Season 25/26 General Discussion

AucklandPhoenix

Would like this draw to be released to get excited about something 

Some of it must be out there somewhere keep hearing 1st Derby is Wellington on the 8th November

ballane

AucklandPhoenix

Would like this draw to be released to get excited about something 

Some of it must be out there somewhere keep hearing 1st Derby is Wellington on the 8th November

Was a rumour floating around AFC Twitter.

Is that third or fourth week in right?

theprof

RR

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

Shouldn’t be to bad, they lay a thick protective mat over the ground usually the day before and truck in the soil to go over top, all taken off the next day after event then it’s just water to get the grass coming back to life.

ACL & ACL2 draws happen next Friday apparently, so that is another thing that may delay the fixtures being released. 

Is it a new phoenix to be on display at Wellington Airport ??

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Article today on Western United
Western United stripped of A-League licence - ESPN

Looks like no chance the Nix will play at the new ChCh Stadium next season. The stadium expected to be completed about mid April.

Looks like the first event at the ground will be a Super Rugby Round (all the Super Rugby teams) April 24th-26th ie ANZAC weekend.

That's also likely to be the final weekend of the regular A League regular season with Grand Final scheduled for last weekend of May.

So likely a final Nix game at the Addington ground, sometime earlier in the summer.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360786947/super-rugby-pacific-super-round-be-staged-christchurch-2026

Super Rugby Pacific’s ‘Super Round’ will be staged in Christchurch in 2026.

The round, which Super Rugby Pacific chief executive Jack Mesley had signalled was on the cards in an interview with Stuff in June, will take place in round 11 from April 24 to 26. Five matches will be played.

It will be the first time the event has been held in New Zealand and the first major sporting event at the new One New Zealand Stadium, which has a 25,000-seat capacity, in Christchurch.

We are committed to playing a game down there in the 25/26 season, so maybe we could sneak in as venue testing event before that big event to open things up.

RR

We are committed to playing a game down there in the 25/26 season, so maybe we could sneak in as venue testing event before that big event to open things up.

Would be fantastic if so. Even if they just opened half the stands up?
I'm really looking forward to visiting ChCh for a game there.

But all the talk in that above article is that the Super Rugby Round, will be the first event at the ground. Being such a new venue, they may not want all the stress so early on of having to change pitch markings, goal posts etc moving between football & rugby codes.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360787328/all-black-visits-new-stadium-christchurch 

When the Nix played GCU down in Dunedin, that was one of the test events for the new Stadium before it's opening. Admittedly a pre-season game is a lot different to a competitive fixture but running a 15-20k test run wouldn't be the worst idea ahead of an event that is likely to have a 30k sell out crowd.

What are the chances that the Nix will pick up a couple of players from Western United at some stage?Probably until the legal situation is clarified /sorted, there would be an embargo on players being approached in the interim.

Jeez I’d love the fixtures to come out. Must be at least another 2-3 weeks away while they sort out this Western United Situation. 

Wonder if they will have to delay the start of the season as well? Would they have prepared two draws - one including Western United and one without. 

Ok, now that we are out of the cup and can focus on the important stuff... who do we need to talk to about our walk out song?
I can't do another full season of RHCP.

I'm with you. I don't mind RHCP but that is one of the lamest RHCP songs imo. Hate that both the Nix and the All Whites walk out to it

queenofthequail

Ok, now that we are out of the cup and can focus on the important stuff... who do we need to talk to about our walk out song?
I can't do another full season of RHCP.

Walk out song is Chief’s decision apparently

Friar Tuck

queenofthequail

Ok, now that we are out of the cup and can focus on the important stuff... who do we need to talk to about our walk out song?
I can't do another full season of RHCP.

Walk out song is Chief’s decision apparently

 
This year his Mum decides the song.

I know I said I felt like the club felt like it was lost at sea a bit, but didn’t expect them not to be selected for the OFC. Auckland and chch get through? Some slap in the face 

APL statement about Western mentions that fixtures will be announced in the next 2 weeks

We're living in the worst timeline, down to 12 teams (men), 11 teams (womens), no OFC pro league and likely wooden spoon.  

Sorry to interrupt the doomscrolling, but we have a Nathan Walker sighting for the WeeNix today.

With AFC now out of the Cup, wonder if a Nix verus Auckland pre season game is now on the cards.

One of either Dome, Gill or Chiefy have talked about reaching out to Auckland for a game. Bit difficult I guess currently without an ALM draw, and knowing when the first of the 3 regular season derbies will be played.

Maybe one of Aussie ALM clubs could be enticed over for a 2 game NZ pre season tour of warmups? Might be a bit chilly for them


And likely a bit too early for new pro club ChCh United, as they will only start assembling a squad from now, with the new OFC Pro League starting (Jan 2026) two months after the A League. But CU might be a possibility for a competitive friendly say mid October, just before the ALM season starts.

Match verus NZU20s if they do assemble in NZ before going to Chile? 
Nix verus combined Nix and AFC reserve teams XI

coochiee

With AFC now out of the Cup, wonder if a Nix verus Auckland pre season game is now on the cards.

One of either Dome, Gill or Chiefy have talked about reaching out to Auckland for a game. Bit difficult I guess currently without an ALM draw, and knowing when the first of the 3 regular season derbies will be played.

Maybe one of Aussie ALM clubs could be enticed over for a 2 game NZ pre season tour of warmups? Might be a bit chilly for them


And likely a bit too early for new pro club ChCh United, as they will only start assembling a squad from now, with the new OFC Pro League starting (Jan 2026) two months after the A League. But CU might be a possibility for a competitive friendly say mid October, just before the ALM season starts.

Match verus NZU20s if they do assemble in NZ before going to Chile? 
Nix verus combined Nix and AFC reserve teams XI

Here's a Yellow Fever forums exclusive (from July 25)

Nick Becker: "I think at a senior level, it's better kept for actually in the league, where there's that real drama, competitiveness and proper rivalry".

Oh well that's the end of that idea. Wellington Olympic and whoever it is.
Though Mr Becker is probably all a bit less smug after last night, in Melbs's outer burbs.


Maybe it will change in future years, if the ALM ever does get to 14 teams (26 game H&A), and so it is just 2 regular season derbies per year. 
Big IF at the moment with WU likely disappearing.

And yeah once ChCh United are fully established 12 months from now as a pro club, there might be room for a little pre season tourney or something with NZ's 3 pro clubs - as others on here have suggested. 

In fact invite in all the 8 OFC Pro League clubs for a little pre season comp, from say late Sept if it's not too early for them. Maybe exclude Sth Melbourne and Auckland II, leaving 8 teams over 2 pools. Nix, AFC, CU and the 5 Island teams in the OFC Pro League, if again it's not early for them.

andrewvoerman

coochiee

With AFC now out of the Cup, wonder if a Nix verus Auckland pre season game is now on the cards.

One of either Dome, Gill or Chiefy have talked about reaching out to Auckland for a game. Bit difficult I guess currently without an ALM draw, and knowing when the first of the 3 regular season derbies will be played.

Maybe one of Aussie ALM clubs could be enticed over for a 2 game NZ pre season tour of warmups? Might be a bit chilly for them


And likely a bit too early for new pro club ChCh United, as they will only start assembling a squad from now, with the new OFC Pro League starting (Jan 2026) two months after the A League. But CU might be a possibility for a competitive friendly say mid October, just before the ALM season starts.

Match verus NZU20s if they do assemble in NZ before going to Chile? 
Nix verus combined Nix and AFC reserve teams XI

Here's a Yellow Fever forums exclusive (from July 25)

Nick Becker: "I think at a senior level, it's better kept for actually in the league, where there's that real drama, competitiveness and proper rivalry".

Yeah not surprised about that. It never felt like something AFC would be keen on, I felt that Domey (or Gill - whoever suggested the preseason fixture) was just going to end up disappointed when they floated the idea to Auckland.

But both the Nix and Auckland having separate preseason matches against Christchurch United from next year might end up becoming a bit of a thing. Stage the games down South as they might not get many (or any?) OFC Pro League games with Chch seemingly not being one of the hubs for at least the first season.

I think a 3 way tournament might be the go or inviting an Australian team or some such. Or a Championship team, given we have a few of them now with Kiwis. 

On the other hand when? Not just before the season starts. Perhaps played due the international breaks? 

An NZ invitational cup? 

Becker might have said that, but also positions change with new facts, and both the Nix and A FC want to keep themselves in front of South Island fans. Who knows? 

andrewvoerman

coochiee

With AFC now out of the Cup, wonder if a Nix verus Auckland pre season game is now on the cards.

One of either Dome, Gill or Chiefy have talked about reaching out to Auckland for a game. Bit difficult I guess currently without an ALM draw, and knowing when the first of the 3 regular season derbies will be played.

Maybe one of Aussie ALM clubs could be enticed over for a 2 game NZ pre season tour of warmups? Might be a bit chilly for them


And likely a bit too early for new pro club ChCh United, as they will only start assembling a squad from now, with the new OFC Pro League starting (Jan 2026) two months after the A League. But CU might be a possibility for a competitive friendly say mid October, just before the ALM season starts.

Match verus NZU20s if they do assemble in NZ before going to Chile? 
Nix verus combined Nix and AFC reserve teams XI

Here's a Yellow Fever forums exclusive (from July 25)

Nick Becker: "I think at a senior level, it's better kept for actually in the league, where there's that real drama, competitiveness and proper rivalry".

Agree with Nick Becker. 3 derbies is already a lot imo within a season that's only 7 months long. You want to keep the novelty factor otherwise the casual fans lose interest.

Hope they have another garage sale but they would have mentioned it if they were I suppose 

I was thinking I could put my bike on the train but No, all day buses replacing trains on the Hutt Valley line. So that plan is shot to hell.  Only Saturday for the month as well.  Typical

Procrastinixing

Hope they have another garage sale but they would have mentioned it if they were I suppose 

I was thinking I could put my bike on the train but No, all day buses replacing trains on the Hutt Valley line. So that plan is shot to hell.  Only Saturday for the month as well.  Typical

Buses are accepting bikes again so should be able to put it on the front? 

Hi team, sorry if this has been asked before (it was weeks ago and the answer was September) but has there been any date listed for the draw to come out? Keen to combine a National League game with a Phoenix game. Google isn't helping either.

Ta 

VimFuego

Hi team, sorry if this has been asked before (it was weeks ago and the answer was September) but has there been any date listed for the draw to come out? Keen to combine a National League game with a Phoenix game. Google isn't helping either.

Ta 

APL had said by the end of next week (specifically, they said 'in the next two weeks', last week) but further delays in the Western United situation could delay it further

Found this on the membership FAQs

"Does my membership give me access to the Unite Round matches?
If Wellington Phoenix hosts a ‘home’ game as part of the Unite Round, you will qualify for a free
ticket to that match for the relevant team. Otherwise we will endeavour to give you preferential
ticket buying.
Ticket information for existing members will go out closer to the time."

Does this mean the club is expecting the Unite Round to return this season? 

A lot of the questions and answers seem specifically about this season, so it doesn't feel like it's a case of just copying and pasting last season's FAQ

Half a Pint

Found this on the membership FAQs

"Does my membership give me access to the Unite Round matches?
If Wellington Phoenix hosts a ‘home’ game as part of the Unite Round, you will qualify for a free
ticket to that match for the relevant team. Otherwise we will endeavour to give you preferential
ticket buying.
Ticket information for existing members will go out closer to the time."

Does this mean the club is expecting the Unite Round to return this season? 

A lot of the questions and answers seem specifically about this season, so it doesn't feel like it's a case of just copying and pasting last season's FAQ

There is no Unite round this season guess thats in there as it hadnt been decided when they published that.

Unite round didn't work for football. In theory a great idea and it seems to work for other codes but not for football. Not enough wider interest in the game in one city to host multiple games on one weekend.

There is very little interstate travel for the 10 or so Victorian AFL, and similar NSW NRL clubs. Some AFL clubs like Collingwood only leave Victoria 2-3 times per season.

So maybe it's just a greater novelty for all those VIC AFL fans to head to Adelaide for their big 'Gather Round'. Same all the NSW league nuts that visit Suncorp for the big NRL 'Magic Round' meetup.

Compare that to the ALM die hard fans who already do a lot of interstate/NZ travel if they want to watch their team at every away game.

I’m sure the answer is in some thread and I know the Western drama has complicated things, but when has it been publicly stated when the dam draw will be released?