This whole issue about the team playing strip is in my view very
important (see below). Editor, in light of this can we change
the forum name from "Yellow" to something like "Phoenix Playing
Strip" to highlight the importance of the topic and get more
feedback on it, and also hopefully therefore be more likely
to attract Tony P's attention (on this, see below)? (No
offence in regard to the topic / issue name you chose
SurgeQld - thanks for bringing up the forum.)
The Phoenix playing strip (sadly, not the current
one) has great potential for branding and marketing the
club, both in New Zealand and Australia (and, hopefully, one day,
in Asia), but especially in Wellington where the club is based and
needs to source the majority of the 'bums on seats'.
In my view, this marketing / branding potential is currently
very limited with a home strip that is basically all black and an
away strip that is basically all white. There are a number of
points that can be made.
First, these playing strip designs lack any imagination
and are too boring (no disrespect to those whose tastes on this
differ). They have been done so often in NZ sport that they
no longer have any effect or leave anything to the
imagination. They are not a mark of difference. Even the
Football Kingz and NZ Knights played in all black strips. I'm
sure the club can be more imaginative and independent in building
up its own image, style and culture.
Second, the Wellington colours are black and yellow
(not predominantly black). Importantly, it's the colours
the fans in Wellington and New Zealand identify and associate with
as being "Wellington".
Third, the irony, and a lesson in itself, is
that the vast majority of Phoenix's souvenirs and
promotional material is black and yellow (witness, for
example, the scarf and black and yellow tracksuit top, which,
in my view, look stunning). Additionally, the YF fan club
support is strongly based around the black and yellow
theme. Even some chants (in Aisle 30) incorporate the colours
(Chant leader yells: "I say BLACK, you say Yellow ... BLACK".
Crowd yells (in tune):"YELLOW". Chant leader yells: "BLACK".
Crowd yells: "YELLOW". Chant leader yells (continuing the
same tune): "I say YELLOW, you say black ... YELLOW. Crowd
yells back: BLACK etc. In fact, disappointingly, the only
thing that isn't (very) yellow and black is the team.
Fourth, when the club was first formed, there were some
marvellous and imaginative designs promoted by some of the YF lads
(Editor, perhaps we can dig out the
relevant topic and put it back on the main page of
this forum). To add my vote, my personal favourite for home
strip would be black and yellow striped-shirt, black shorts
(or, as another very good and perhaps better option, white shorts),
and black socks with a yellow trim at the top (or, black and yellow
hooped socks). From memory, there were two or three
black and yellow striped-shirts designed by YF lads that fitted the
bill perfectly.
Fifth, having a common playing strip design for all the clubs
is absolutely boring. What a marketing and branding disaster
by those who decided this and a lost opportunity! Why should,
as I understand it from this forum, Reebok insist on using a
template for all playing strips - it doesn't seem logical?
After all, the strips would still carry the Reebok brand /
logo. If, for example, England's Newcastle United came to
Reebok for a playing strip deal, Reebok wouldn't insist on
Newcastle getting rid of its black and white stripes.
Instead, they would welcome Newcastle with open arms and ask "how
can we please you?".
Sixth, why is it that the club has to play in its away colours
when not playing in Wellington? This is a ridiculous
requirement, unless there is a clash of colours, which I believe
only happens when we play the CCM. Once again, this is a lost
marketing and branding opportunity for the club.
Would it be possible for some of the senior members of the
forum to correspond with Tony P to signal the fan's concerns about
the club's playing strip? It should be a concern to Tony P
when some members are even contemplating introducing a black and
yellow-striped shirt for the fans to wear, which I would buy ahead
of the Phoenix shirt (in fact, it's why I prefer my Ricki retro
shirt).
It would be great to hear from Tony P about whether the club
is looking to rebrand itself for next season, or what its views on
this topic are. Perhaps Tony P could also clarify what the
requirements of the FFA and Reebok are and whether, and
to what extent, the club will be mounting any challenge to
these requirements.
