, with a 31st May 2025 Grand Final.
Finishing a week earlier is going to make it tight, re Nix trying to play a late regular season game at the new flash ChCh stadium due to open about mid April next year.
I read Super Rugby are trying to lock in a Super Round at the new ground around ANZAC Day, which maybe is when the ALM regular season will end, if the GF is yes to be weekend 22nd-24th May??
There will be two midweek rounds instead of one. Start date is the now-standard weekend after the October international window, it would usually run until the last weekend of May (ie a week later than it actually will) but the hard end-point is the World Cup release period beginning May 25.
Probably a dumb question but why do we play even one mid week game?
Surely with such a short league season it’s not necessary?
In terms of the World Cup date above, is that when all squads are meant to assemble?
In normal years (with four weekends of finals and the grand final on the last weekend of May) not having the one midweek round would mean starting the season then immediately having a weekend off for an international break.
May 25 is the day World Cup-bound players have to be released by their clubs for national team duty (with the exception of players involved in the UEFA Champions League final on May 30).
Aren't those midweek rounds/games slipped in around the Christmas/New Year break game when everyone forgets what day of the week it is anyway.
For NZ teams, if we are away for 2 or even 3 games in a row in conjunction with a midweek game then that is 1 or 2 less trips across the Tasman, and if its Adelaide/Perth or Sydney/Newcastle even better.
You could obviously start the season 3 weeks earlier (keeping in mind the Oct intl break) to remove the need for midweek games. What is the hard limit causing the league to start so late? Stadium availability, or broadcast arrangements, or what? Could this be sorted out in the next broadcast deal?
You would think it would be a good idea with little downside.
1: No real competition going on with other codes and also some content for broadcasters.
2: Weather likely ok.
3: Helps reduce the longest off season in the world and keeps the league in the public’s eye.
4: Brings our league more in sink with leagues throughout the world.
5: If there is an international break a couple of weeks later, even better for the national team as A league players would have had a couple of decent games under their belt.
You could obviously start the season 3 weeks earlier (keeping in mind the Oct intl break) to remove the need for midweek games. What is the hard limit causing the league to start so late? Stadium availability, or broadcast arrangements, or what? Could this be sorted out in the next broadcast deal?
AFL Grand Final is 27th September. NRL Grand final is 5th October. 6th - 14th October is a FIFA window.
So if you start early, you are going up against the climax of the winter codes & then head into an international break. By starting after that international break, the idea is that you have some clear air in the media space to promote the start of the season.
You could obviously start the season 3 weeks earlier (keeping in mind the Oct intl break) to remove the need for midweek games. What is the hard limit causing the league to start so late? Stadium availability, or broadcast arrangements, or what? Could this be sorted out in the next broadcast deal?
AFL Grand Final is 27th September. NRL Grand final is 5th October. 6th - 14th October is a FIFA window.
So if you start early, you are going up against the climax of the winter codes & then head into an international break. By starting after that international break, the idea is that you have some clear air in the media space to promote the start of the season.
^ This! (was something I forgot about but is probably a bigger deal than starting then immediately having a week off)
Warriors just announced Anzac Day game in Wellington. Big opportunity lost for us. Dont get why we havnt got that date locked up
If we could play a NZ Derby on the 26th, maybe more Aucklanders would come down for the double header.
Tho it would be kinda unlikely that the APL would keep a Derby game for the final couple of rounds.
Dont think we want to be moving any Derby days to a public holiday. Why would the club miss out on possibly another big day by playing a Derby on a public holiday. Derby days will be big of their own making and you would be taking away the possibility of another big crowd on a public holiday by moving a derby game there.
Saturday next year too, NRL schedule locked in before the Aleague so they get 1st dibs.
Dont think they have done their draw maybe NRL have just promised the Warriors they can have it
Yeah NRL draw for next season won't be until late November, but they do lock in certain marquee things early such as the round 1 Vegas games have already been confirmed, the traditional Roosters v Dragons Anzac clash and yeah as you say the NRL have likely told the Warriors they can have an Anzac day match - who have then gone and booked the Cake Tin for it.
ANZAC Day next year is a Saturday with Monday the 27th April a holiday.
With the 2026 ALM Grand Final to be 22nd – 24th May, that ANZAC day weekend will be the last weekend of the regular season. Will be 3 weekends in May between those 2 above weekends, for one off elimination finals and two legged semis.
New ChCh Stadium is scheduled to be completed mid April 2026. So the Nix maybe keen to take their final regular season match to ChCh that ANZAC Day weekend. Say play the Sunday, giving non Cantabs a chance to journey there Saturday and leave Monday making a weekend of it in the Garden City. Would make for a bumper crowd.
That's given that the ROF has already been booked by the Warriors that weekend.
Potential spanner that I read Super Rugby may try schedule a Super Round (all the SR teams) at the new Te Kaha stadium ANZAC weekend.
Things could be a bit tight for us to get a game at the new stadium this season. Maybe better off doing it in the next season. Cant see them wanting us to be the first game there so that probably puts an earlier game there off the table.
Yeah it may just not be possible, given the tight time frame. But I'm sure they will try vey hard with the APL to make it happen. Can see them getting a 20K plus crowd there, so a nice payday. Think how popular the ROF was when it was all sparkly and new back in 2000.
They got 14K for the Mariners game at the Addington scaffolding site earlier this year.
The Nix are certainly dominating the off season narrative over Perfect FC. The Wrexham visit was a huge success and media hit. The womans coach appointment is global news, we have started our recruitment with some interesting signings, men and woman. We also had the dramatic win in Perth. Meanwhile at Perfect FC. No signings. They bailed out of their Disneyworld proposal for Western Springs and their much touted womans team is not going to happen. Off season Nix 3, Perfect 0
Saturday next year too, NRL schedule locked in before the Aleague so they get 1st dibs.
Dont think they have done their draw maybe NRL have just promised the Warriors they can have it
its an NRL tradition to have an ANZAC day game, only recently have they allowed these to be played in NZ, I'd bank on the Warriors being well prepared to have locked this in well in advance.
We can’t afford another season like last. So think the club really needed to pull finger out and improve in all areas. It has been a positive off season so far, but we can’t count Perfect FC out with the deep pockets they have. austin111
The Nix are certainly dominating the off season narrative over Perfect FC. The Wrexham visit was a huge success and media hit. The womans coach appointment is global news, we have started our recruitment with some interesting signings, men and woman. We also had the dramatic win in Perth. Meanwhile at Perfect FC. No signings. They bailed out of their Disneyworld proposal for Western Springs and their much touted womans team is not going to happen. Off season Nix 3, Perfect 0
Sounds like the hold up on releasing the draw is the review into the Allianz pitch. If they have to do major repairs, it would be out of action for at least 6 weeks & that would affect Sydney FC massively.
Should just release the draw with Sydney FC's venue as TBD, and they can decide whether they can do Allianz or have to move it to Leichardt or Kogarah at a later date
Should just release the draw with Sydney FC's venue as TBD, and they can decide whether they can do Allianz or have to move it to Leichardt or Kogarah at a later date
The number one option is probably a run of 6+ weeks without a Home game for Sydney. Just a question of when do you slot it in.
Sounds like the hold up on releasing the draw is the review into the Allianz pitch. If they have to do major repairs, it would be out of action for at least 6 weeks & that would affect Sydney FC massively.
just saw an advetisment for this, https://hotwheelsmonstertruckslive.com/event/wellington-nz-2025/
sat 27th september, our pitch is gonna need some repair work afterwards one would think
Going to be two seasons with some disruptions as Rugby world Cup is in Aussie from 1st of October 2027 till 13th of November 2027.
magic round in NZ for the first month of the season? or will the aleague do a regions tour??
It probably won’t cause too much disruption. Only Brisbane and Newcastle's stadiums have been selected as Venues. Melbourne is TBC but I would assume that is Marvel Stadium rather than AAMI. Newcastle will only have pool games played there and that would probably be finished 2~ weeks into the season.
Roar could always play at Redcliffe Stadium / Ballymore (if that is still a thing) for a month.
It would be cool having a RWC game one day at Marvel/Accor stadium then an A-League game the next at AAMI/Allianz.
There will be a lot of Kiwis/British/French/Argentinian etc travelling for it