Wellington Phoenix’s Tim Brown celebrates after scoring against Melbourne Victory during their round 6 match, played at the Ethihad stadium in Melbourne, Sunday, Sept 13, 2009. Phoenix drew the match with Victory 1-1 after full time.(AAP Image/Joe Castro)
After almost 20,000 fans packed out Christchurch’s AMI Stadium for last weekend’s Wellington-Adelaide clash, many pundits have been asking whether the South Island’s largest city should be a site for future A-League expansion.
Last Saturday’s brilliant crowd turn-out definitely suggests there is an appetite for football in Christchurch, and with a population of just under 400,000 people, it would be understandable for the FFA to have some interest in tapping into the market.
Indeed, the attendance figure of 19,258 at AMI Stadium, ignoring the fanatical Melbourne crowds, is the second-best in this A-League season to date, only bettered by Brisbane’s Round 1 M1-Derby number of 19,902.
I dare say, the FFA have taken notice. The figure certainly stands out over the A-League expansion hopefuls from Canberra, who only managed a pair of 5,000-odd crowds for two fixtures this season.
But, of course, the FFA will be reluctant to make any significant moves into ‘the Land of the Long White Cloud’ due to the AFC’s stance on Wellington’s participation in the Australian top flight.
And that is the lingering issue which will thwart anything being put in stone… for now at least. After all, there is hope for a resolution on this topic in the future.
In the meantime, the FFA and the Wellington Phoenix, for the good of New Zealand football, should persist with an annual pilgrimage down to Christchurch.
That would be the ideal way to test the waters in Christchurch and ascertain whether or not a club could actually be sustainable in rugby-mad Canterbury anyway.
After all, a Christchurch franchise would need their own version of Nix owner Terry Serepisos (who has been so crucial to Wellington’s success) to start up a bid, and no one in their right mind would do so without more experimentation and trial matches.
Anyway, I’ve been lucky enough to spend a fair bit of time in New Zealand’s South Island in the past and this week I got in touch with a few old folk from Christchurch who informed me last Saturday was quite the occasion around town.
Indeed, there were a number of mitigating circumstances which built up the occasion, especially following New Zealand’s qualification for their second ever World Cup and first in 28 years, which really has bolstered football’s profile across ‘the ditch’, at least for the next few months.
As well, Wellington are on the verge of claiming their first ever A-League finals berth and with an army of colourful supporters travelling down from the North Island, there was every reason to join the party.
And, of course, the novelty of the opportunity to see an A-League game, I’m informed, certainly had an effect too.
Nevertheless, Christchurch is a town with a passion for sport and their local rugby union club, the Crusaders, are almost the Manchester United of Super 14.
Whilst in Christchurch, I distinctly remember my surprise when walking the streets at the amount of Crusaders paraphernalia being sported like some kind of fashion statement. And no, it wasn’t matchday, it was an everyday occurrence!
There’s no doubt the South Island city offers a fresh market and with that opportunities.
But those opportunities aren’t just limited to the A-League, but also the Phoenix who can spread their brand, as well as NZF, who’d love another pathway for young Kiwi footballers.
Indeed, there’s plenty of vested interests in the Christchurch market, but we shouldn’t get too carried away and the sustainability of such a project needs more experimentation.
And, of course, the AFC’s stance on Oceania confederation clubs competing in an Asian league won’t go away anytime soon.
But, despite the AFC’s stance, A-League matches can still be played in New Zealand, so in the meantime it makes plenty of sense for annual games in Christchurch.
Not only will an annual Christchurch match provide a good measure for future expansion, but going on Saturday’s showing, it’ll make for quite the occasion and occasions are just what the A-League needs.
Mark
Guest
Obviosuly this thread is dead now, but I dont remeber us getting that good hiding you were so sure about aye Mr Cheese?
James
Guest
melbourne at home to sydney got 27,000 and 30,000 to both games at etihad. they faced each other tonight (thursday aka late night shopping) and drew 18,000 to a semi final game. that has to be the lowest melbourne vs sydney game attendance at etihad and it was a SEMI FINAL. so dont tell me late night shopping doesnt affect crowds. also u say the game on the saturday in canberra drew only 200 more than the late night shopping friday clash. well like i sed the first time, there was a boycott by fans because they awarded west sydney the 12th spot. if it was still up in the air there would have been 8000+ to the saturday game which is a quality crowd considering we didnt have our own team playing
cruyff turn
Guest
Sorry Hammer! I'm still a bit of a rookie with using this website!
Ora
Guest
The fact that you have agreed with and said pretty much exactly what I have been saying has me in stitches. Daman you don't happen to be from Hamilton do you
DaMan3000
Guest
ROFLMAO
DaMan3000
Guest
Don't mind Ora, he doesn't speak for all kiwi's. I for one am another Nuw Zulinder who is "grinning from ear to ear" The fact that we get to play against Italy, Paraguay and Slovakia is fantastic and the score will be irrelevant. My recollection is that was the general feeling during the Socceroos pool games in '06??? and that making it into the knockout round was a bonus... Yay we're better than the 5th best Asian team!!! And the AFC says the 'Nix can't play in the A-League - how rude.
Hammer
Guest
not you c t ...
Hammer
Guest
just stating facts - rather than endless puerile opinions
cruyff turn
Roar Rookie
I'm not from Canberra!!! How you reached that conclusion beats me!
Republican
Guest
Hammer Where do you reside out of interest? Thanks for the heads up re. Canberra in speaking on behalf of all those who continue to flock to the Nations Capital. Given the conviction with which you convey such sentiment, you simply have to be a Kiwi, since as we are all aware, NZ is synonomous with' boredom'. In that respect, your comment should be taken in context as not being simply a facile slight on Canberra. It would be an exercise in futility for any of us, to challenge such an esteemed authority on the subject. Cheers Thanks again cob.
hazza
Guest
If you are going to take games to different cities in NZ you would want to do it in a World Cup year. This would be perfect for 1 or 2 games a year. I would certainly revisit Christchurch. It appears the AFC have painted them selves into a corner. A French team ( Etoile fc ) is about to kick off in the S-League. It will be interesting to see what MBH has to say about this considering what he has said about the Phoenix participation in the A league.
Ora
Guest
Hammer that is classic
Hammer
Guest
well because, as one of your fellow ACT citizens have pointed out, if late night shopping seems to be seen as a better past time in your boring little town - Canberra probably doesn't deserve an A league team
Chuq
Roar Pro
A third Melbourne team, Christchurch AND Wollongong all BEFORE Tasmania??
Sticky B
Guest
Jim, where's this place Perth you speak of? If you're going to live in the middle of nowhere you deserve to travel. East side!
Tony
Guest
Those esteemed gentlemen in charge of New Zealand football must be scratching their collective heads, how do we set up a viable professional league in NZ, and what to do with the Phoenix? I love the Phoenix, their run to the finals has been a great ride and they are a wonderful alternative to our big '3' here in NZ: Rugby, Cricket & Rugby League. I grew up in Christchurch in a strong Rugby League community, but played football at school (much to my father's asmusement) inspired by the All White's wonderful qualification for Spain in 82'. Now living in Auckland for several years, I can see another opportunity for professional football in the 'City of Sails', but it does not involve the A League .. it involves our own NZ pro league. If NZ don't join the Asaian confed then we must get serious about forming our own professional football league, which of course the Phoenix can be a major part of. This can start off as a 6 team competition. 3 teams in Auckland: City, North Shore & Waitakere. The Phoenix in Wellington (I think the Yellow Fever would still come out to support their team no matter who they were playing). And 2 teams from the South Island: Christchurch United and Otago (who could play at their brand spanking new indoor stadium next door to Otago University). I kow the NZFC is a 'semi-professional' competition at present (whatever that really means), but it really needs to go fully pro to really cement football into the NZ social and cultural fabric. Imagine Ryan Nelson coming home from Blackburn Rovers to captain Christchurch United in the first season of the new Kiwi pro league? Imagine 3 games of quality football on NZ television every weekend in Spring/Summer? Imagine crowds of 5-10 thousand for each match (which is just scratching the service of the football loving ex-pat Poms living over here). John Lennon would have wanted it and the Phoenix have shown the way .. forget the A-League, let's set up our own super 'Oceania' league based here in NZ (and why not throw in a team from Vanuwatu just to keep things interesting) Now all we need is a fraction of the money the NZ goverment threw at the America's Cup and Rugby World Cup and we are go for launch!
Jim
Guest
New Zealand could definitely accommodate another A-League team! If Gold Coast United can average a 5,337 crowd and North Queensland Fury can average a 6,793 crowd, a second NZ team could easily match, if not surpass this. As a Perth Glory fan however the scheduling of matches must be given serious thought given we have to travel half way round the world [well….almost ] to play in New Zealand. In fact the tough travel requirements for Perth Glory needs to be recognised as it is a significant disadvantage to travel such great distances given the relatively small travel requirements of Eastern based clubs.
cruyff turn
Guest
The difference between the recent game in Christchurch and the Canberra matches was that in Christchurch, the fans felt an attachment to the "home" team. The Phoenix at the moment is kind of like NZ's team, not just representing Wellington. Canberra didn't have this, added to the fact that Central Coast vs. Perth Glory or whoever it was is a hard sell.
Robbo
Guest
Something to do with it being a THURSDAY night. People have school/work the next day perhaps? Besides the Mariners game played on a Saturday attracted just 200 more than the Friday game - so there goes that theory. How come the Brumbies can pull a crowd of 21,000 on a Friday night without being kiboshed by the terror that is "late night shopping"? Don't know where in Canberra you hang out - Raiders are pretty big here (in fact their average crowds are higher than every A-League club save SFC and MV). If "no one likes them" then it must pale in comparison to, say, the Roar with average crowds of 8,000 in a city of 2 million! 12,000 A-League crowds in Canberra is not going to happen. Sydney FC only has 12,000 turning up to their games and they have a catchment some 15 times larger than Canberra! The FFA needs to develop big derby's in Sydney and Melbourne (which to their credit is what they appear to be doing) before worrying about Canberra. If Canberrans actually wanted an A-League team they would have turned up to the two Mariners games to the tune of at least 9,000. They didn't come close. The A-League has a lot of potential and a bright future, but it can't dole out a team to every medium sized town at the expense of Sydney and Melbourne.
Republican
Guest
More to the point, are there any more worthy Australian demographics to be considered, since this is an AUSTRALIAN Comp I believe? Canberra is the nations capital and are being touted as the next franchise having participated in the League some years back now. They have the same sort of population at Cch. It is true about the recent attendances at Canberra Staduim which indicate that they don't seem to be too keen on the game so in that respect, perhaps Christchurch are the logical option to expansion. A contradiction however is, that Soccer's the number one footy code at the GR's in the ACT presently. I thought Wellington were about to be dropped from the A League, so what's all this talking up TWO Kiwi teams anyway or is perhaps Christchurch a better option and should trump Wellington? Cheers