The Travelling Circus - playing home games around NZ

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/a-league/119557396/wellington-phoenix-keen-on-returning-to-auckland-for-two-matches-next-season

With the last 3 games being held in Auckland a relative success both on and off the field, how are we all feeling at the moment with having Auckland games?

Personally I thoroughly enjoy them. I think from now on they have to be held at Eden Park. No QBE crap. It gives an opportunity for many  to see the nix and broaden our fan base. Obviously commercial partners are happy with the brand being exposed to a wider audience and it gives Wellington fans an opportunity to experience a sort of away day feel, new stadium, new city to explore, bars restaurants other local football. 

I think 2 a year is a stretch but would like to see 1 every year there. Nice for Auckland nix fans to put it on their calendar each year.

As I was saying to someone on Twitter, a game at Eden Park in February while the Nix are doing well will get a 15,000-20,000 gate. A game in the last months of the year while the Nix are struggling will get half that (even less if played at Mt Smart or QBE).

The issue with Auckland punters is that they're incredibly fickle. In the long term the only real answer is an Auckland A-League team, but that will only happen when the time is right when there is a local Welnix (or Terry S, lol) who will take responsibility.

"You can never have enough money. The owners are still putting in quite a lot of money to keep this thing going from week to week, which as a GM is not what I want to say.

"We're trying our best to close that gap so that we don't have to continue paying to keep this thing going."

As long as the above is the case, Welnix can 2 games a season wherever they want, if it increases their revenue. Nix fans owe them, not the other way round.

While I dont like it happy for 2 games a season. Think the Welnix guys  havnt looked at to many football teams elsewhere. There are much bigger teams than us that dont make money. That's also  BS that Nix fans owe them they chose to go into this and take a look at their reasons they gave when taking over.

Yes it would be great if they didnt have to put so much money in but they dont help themselves sometimes. Dont see why fans should spend money on memberships and merchandise and just say thanks just treat us how you like.

If it hadnt been for that loyal group of fans that kept turning up and being vocal about WE ARE HERE TO STAY the Nix would probably have gone the way of the Kingz and Nightz. Get PO when we continually get told we should be thankful and take what's dished our way.

An example being?

Whilst I dont think we owe the welnix team anything per se, we should be grateful that they are still pumping money into keeing the team viable. I don't particularly like losing two home games to Auckland, but if it means I still get to see my team in Wellington 11 other times then I guess I can't complain. If the choice is no games in Auckland = no more team, then I know what my answer will be. (not at all suggesting this is what the ownership have said)

was good to see all the young and old akld fans getting signatures after the game (on some nix video I saw). Looks like there was some real interest in the team (or maybe it was just Hooper)

Also great to have a very positive segment on Seven Sharp tonight about the Nix coming to town, Laura Duncan going googoo interviewing Steven Taylor...

Ah yeah that was just bazaar 

On Stuff yesterday.

Fixed that for ya  :-)

As one of a coupla dozen faithfuls down here in Christchurch, I am almost prepared to feel sorry for you.

I'd be happy to share a game with you guys in the south, but it would have to be at the expense of an Auckland game. As much as the nix are an ambassador for professional football in NZ, they are first and foremost a Wellington team. Bring on an Auckland and Christchurch based A-league team

Just be prepared for all the Aussies to start with the "GeT yOuR oWn LeAgUe" bullshark.

Didn't see it - did he remark on her pins?

No, but she got him to explain/show her the offside rule, which ended up with her sitting on his knee. He said that her backside was probably offside at that point.

https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/sport/football/pho...

Hmmm... we could already start chanting the same towards the city of Melbourne and suburbs.

Excellent news

that photo puts it in context, 

Cool! Saturday was my 1st visit to Eden Park and I loved it.

I'm yet to watch the Nix outside of Wellington (other than the infamous "Ring of Dirt" Palmy game a few years back), but I did watch the AWs v Solomon Islands in Auckland last year and had a ball.

Will definitely make the trip to Auckland for a Nix game next year as my son will be close to 6 and the baby will be old enough to travel.

You chose a ripper of a game to go to then :)  (my hometown)

I thought we agreed that the ring of dirt never happened

The only thing about the day that never happened was the giant Pizza at the former "Nightflier" bar & grill. So big, it came out on a tripod. My nephew and I managed to eat one.