The Protest Thread - 17th February and 25th March

Wear Perth kits, that should give them something to notice.

I know it's 10 minutes into the game, maybe shirts off? that would get the attention of the TV, coupled with the banner message

Probably needs to be aimed more at the late notice rather than any anti Auckland sentiments.Think most people are aware of the reasons they want to take 2 games away. For me what has caused the annoyance is not the move but the late notice and the fact that the club think it was important enough to notify members first.

As organiser, ultimately, the decision is LG's but I would have thought [from his posting too] that the late notice of the move to Auckland is just the straw that broke the camel's back. The protest is about more than the late notification is it not?

Very Late Notice, Last game of the season missing the chance to say goodbye, Crap stadium out of the way making it awkward for travel. without having to spend a night there....just some of the reasons.

Hey now, I have to live here. It isn't all bad :-P

Those of you involved in this thread may want to read the latest update in the club comms thread.

Hopefully this broadly represents the issues for you:

Post here

Good post Dave. Thank you. The protest goes on just to reinforce the concerns.

Full steam ahead.

Sorry LG, can you please move this protest to Auckland ? (Joking)

This is perfect. It kind of symbolises disconnection with the club, it would make the Nix realise that their fans are at risk

Keen on this

Hell I'm from Auckland and love the games being here but I have no issues at all in you using the name to make the valid point. 

There's a lot of Chinese money starting to wash its way through this city in everything  from banks to construction companies. 

I would be a little wary about your owners intentions when they talk about pandering to sponsors. They mentioned Sky sport of all people. Rest assured it is not them

All are welcome to join us. It might be futile but it will give me at the very minimum a clear conscience. I guess no fan of the year nomination for any attendee. Sorry if that was you.

The threads locked for posts but cudos to NZ Dave for the contents of his email to the Nix and referring to the protest.

It would however have been nice to have had it at least mentioned on the pod

"An obesity epidemic has broken out at the cake tin (aptly named)! Quick, lets move the last game of the season back to Wellington"

Yes, a BIG thanks to Dave for putting up his thread. Much appreciated. The protest is still happening. I think we need to back up the enquiries from various members. It shows we wont roll over and that our concerns do mean something to us. Economics? No one goes into a new football club expecting to make profits. Very few do that. I find it hard to believe that 5k in Auckland...ok 6k then, will make any difference than 6k in Wellington other than the rip off price Westpac trust charges the club. Perhaps they should look at reassessing Westpac's deal with them? mind you, Westpac's all yellow seating theme always makes the stadium look empty unless there's 34k there. 

Where the club has stuffed this up , IMO , is not realising that there is an emotional component ( almost tribal) is supporting a football club. The owners regard this as a business and that’s fine BUT they’ve missed the other point in a big way. I think they’ve vastly overestimated the numbers that will show in Auckland. It’s not as if they’re selling  a premium product- even the product manager thinks it’s not up to standard.  also think they’ve vastly UNDERestimated the ill will this decision has caused. I have no particular issue with taking a couple of games a year elsewhere. But the last game of the season , especially where it may be Dura’s last game for the club is one where they should have left it here. A chance for fans to just relax a bit , say goodbye to a few players who probably won’t be back next  year and just reflect on what had been a pretty shark year. And maybe a chance for the club to thank the fans for the support throughout another disappointing season. But opportunity lost. I hope the protest goes ahead and people notice- unfortunately I don’t see the owners giving a damn.

Did you even listen to the podcast?  Maybe being racist makes you temporarily deaf and you missed it around the 25 minute mark.

Listen again fulla.  Around the 25th minute

Just a head's up on this - given the passing on Liam Miller I think it's very likely the 10th minute will see a minute applause observed this weekend against Perth. 

Not sure if you want to factor that into your plans re timing, but just so you are aware.

Why are they doing that in the 10th minute, rather than the usual before the game or is this an unofficial tribute?

I'm not aware of anything club-led at this stage but it is very common for this to be done on the minute of the player's number. Pre-match is more commonly a moment's silence.

Miller played in 10 at Perth and so I'm simply flagging that I think there is a strong possibility that might happen whether official or unofficial.

In light of this, for those that want to sit in aisle 10, maybe just head straight there before kick off. Will still have the same effect

Isnt the 10 minute type applause normally fan led not by an announcement over the PA. If thats the case who in the fan base would be leading that.Sorry but dont mind an announcement pre game and a minutes silence. As horrible as what it is for Liam to lose his battle not sure he deserves any more from our fans than a pre game tribute.

apologies, I did miss it

Well done to all concerned, I will play it again

BREAKING NEWS: 

The Wellington Phoenix, in conjunction with Huawei NZ, would like to announce that the minutes applause for Liam Miller had now been relocated to Auckland. 

"While our supporters of the club are important to us, our Major Sponsor is way loads more important to us and we are proud that we can share this emotional moment with the people of Auckland.", said David Dome.

"We will also be observing the moments applause in the 10th minute to celebrate the Mate 10, Huawei's latest smartphone."

nice touch but totally unnecessary - he's had nothing to do with the nix or NZ football.

We shall fix that. As soon as the applause for Liam Miller concludes, we move. Respects to Miller is important.

Conspiracy theorists might consider this a move to ambush the protest. However, as I mentioned above. We move when the applause finishes.

When Huawei signed it was rumored to be the biggest sponsorship deal in A-League history, they stood by the nix during the whole license crisis and since then with the wheels falling off.

I really don't see the point in making fun of them or singling them out in protest when it's the nix that decides what they do and what deals they signed. As far as I'm concerned Huawei have been amazing sponsors and have stuck around when others would leave.

Also, @nz_dave did the nix ever reply to your email in the closed thread?

All that may be true. However it has been said that they have wanted games played in Auckland. If thats the case why spend their money on a Wellington team. They want play corporate host then sponsor an Auckland team.

Personally dont have an issue with them same as i understand why at least 2 games need to be taken away. 

However to make that decision after selling match tickets have gone on sale and to make it the  last match of the season really shows how little they think of their loyal fans.

I doubt the sponsor organises the games. The team has said that they tried to organise several games but everything fell through, seems clear to me that the late scheduling is the teams fault and I think that's where all anger should be presented.

The sponsors insisted on two games in Auckland last season. Fact, ask the CEO. I see no change in it this season as the same "official excuse"  used last season is the same one used recently. So either one has lied to two of us there at the time or he has lied to the fan base in general. Draw your own conclusions but I know what was said and by whom and to whom face to face.

get a banner ‘Huawei Sux’

Sure but the club agreed to it and didn't organise the second game until the last minute.

So who is running the club? The licence owners or one the sponsors?

The sponsors didn't force the team to sign their terms, the team agreed to any deal and always had the final say.

The question is why are you organising the protest, is it to improve the club or hurt it?

The Nix are being attacked by Australian fans, the press in both countries, the governing body, the coach, and now its own fans. I'm surprised that they aren't saying what's the point? 

In my opinion any protest should be done with the best intentions for the club and not out of anger or spite. Because this is an entity which is just hanging on.

Ryan- you are perfectly entitled to express your opinions. But you seem to take umbrage at other peoples opinions. You seem to have a lot of information that is contradictory to information received directly from the CEO, in face to face conversations, with other people! Please respect the opinions & proposed actions of others. Your information is flawed, but you are still entitled to express your opinion. 

Irony, taking umbrage about someone taking umbrage. And for the record I'm not angry or upset if anything I'm just a little despondent at the whole thing. The only emotion really is down.

Can you find one thing that I've said that has contradicted anyone in the club? Including Dome (who I think you mean by the CEO even though he's a GM).

Of course Huawei want's games in Auckland, no ones denying that, but if you're upset with the team for taking games to Auckland be angry at the team for signing the contract and not with the sponsor for putting it in front of them.