With a 10-year license offered to the Wellington Phoenix, there is one burning question – where to now?
This isn’t just for the small, spirited club either, it should be a talking point for the entire A-League.
It’s important to recognise that the 10-year offer the Nix have picked up comes with a few stipulations. For starters, it is divided into three sections. The first a four-year license, and then two possible three-year extensions.
To get these extensions Wellington have to meet off-field requirements.
The chief concern is their financial viability. Last year they were considered to be a financial burden on the league and thus expendable. While it may seem cruel, this in part, was true.
The broadcasting deal with Sky Sports was pathetic to say the least, while the club only attracts small crowds and is failing to turn a profit. Having said that, the majority of A-League clubs don’t make a profit either. Let’s not forget Newcastle, Brisbane and Central Coast are all in troubling financial situations.
So what needs to be done to help Wellington thrive and grow the competition? Here’s some ideas.
1. Let them join Asia
The Oceania Football Confederation has become redundant and not only New Zealand, but all the Pacific nations should get to join the Asian Football Confederation.
The benefits can be observed from Australia’s induction to the AFC. A more integrated confederation and an easier path to World Cup qualification for New Zealand is the main positive and a great method for growing football in any country.
This would also mean Wellington could compete in the Asian Champions League, adding another drawcard for players who might be considering joining the Phoenix.
2. Change the rules for New Zealanders and Australians counting as foreign visa players
If New Zealand and Australian players didn’t take up foreign spots, we would likely see a lot more opportunities for the likes of Nathan Burns – Australians who went over to Wellington and reignited their careers. It would also mean that New Zealanders didn’t feel limited to just one club in the A-League.
It’s mutually beneficial and allows for both nations’ players to have more opportunities with fewer restrictions. Additionally, if New Zealanders count as visa players it creates a separation between Wellington and the rest of the A-League. We need integration for the future.
3. Get a marquee
If Wellington want to stay in the A-League they need to draw consistent crowds and aim for five figures. To do this you need to be able to interest the fans. There are plenty of supporters of European football, yet that enthusiasm for football is somewhat lost for the domestic team.
It costs money, but bringing a good marquee in can have long-term effects that exceed the costs. While also bringing more fans through the gates it would help improve the domestic broadcasting deal. Given they don’t use either of the two marquee slots, it is time to take the initiative. You’ve got to spend money to make money.
4. Get a second team for New Zealand
This one may sound a bit outlandish, but the introduction of the Wanderers improved Sydney’s crowd averages. It also added a financially lucrative fixture to the A-League three times a season.
The A-League doesn’t need another failed franchise though. Right now New Zealand isn’t ready, but there has to be a long-term strategy for the Nix and the A-League to prosper.
At the moment there is an unfair expectation on Wellington to represent all of New Zealand. How can we expect Aucklanders to go for a team that’s almost 650 kilometres away from them? That’s as logical as asking Sydney FC to represent Melbourne.
The A-League will need more teams in the future, as well as having a solid foundation for the existing clubs. A New Zealand derby should be given some serious thought over the next decade.
5. Play in a smaller stadium
While the Yellow Fever and the rest of the Nix fans might have an affinity towards the Cake Tin, it is ridiculous to have a stadium that is on average 75 per cent empty every game. It may only hold 9000, but the Hutt Recreation Ground would be able to house all the Wellington fans and create a great atmosphere.
Sold-out stadiums look great on TV too, which again could work to improve the broadcast deal. In this, New Zealand Football with government help, could look to either develop this ground to increase the capacity to 15,000. Alternatively, a boutique, purpose-built stadium for Wellington could work.
Either way, a bit of capital investment from the nation’s governing body into their sole club would do some of good.
The biggest challenge is the lack of money. If anything is going to improve that needs to be the first thing to change. As has been shown elsewhere, football clubs are long-term investments – you’ve got to go into the red initially to yield profits in the end.
Aside from the finances, the A-League is a richer competition with the Nix and every effort should be made to help them stay afloat.
Horto Magiko
Roar Rookie
For a start you don't even know how the league is administered.. I had to explain it to you re ccms wage floor...but now you're an aleague expansion expert? The fact that FFAs product isn't engaging the million or more football fans has ZERO to do with the failings of another sport.. You're a time wasting dooms dayer who let's face it fears the game and therefore attempts to pull it down at every turn. Ok seeing you're using a pathetic strawman argument for NSW.. Well both Melbourne clubs are doing just fine., where's your doom angle for melb?? Oh yeah that's right.. Regardless of the improvement of every metric, you've come to the catastrophic conclusion that city group will pull out on any given day in the near future and city will regress to Phoenix metrics,,even though they're on the verge of their 1st silverware... Yes mark. We will never engage more fans in Melbourne or Sydney. The league will never expand. Melbourne and Sydney won't end up with the lions share of teams. City group will pack up and go home.. I should mortgage my own house to fund the next franchise.. Anything I've missed?? "I have not said Australia at large has untapped fans. Canberra and Wollongong are untapped markets. If there is enough interest there to get 10k who will pay memberships and turn up each week, by all means give them teams." Then he contradicts himself. You're a farce. Anyway, do Wellington have 10k membership??? The team that you think deserves the place of an Aussie club?? Of course you don't know.. Because you don't know anything about the league. Again, farce.
Mark
Guest
Participation numbers for a sport have next to nothing to do with the viability of a professional league for that sport. Basketball has very large participation rates, but in the last decade the NBL still went broke (although it has been reformed). So your solution to engaging the 100,000s of people who play football but don't follow/attend the A-League is to throw more teams at them and hope that interests them. Interesting theory, similar to if you're losing money gambling just keep betting and you'll eventually win. Well, I suppose when it's someone else paying for it, that's very easy to say. Since you're using NSW's participation numbers, a large chunk of them will be in Sydney. In the meantime, Sydney FC pulls slightly above 10k per week to a 45k stadium. Another chunk of them will be around Newcastle. The Jets pull around 10k to a 25k stadium. Central Coast pull 5k to a 20k stadium. The A-League should focus on engaging participants with the clubs it already has. I have not said Australia at large has untapped fans. Canberra and Wollongong are untapped markets. If there is enough interest there to get 10k who will pay memberships and turn up each week, by all means give them teams.
Mark
Guest
Not saying you did mate. Referencing a comment I made in a previous thread, which you replied to saying you agreed.
Republican
Guest
DS I really don't care who invited who. The collateral damage remains........
Darwin Stubbie
Guest
Thats not what i said .. I'm not doubting netball being mainstream at a participation level in Aust .. but it didnt have the TV exposure and / or level of demand to garner a pay tv deal ... in NZ it did and that why Aust netball wanted in ... you're trying to paint it as if Aust netball invited NZ into some form of established professional league - when in fact it was the reverse
Republican
Guest
Disagree DS Netball is as much a mainstream sport for women here as it is in NZ, boasting the highest participation of all womens sport up until fairly recently I believe. The domestic league pre Trans Tasman was well supported and included an AIS side which assumed Canberra patronage and some Canberra players. The Canberra Netball culture is very strong considering its size while they are being touted as a location, integral the next expansion of the Trans Tasman league if there is one. I understand that commercially speaking, a pseudo international Trans Tasman format is a potential tele bonanza akin to Super Rugby, however it should not be considered a substitute for a healthy domestic comp. The bottom line is that worthy and viable domestic demographics are expedient and vulnerable because the Trans Tasman brand has the potential to supersede domestic leagues which has a trickle down impact on grass roots. While I concur that to create another team in an already saturated demographic i.e. Sydney smacks of machiavellian politicking on the part of Soccer Oz, I would still rather keep it all in house as opposed to giving NZ a leg up which, whether you like it or not, comes at a cost to us.
Waz
Guest
Burns could have and would have developed at a "tenth" australian franchise, there's nothing special about Wellington in that regard. Good on you for trying to figure this out but "4. Get a second team for New Zealand" might work but Wanderers worked for the smurfs because they were based in the SAME city - I doubt Wellington will support two sides the same way
Waz
Guest
While not wanting to speculate on FIFA politics there is the rumoured alternative that the AFC is split into two - AFC East and AFC West with Oceania being rolled into East. That's probably the only way NZ will join the AFC
Horto Magiko
Roar Rookie
Actually make that over 320000. 324,601 to be precise. http://www.footballnsw.com.au/index.php?id=149&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=10725&cHash=12dfd86ba03bd775fae49e3e5f8ed64a
Horto Magiko
Roar Rookie
Like you're not a broken record with how the HAL/Melbourne/Sydney/Australia at large has no more untapped fans and that we're essentially doomed to a 9 team comp because city group will up and leave.. And that you want to change the world beginning with football clubs being run more fiscally responsible zzzzzz You do realise NSW has a couple hundred thousand participants., and how many have been tapped? Get my drift? I doubt it.
Horto Magiko
Roar Rookie
"Right. At least that would make things fairer – but I’m not sure what the AFC would think, and in a football context it seems arbitrary to say New Zealanders are not foreigners." Therein lies the farce. And highlights how tentative this NZ situation is and why AFC have a problem with it.
Kaks
Roar Guru
I never mentioned a third Sydney team. No one wants a third Sydney team.
Mark
Guest
Spot on. You can't help but shake your head at some of the people here who argue for the FFA to do things for the A-League that contributed to sending the NSL broke. What's the saying...madness is repeating the same mistakes and expecting a different outcome. Long-term, the best thing for football would be a West/East Asia split, with Oceania absorbed into East Asia. There doesn't seem to be any great connection between football administrators of West and East Asian nations, it's a marriage of convenience. East Asia benefits from the wealth of West Asia, while West Asia benefits from extra World Cup places thanks to the higher standard of the top East Asia countries. It would also reduce travelling distances for most countries involved.
Mark
Guest
Yawn. This again.
CG2430
Guest
Right. At least that would make things fairer - but I'm not sure what the AFC would think, and in a football context it seems arbitrary to say New Zealanders are not foreigners. Regarding Hutt Rec, here's what I found quickly - note Damien de Bohun's comments: http://www.fourfourtwo.com/au/news/clock-ticking-phoenix-says-league-boss#:zo2RrUh1lWAdXA Given the Wellington Phoenix are with us for another four years at least, for better or worse (the latter, in my opinion), it would be nice if they could get it up-specced as you said.
Horto Magiko
Roar Rookie
Or a 3rd team in Melbourne that is wanted.
Darwin Stubbie
Guest
Because it was the aussies that coveted the relationship with NZ .. netball has been a mainstream sport in NZ for decades and was booming, had traction and a TV deal .. without NZ - netball in Aust would still be a 3rd rate attraction with no profile .. but thats ok we don't mind spreading the love
Midfielder
Guest
Kaks HHHHMMMmmmmm a very very very today comment ... read my post below .. without NFZ Australia would be nowhere close to were we are today.
Mark
Guest
Like I said in another thread, I don't care for Wellington but better them than a third team in Sydney that no-one wants.
Mark
Guest
They have a B team in the NZ league