Season 25/26 General Discussion

Not so. 

March 14th, the Nix's 2nd last home game (Perth Glory), same day the Crusaders are hosting the Highlanders at Apollo Projects, in Addington. So can't play the Glory in ChCh

Plus again there is still a chance the Nix can play at Te Kaha 18th April, if construction over the next 5 months proceeds slightly quicker than forecast. 

I don't buy the narrative Venues Ōtautahi (Christchurch City Council) take their orders from NZ Rugby/Crusaders. I wouldn't be surprised if there is as many football loving Councillors at the CCC as rugby ones. The first sporting event at Dunedin's newly opened Forsyth Barr in 2011 was a Nix game. Yes a soccer match.

coochiee

Not so. 

March 14th, the Nix's 2nd last home game (Perth Glory), same day the Crusaders are hosting the Highlanders at Apollo Projects, in Addington. So can't play the Glory in ChCh

Plus again there is still a chance the Nix can play at Te Kaha 18th April, if construction over the next 5 months proceeds slightly quicker than forecast. 

I don't buy the narrative Venues Ōtautahi (Christchurch City Council) take their orders from NZ Rugby/Crusaders. I wouldn't be surprised if there is as many football loving Councillors at the CCC as rugby ones. The first sporting event at Dunedin's newly opened Forsyth Barr in 2011 was a Nix game. Yes a soccer match.

Can assure you they dont want the Phoenix to be the first game played there and thats from a pretty good source. It was hoped Super Rugby could see there way clear to give the Crusaders the first game seems they havnt been able to do that.

Is/was the Chch venue available 14 March?

theprof

Is/was the Chch venue available 14 March?

No as above the Crusaders are hosting the Highlanders at Apollo Projects 14th March.

So the complaint that the club did this too the Welly fans is completely moot.
I understand the annoyance but the blame been thrown around is just ignoring the facts!

I think the facts are the last game of the season is away from home

The point raised by LG was that a club should not be taking their final game of the season away from home.

See that's not a fact, the word should makes it an opinion, which we are all entitled too.
Facts are - nix had agreed to take a game to Chch this season,
                - Stadium availability drives when the game can be held.
 simple!
If you want to add opinions to that and extrapolate that Dome and com have purposely chosen the final home game to take to Chch to hurt Wellington fans then be my gets, but wanting it to be so does not make it fact. 

At a guess, I would say that Dome and co would say the situation isnt ideal, but there were limited spaces available that worked for both the Chch council and the Nix.

What a load of tosh and stop defending the indefensible.

How often is that stadium used for big events  in summer?

Checked the bookings have you? 

During summer - you mean the time when most outdoor events happen in NZ???
I havent checked the schedule, the work to match up available space a the stadium and when the Nix have a home game scheduled was simply too taxing for my brain. Clearly you have checked this and can see opportunities for a Nix home game to be played in Chch other than the last one of the season? 

Well next time do your checking before stating so called facts

AP never likes to do the hard yards fact checking, so I'll do it for him.

It's just been announced that the Nix are moving their 18th April 'home' game from Te Kaha to Apollo Projects.

Remaining Nix home games this season, that could in theory be played in ChCh rather than that final one 18th April.

vs Jets - 14th Dec - too short notice to reschedule flights/accommodation etc?
vs CCM - 21st Dec - 12 Pubs of Lochhead
vs Adelaide - 11th Jan - Ed Sheeran plays at Apollo Projects 24th & 25th Jan. That an issue? It's not a normal music venue so takes time to prepare it????
vs Melb City - 30th Jan
 vs Victory - 6th Feb - the popular ROF Waitangi Day fixture  
vs Auckland - 21st Feb - 2nd home derby that has to be at the ROF
vs SFC - 1st March 
vs Glory - 14th March - As above Crusaders are playing at Apollo that day


So as I see it is 3 alternative fixture dates (11th Jan, 30th Jan & 1st March), where Nix could have looked to take a game to ChCh. Sydney home game 1st March is far enough into the future, that you would think rescheduling flights and accommodation the least hassle/extra cost.

That's the alternative game & date I'd be quizzing Domey about.

As yet don't see any events at Apollo that would clash with that 1st March game.
https://www.stubhub.com/apollo-projects-stadium-formerly-orangetheory-stadium-tickets/venue/150063743/?ct=

Edit - you would think that Uffie (who apparently hates flying) would take a flight over the beautiful Southern Alps, compared to a bumpy coming in sideways landing at Rongotai. Actually a day time flight into ChCh from Aussie is a delight. Fantastic views.

I do wonder if the A League and the Nix have been caught out by Westerns demise.
Just seems strange to me that the Nix finish the season with 4 away games. I wonder if a home game against Western was going to be scheduled amongst them.

Very likely, given their demise occurred just before the schedule was announced. I'd imagine their demise screwed a lot of plans

AucklandPhoenix

Well next time do your checking before stating so called facts

but it's ok for you to make outlandish accusations without facts?
ok I see how it is.

Good summary with the dates above.

So the conclusion is they did not need to take the last game of the season to Christchurch and could have let players leaving for good (I.e. potentially Rufer) play their final match in front of their normal fans?

Correct?

theprof

AucklandPhoenix

Well next time do your checking before stating so called facts

but it's ok for you to make outlandish accusations without facts?
ok I see how it is.

That's one conclusion, I see 3 other dates that are possibilities, 1/01, 30/01 and 01/03. I guess you'd have to ask the club why those dates weren't selected. But, I'm gonna assume you wont given your propensity for not wanting to actually find stuff out, instead preferring to fire wild accusations of unfair treatment of home (Welly) fans.

No you can't make that conclusion without knowing all the facts.

I'm sure you are a long term "Sheerio" AP, so you can do some digging on how long it takes to setup & dismantle a two date Sheeran gig in late January.

After that reach out to your best buddy Domey and ask why not swap the WSW 18th April game for SFC 1st March, re the ChCh match fixture.

Plus yes then ask for confirmation that Ballane's rumour, it has to be rugby that opens Te Kaha, is actually true. It may well be.

Gather all that intel and then you can make a very informed smarty pants conclusion with all the facts.

theprof

That's one conclusion, I see 3 other dates that are possibilities, 1/01, 30/01 and 01/03. I guess you'd have to ask the club why those dates weren't selected. But, I'm gonna assume you wont given your propensity for not wanting to actually find stuff out, instead preferring to fire wild accusations of unfair treatment of home (Welly) fans.

Jan 11th not Jan 1st

At the end of the day, it's just extremely disappointing that us Wellington based fans will not get that chance to say farewell unless we get a home final playoff.

Get what you are saying yet the only player that I think any passionate Nix fans would be truly disappointed not to acknowledge, with a proper farewell is Captain Rufer.

Imports like Nagasawa and Oluwayemi in reality come and go frequently. Payne is contracted until 2028. A stalwart like David Ball didn't get a real farewell. The brutal cold nature of football.

But I'd hope if Roofs did leave at the end of this season, the club would try organise some of testimonial/ NZCIS open day function. Sneak it in before, Rufer joined the World Cup bound AWs.

A combined All Whites (Roofs & Payne) World Cup send off and Alex farewell, open to fans.

coochiee

Get what you are saying yet the only player that I think any passionate Nix fans would be truly disappointed not to acknowledge, with a proper farewell is Captain Rufer.

Imports like Nagasawa and Oluwayemi in reality come and go frequently. Payne is contracted until 2028. A stalwart like David Ball didn't get a real farewell. The brutal cold nature of football.

But I'd hope if Roofs did leave at the end of this season, the club would try organise some of testimonial/ NZCIS open day function. Sneak it in before, Rufer joined the World Cup bound AWs.

A combined All Whites (Roofs & Payne) World Cup send off and Alex farewell, open to fans.

No need the optimist in me says he is going to stay and be here for our  20th season.
In all seriousness with his new arrival im not so sure the keenness to move is still there talking to him. Hopefully the club can do the right thing and give him a decent contract as a reward for his loyalty.  

Funny of was reading about those comments that Rufer being a new dad may mean he wants to stay in Welly.

But then I look at Olivia Chance who is juggling motherhood with pro football, and the constant uncertainty plus short term nature of contracts, you get in the female game. Female players just move around more. Must be tough sometimes.

Like Chance's Norwegian club have been relegated and she most likely will be leaving Norway to play god knows where next. And stating the obvious but being a mum can be so much more hands on demanding with an infant, than being a dad. Throw moving countries constantly (pretty sure Chance was living in Melbs with her partner when her kid was born), and you need to be super organised and resilient.

Anyway maybe Roofs will stay and maybe he will go, but he wouldn't be the first person to up sticks overseas with a young kid in tow. Everyone's circumstances and ambitions are different.

Love a bold word.

Sometimes however you can think on your feet and just use logic knowing things don’t stack up and it’s a crap football operations management decision

This is one of those cases.

 It is quite clear here what the Nix management hoped would be achieved but it has proven to be a pipe dream to the detriment of their home fans.

Perhaps they should hire you two as I suspect you would get your ducks in a row at the very least.

Many of the Nix’s off the park fumbles in the last year have been self inflicted and are easily read.

coochiee

No you can't make that conclusion without knowing all the facts.

I'm sure you are a long term "Sheerio" AP, so you can do some digging on how long it takes to setup & dismantle a two date Sheeran gig in late January.

After that reach out to your best buddy Domey and ask why not swap the WSW 18th April game for SFC 1st March, re the ChCh match fixture.

Plus yes then ask for confirmation that Ballane's rumour, it has to be rugby that opens Te Kaha, is actually true. It may well be.

Gather all that intel and then you can make a very informed smarty pants conclusion with all the facts.

AucklandPhoenix

Love a bold word.

Sometimes however you can think on your feet and just use logic knowing things don’t stack up and it’s a crap football operations management decision

This is one of those cases.

 It is quite clear here what the Nix management hoped would be achieved but it has proven to be a pipe dream to the detriment of their home fans.

Perhaps they should hire you two as I suspect you would get your ducks in a row at the very least.

Many of the Nix’s off the park fumbles in the last year have been self inflicted and are easily read.

coochiee

No you can't make that conclusion without knowing all the facts.

I'm sure you are a long term "Sheerio" AP, so you can do some digging on how long it takes to setup & dismantle a two date Sheeran gig in late January.

After that reach out to your best buddy Domey and ask why not swap the WSW 18th April game for SFC 1st March, re the ChCh match fixture.

Plus yes then ask for confirmation that Ballane's rumour, it has to be rugby that opens Te Kaha, is actually true. It may well be.

Gather all that intel and then you can make a very informed smarty pants conclusion with all the facts.

You are so far off its not funny despite what you continue to endlessly imply not everything is the Phoenixs managements fault. They arnt perfect but they also arnt responsible for everything you claim they are.
Never ceases to amaze me some of the shark you post. If Nix fans or management used the excuses you have in the Auckland thread for  why a crowd may be small you would be all over both of them. Double standards much.

Dude they booked the game didn’t they? Who else is responsible? 

Come to Auckland for the Santa parade and see what it’s all about.

It sounds like you need some festive spirit.

Sure Nix management booked the game, but does that mean it was their choice to have the game on that date? Not necessarily, you ignore all the other factors so you can have a blast at the Nix management. League scheduling, stadium availability, possibly the opposition wanting to travel to Chch(at a stretch). There are so many factors at play and you choose to ignore them all just so you can say Dome is a shark CEO and Cheify should be sacked.

So biased it's plainly obvious and getting to the point where it is almost offensive/embarrasing that you have the teams moniker in your name.

AucklandPhoenix

Dude they booked the game didn’t they? Who else is responsible? 

Come to Auckland for the Santa parade and see what it’s all about.

It sounds like you need some festive spirit.

Pot kettle black your the only one continually grumpy.
Not sure what you dont understand about the Phoenix dont get to choose the dates and where they play at. Many factors dictate where and when, and the Phoenix have no control over most of them not sure what about that you dont understand.
Yes they can put requests in for certain things that they want to happen with their draw but they are just that requests. Would think there are other priorities before the Christchurch game, Waitangi Day, Double Headers, derby later in the season.
As has also been pointed out the League was caught out by the late demise of Western and the affect that had on the draw. Could well be wrong but wouldnt be surprised to learn that a home game with them was due to be played somewhere amongst those last 4 away games.
Also not sure what you dont understand about the fact they held off announcing the Christchurch game in the hope a number things lined up. The new stadium was finished in time or earlier, Super Rugby was able to change their draw so the Crusaders played there before the 18th. Despite your claim and continual blaming of Dome he isnt to blame for everything you seem to be under the misconception he wields far more power than he actually does.

I don't care enough to give a rats, but I challenge you to find a football fanbase that's ok with their last game of the season being in another city no matter how valid the reasons are.

Many others have but I don’t think I have said Chief should be sacked this season.

So don’t be so blinkered and make things up to suit your narrative.

Dome - ummmmm 🧐

Yeah, he is preety sharke as a CEO

I’ll give you that one.

theprof

Sure Nix management booked the game, but does that mean it was their choice to have the game on that date? Not necessarily, you ignore all the other factors so you can have a blast at the Nix management. League scheduling, stadium availability, possibly the opposition wanting to travel to Chch(at a stretch). There are so many factors at play and you choose to ignore them all just so you can say Dome is a shark CEO and Cheify should be sacked.

So biased it's plainly obvious and getting to the point where it is almost offensive/embarrasing that you have the teams moniker in your name.

Hey guys,

The fam and I will be heading to Brisbane over the new years, and I found out the Phoenix will be playing in Brisbane on 3 Jan. Just trying to book tickets. It will be played at Kayo stadium (not Suncorp).

Can someone point out where the away fans normally sit?

image.png 25.35 KB

NZPhoenixFan

Hey guys,

The fam and I will be heading to Brisbane over the new years, and I found out the Phoenix will be playing in Brisbane on 3 Jan. Just trying to book tickets. It will be played at Kayo stadium (not Suncorp).

Can someone point out where the away fans normally sit?

image.png 25.35 KB

Awesome, I’m heading over for that one too (also making it a mini-tour of duty with the men v Victory on the 29th then the women v WSW the following day).

Away bay is in pod 8, if you look for the away category in the ticket list (under Find Best Available) it’ll automatically put you there.

Oh and the nice thing is the one ticket covers both games.

Wtf is up with the A-League draw. We play Auckland, Adelaide & Brisbane twice before we play City, Sydney or WSW even once. And seems like a bunch of teams get massive clumps of home games together and home/away games are generally not spread evenly. Why don't we have a sensible schedule of games?

imanixsupporter

Wtf is up with the A-League draw. We play Auckland, Adelaide & Brisbane twice before we play City, Sydney or WSW even once. And seems like a bunch of teams get massive clumps of home games together and home/away games are generally not spread evenly. Why don't we have a sensible schedule of games?

Only thing I can think of is the late withdrawal of Western United. But then again surely however the league is done (feel I've heard is gets put into this massive computer system or something and that is what creates the draw) just because one team is removed shouldn't mean what you say above as in playing certain teams twice before even playing other teams in the league. 

imanixsupporter

Wtf is up with the A-League draw. We play Auckland, Adelaide & Brisbane twice before we play City, Sydney or WSW even once. And seems like a bunch of teams get massive clumps of home games together and home/away games are generally not spread evenly. Why don't we have a sensible schedule of games?

Western United - there was two draws floating around
Stadium availability
Club requests - as I understand it we request away for first game, and for Perth or Adelaide to be part of a two game road trip,  
Commercial consideration - derbies biased towards first half of the season, public holidays etc.  

It will never be a perfect round robin draw but I suspect with the situation at WU this year it was more skewered as a result.

reubee

imanixsupporter

Wtf is up with the A-League draw. We play Auckland, Adelaide & Brisbane twice before we play City, Sydney or WSW even once. And seems like a bunch of teams get massive clumps of home games together and home/away games are generally not spread evenly. Why don't we have a sensible schedule of games?

Western United - there was two draws floating around
Stadium availability
Club requests - as I understand it we request away for first game, and for Perth or Adelaide to be part of a two game road trip,  
Commercial consideration - derbies biased towards first half of the season, public holidays etc.  

It will never be a perfect round robin draw but I suspect with the situation at WU this year it was more skewered as a result.

Perth and Western Sydney's stadiums are also out of action for the Women's Asia Cup in March

Interesting stat, really shows how poor we were at attacking last year. Almost half the shots of last season in just 8 games.

6.3 - The Wellington Phoenix have made 6.3 shots per game more this A-League Men season than they did last season; no other team has improved by even two shots per game. Unleashed. pic.twitter.com/IPLDHP7yZq

— OptaJason (@OptaJason) December 10, 2025

All we need know is a few more to actually go in the net

wilbaker

Interesting stat, really shows how poor we were at attacking last year. Almost half the shots of last season in just 8 games.

6.3 - The Wellington Phoenix have made 6.3 shots per game more this A-League Men season than they did last season; no other team has improved by even two shots per game. Unleashed. pic.twitter.com/IPLDHP7yZq

— OptaJason (@OptaJason) December 10, 2025

 Also interestingly more left footed shots already this season compared to last, and two thirds of attempts at goal with the left foot. 

Eze, Armiento, Edwards, Najjarine (?) all new lefties I believe and a decent chunk of our strike force.

Early season women's results vindicating Welnix for not bothering to get a proven big name coach or expensive import players in for the men's team because we would probably still be losing anyway.

At any other sporting organisation, Priestman would be under massive pressure as results are not matching up to the resources at her disposal but I would bet if she feels any pressure it will be from her failure to meet her own expectations and not from this ambitionless club. The one time we got a proven high quality coach in for the men's team, Merrick had to fire himself because Welnix were never going to do it.