Wasn't the right time or people behind the club.Boro Kiwis out there, why has it taken so long to get an Auckland club back in the A league and why did NZ Knights fail in Auckland??
Especially given Auckland is four times the size of Wellington, and Christchurch is almost double the population?
I'd have thought NZ could easily support 2 or maybe even 3 clubs in the A League?
3 Sydney, 3 Melbourne, 2 NSW coast, Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane. 3 Kiwis to make a 14 team league?
Thanks a lot for the response. I hope the new club fares better nd at least two clubs can thrive in NZ.Wasn't the right time or people behind the club.
In NZ then rugby was king, queen, prince, princess and several minor royals, with football a mere foot soldier (and commonly referred to as foot marbles).
Now football is really on the rise with it now if not the, in the top three sports for kids in the country. Having the Phoenix doing okay in the league (currently top) is also helping increase the profile of the game.
We had the Woman's World Cup here last year and that really got the attention of the public too. The opening game in Auckland drew a record crowd for a women's game here of 42,137, which is bigger than any rugby crowd last year.
So I think now's the right time, and the quality of the backers of the club (Foley, who also owns Bournmouth and Vegas Golden Knight) are in for the long haul where as previous owners for the franchise int eh city did not have the same substantial backing.
And here's an article from the time from NZ's most respected footy journo regarding the Knights failure:
Soccer: How the Knights fell from grace - NZ Herald
Latest breaking news articles, photos, video, blogs, reviews, analysis, opinion and reader comment from New Zealand and around the World - NZ Heraldwww.nzherald.co.nz
Surely Auckland is big enough to support a pro football team?Well ironically this comes at a time when Phoenix' crowds are down. This despite them riding at the top of the League. Can NZ sustain two A League Clubs? I do hope so but I have my doubts and fear that one may fall by the way side. Phoenix are a young side who are benefiting from a good youth policy. Auckland franchise may have to inport talent in and with the new owners pickets will doubtless attract a few from Aus to get them up to speed.
Actually Nix have just played and beaten Sydney - in Auckland of all places so the Auckland public still view Phoenix as NZ's team! This in front of 18000 to maintain top spot.Surely Auckland is big enough to support a pro football team?
Club and international football the difference. Phoenix have a lot of Australian players anyway and Im pretty sure the new Auckland franchise will be packed with overseas players brought in. They are allowed one "marquee" player international.As an aside how do they square NZ teams being in the largely Australian based A league now that Australia are in the Asian confederation. officials etc and what happens if a NZ side wins it for champions league style competition???
No chance of thatI hope football doesn’t eventually erode the preeminence of rugby Union. The sport needs New Zealand.
If the Nix win the A-League they cannot go into the Asian champions league as from different conference (Oceania)As an aside how do they square NZ teams being in the largely Australian based A league now that Australia are in the Asian confederation. officials etc and what happens if a NZ side wins it for champions league style competition???
Thanks that was my pointIf the Nix win the A-League they cannot go into the Asian champions league as from different conference (Oceania)