The big A-League derby between the Wellington Phoenix and Auckland FC has finally arrived.
Adam Cooper previewed the match with Phoenix defender Matt Sheridan and club General Manager David Dome.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
We need to show what Wellington football is about. We
also need to represent the history. We need to give
the fans something to be proud of. There needs to
be good energy from the players.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
You know.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
It's a celebration, no different to the Melbourne victory game
when we played last year. That was a fantastic moment.
But now this is more about New Zealand, about you
know who owns football at the moment in this country.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Center past dates here on the oll Small Breakfastal Wellington's
news dog zi'd be And Yes, Derby Day has arrived. Finally,
after seventeen years of the Wellington Phoenix being the sole
Key WE team and the A League, they have an
opponent from just up the roads. Five o'clock kickoff Sky
Stadium this afternoon here in Wellington. It is the first
(00:53):
ever professional New Zealand football derby, a Wellington Phoenix taking
on the newcomers Auckland.
Speaker 3 (00:59):
If C so much interest in.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
The game, we are going to chat to Phoenix general
manager David Doman just a moment, get an update on
ticket sales and actually your chance to win some tickets
as well. In a heir from one of the Phoenix
players taking part in today's game as well, but was
lucky enough to head along to speak to Phoenix coach
young Carlo Italiano yesterday as part of his pre match
(01:24):
press conference, and he was firstly asked are the Phoenix
favorites for this one?
Speaker 3 (01:29):
Like Auckland is suggesting one.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
I don't think they've left New Zealand yet. You know,
we've just come back from Perth, and I would say,
you know, with the money that he has available for
players and so one, he's a strong favorite.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
What is the advice that Giancarlo Italiana was given to
his younger players ahead of such a big game, with
lots of chatter around.
Speaker 1 (01:49):
Just embrace the moment. You know, both teams will feel
the same anxiety, the same fear, and you know it's
the team that handles that better. I think, you know.
And again it's just staying in the moment, controlling what
you can control. And again it's more about really focusing
on what they can control in those big moments and
(02:10):
if they stick to what we train, how we prepare,
they'll be fine.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
Gian Carlo Taliada also asked yesterday about what this will
do to New Zealand football as a whole. Having a
big rivalry like this, the landscape needs your rivalry.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
But what it does it broadens the supporter base and
healthy derby is always a good talking point. So the
long term effect is that, you know, if we build
some memories in the game, you know, like significant moments,
that next generation of young kids that watch it on
the TV or come to the game want to be
part of football. And you know that keeps the long
(02:46):
term longevity of the game.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
And the other discussion point is the different kind of
paths and backgrounds of the two clubs, and I guess
both what their aims are chief He was asked about
that as well yesterday.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
Look, I can only talk about our club. You know,
our mottos at Air Tekel. You know it's arise from
the ashes basically, and you know we really live our motto.
You know, the club for so long has been you know,
under scrutiny, whether it was viable, whether it you know,
you know, whether it merider to be in the league,
(03:18):
has gone through so many ups and downs financially as well,
supporter based, post COVID, and you know, every hurdle that
we've you know, we've we've met, we've overcome and that
shows that really ties into what the meaning of the
club is. And I think tomorrow's game is more about
our fan base enjoying that and enjoying that history, and
(03:40):
this is just another part of that history. As for Auckland,
you know, they're just starting. I'm not really sure you
know what their mission is, you know, long term, and
that's something for them to forge. But for us, it's yeah,
it's it's a real symbolic moment.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
Yeah, and I'm sure everyone here in Wellings and wants
to get that when Tonight's definitely and a lot of
the players I know have been circling this one on
their calendars for quite some time. I think we had
Sam Sutton on a couple of weeks ago saying this
was a real match he's been.
Speaker 3 (04:10):
Looking forward to for a while.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
I popped along to one of the Phoenix fan events
during the week at the railway station and a chat
to defend at Matt Sheridan, who's actually started both games
so far this season. Where has it been a slightly
different week given the big occasion we've got coming up,
if you guys try to keep it as sort of
simple and normal as possible.
Speaker 4 (04:26):
Yeah, we've kept it like just focusing on ourselves as
any other week, But of course all the boys are
riffed up for the game, and it's the first first
time this game has happened, so I guess it adds incentive.
Of course.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
I'm sure you've got a lot of mates that are
around that Auckland system as well.
Speaker 3 (04:40):
You know, what's the build up being like to this.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
You've known that this is going to be a fixture
for about a year or so now, but it's finally happening.
Speaker 3 (04:46):
Yeah, what's the chatman around among football circles?
Speaker 4 (04:48):
I guess personally, not much conversation with the boys that
I know in that team, but I'm sure there'll be
a few chats with during the game and after the game.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
Of course, yourself.
Speaker 2 (04:57):
Two starts to start the season, you'll be pretty pretty
happy with that. How much work did you sort of
put it in the off season on the back of
debuting in the senior level last year, Happy with sort
of getting the nob to start these last couple of games.
Speaker 4 (05:07):
Yeah, of course it was a goal of mine to
get more minutes this season and pick up as me
as starts as I could. Yeah, putting a decent amount
of work over the off season and just kick my
head down and got to work.
Speaker 3 (05:20):
I guess, yeah, pretty busy offseason.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
What was some of the highlights I guess a few
chances to hit away and a few different teams under
your belt.
Speaker 3 (05:26):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (05:26):
Yeah. We obviously went to Australia a few times, played
a few A League teams, which was as good practice
for us and getting ready for the season.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
How motivating was it getting that game time for the
top level towards the end of last season in terms
of wanting to work hard to make sure you had
a regular spot this season.
Speaker 4 (05:42):
Well, I guess just playing in those games was just
such like a cool experience and I had a lot
of fun during those games, So it just, I guess
motivated me more to play this season.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
Chiefly obviously has a lot of faith and a lot
of the young guys that have come through the academy
tell us what he's kind of meant to you and
how he's sort of driven you to make this next
step up.
Speaker 4 (06:00):
He's just obviously, as you said, he gives a lot
of trust in the younger players, and it's just when
you're in the games, just like play play, How would
you how you'd play in any other game. Just you know,
he trusts you, so just play to your strengths.
Speaker 3 (06:11):
What strengths do you feel you bring to this team?
Speaker 4 (06:14):
I would say probably my athleticism is my strongest point,
So just when I'm on in a wide area, just
running in behind and working up and down.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
I guess playing alongside Scott Wooden, what's it like to
sort of have someone that's been around football all around
the world over so many years. It's a sort of
added much to your development and growth.
Speaker 4 (06:30):
Yeah, one hundred percent. He's really good with the younger
boys and given information off the pitch, and then also
just like during games and trainings, he's really good with
that stuff.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
You're from down in christ Church. I guess they can
have a chance now to pick either Wellington or Auckland.
Have you had much word from down sort of Canterbury
way as to which way they might go now that
there's a new derby here.
Speaker 4 (06:48):
No, not a whole lot, to be honest. Obviously my
parents are Wellington supporters, of course, but I hope that
people in christ Shit support Wellington.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
Figures christ what's this going to do? Do you think
football around the country having a rivalry like this?
Speaker 4 (07:00):
I think it will create a bit more opportunity for
people to play at that kind of level. And obviously
there's another team, so there's more opportunity upp in Auckland
as well.
Speaker 3 (07:11):
And just finally tell us, tell us what the exciting
levels are like. Yeah, no, all that.
Speaker 4 (07:14):
All the boys are real excited and real reved up
for the game, not to not getting over excited, but
of course it's such a cool experience that day will
be Well.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
Congrats on first couple of games and all the best
this weekend, Thank you very much. Matt sheared it out
of the Wellington Phoenix camp. Yeah, he said, it's excited,
but try not to get too excited. It's hard not
to get too excited about this one. And we joined
our life by Phoenix general manager David Dome. David, morning
to you. It's finally here. There's been so much talk
about this game for so long, right, well.
Speaker 5 (07:45):
I mean it coops, Yeah, I mean, you're right. It's
hard enough to get over excited. I mean it's weird
for the players, of course, they have to keep rounded.
But for us as a club, we've been looking for
every since we knew that Auckland were coming in and
that you know, we got the first derby between the
two clubs. We've been looking at Ford this game since
the draw was announced and can't wait the day's finally come.
It's going to be a massive crowd, a good crowd
(08:06):
down there this afternoon, and the forecast is good as well,
so it's going to be a great day out for Wellington.
Speaker 2 (08:11):
Twenty thousand in terms of a crowd. Numbers being thrown
around as sort of I guess the target, all the
expectations through the week, where is your expectation and right.
Speaker 5 (08:19):
Now, oh know, it's more than twenty thousand now, so
really expect probably twenty one twenty one thousand plus. We've
almost done a thousand tickets this morning. We're going to
have to open up some more bays in the next
I would say the next hour or so. So if
it does the ticket tech site does go down for
a little bit, just give it ten to fifteen minutes
as we open up more bays. It takes a little
bit of time to work its way through. Shouldn't take
(08:39):
too long. But yeah, I mean it's the tickets are
selling really really well. They sold really really well over
the week, and I mean it sold well since the
day we put it on sale to be honest, but
you know it's going to be great. It's going to
be magnificent atmosphere. There's a good contingent to walk on
supporters coming down. There's going to be some great banter
between the two active supporter groups. It's, you know, once
in a lifetime thing, and it's I think is really
(09:00):
shaping up to be a cracker.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
Yeah, obviously everyone's excited about this first one. How's the
club going to make sure that further Derby's down the track,
you know, retain this level of interest.
Speaker 5 (09:10):
Well, I think by default is going to It's going
to be something coming out of this game, no doubt
that's going to stoke the rivalry a bit more. I mean,
we go up there a couple of weeks after this game,
so the next one is pretty close, but they host
us up there, and there's another one in next year
in March. So look, it's going to be good. Look,
there's no doubt there's going to be this ongoing rivalry now,
(09:31):
and the players have been fantastic leading up to the match,
and both clubs have been really, really good. They've both
embraced it and really worked on it and you're talking
up how great it is for football in this country.
So I think it's going to get a life, that's
don't no doubt about it.
Speaker 2 (09:45):
The new team in general, David, what's sort of that
done to the Phoenix? Has it had an effect on
you yet? I guess either commercially, you know, football wise
on the fields, you know, how's you sort of have
you sort of responded to their existence over the last
sort of twelve months.
Speaker 5 (10:00):
But look, it certainly raised the profile. The media coverage
over the last week's been huge. We've been on you know,
all through the media, both social media, online and traditional media.
It's all been talking about the derby, which is excellent. Commercially,
we're pretty good. We've got a really solid coterie of
partners really just solidified up hasn't really hadn't impact too
(10:21):
much of the yet, which is good. The players we
knew there were, you know, we knew that Auckland has
been coming for a while, so we've you know, we've
invested a lot into the academy and we've signed, as
you would have seen with Nathan Walker during the week,
we've signed a lot of our youth players for long
term contracts. You know, going back eighteen months now because
we knew that this was coming through and we knew
that that was the future of the club. So we've
(10:41):
we've been ahead of the curve on that. But no,
it's been fantastic, you know in terms of raising the
profile of football being we couldn't have asked some more.
And you know, having twenty I don't know, twenty one,
twenty two, maybe even more twenty four thousand here on
a Saturday afternoon in Wenington, which it submit has been
doing a bit tough over the last couple of months.
If we can bring a little bit of joy to
(11:03):
the city and help the bars and the restaurants kick
along today and afterwards as well, I mean, how good
is that for the city? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (11:10):
Exactly.
Speaker 2 (11:11):
Obviously a five o'clock kickoff, but we know that everyone
wants to get on their seat right in time for that.
What are you recommending for people heading along today in
terms of win to get to the stadium when, to
make sure they can get through the gates with plenty
of time to see the action.
Speaker 5 (11:24):
Yeah, do what Yellow Fever are doing. Leave about four o'clock,
don't leave for five to don't try and get at
the Stadium at five to five and get there for kickoff.
Strongly suggest getting there as early as possible. Yeah, I would.
I mean, I think that the stadium's got a deal
on where if you get in there between what is
at three point thirty and four, that they've got twenty
percent off their food and beverage, which is a good
(11:45):
intended to get there early. Yes, Otherwise, just get there
in plenty of time. Don't wait for the last minute. Yeah,
between three thirty and four is there's a few discounts
around the hospitality stuff as well. Be get there really definitely.
Speaker 2 (11:56):
And David, how significant does this sort of stack up
against others significant moments of the Phoenix has passed across
seventeen years, you know, playoff games and other bits and pieces,
But how special is this one?
Speaker 5 (12:06):
Oh? It was right up there, absolutely right up there.
You know the semi final last year. You know a
couple of court finals who have had at the game
at Sky Stadium. We've gone to extra time and apparently shootouts,
games we've played against overseas teams we've come here. Newcastle
and west Ham have both been here, and Bocca Juniors
of course La Galaxy. I mean in terms of the
(12:28):
history of the club, and I included that the first
game back after COVID, which is our regular season best
ever crowd of about twenty four thousand we've played wester
night after COVID. That's really the target now, and we
had that was a magnificent crowd. We won that three
nol we're looking at I think we could probably go
very close to getting that number today around at twenty
four to twenty five thousand, And what a night, what
(12:50):
an afternoon that would be for the club, Like you say,
to add it to the list of other magnificent games
at sky Stadium.
Speaker 2 (12:56):
How proud were you of that plane that flew over
Mounts last weekends with the Phoenix Phoenix marketing and Auckland
going to respond today in any way.
Speaker 5 (13:05):
Do you think who knows? I know, they've bring a
lot of people down that we expect maybe three hundred
fine to maybe even five hundred orcand support, which is
a great turnout and magnificence to them that they've brought
down a really strong contingent to support their team in
the first derby. And who knows? I mean, I think
you know that's all part of it, right, everything we've seen.
Remember they had the we're not going to call it
(13:26):
pitch invader, but the person that ran onto the field
at our even Park game last last season, which was
unofficially official, I guess you could say. And then we
had to play of course, supporting us from a Phoenix
fan up there in Auckland. Look, it's all great, it's
all great, grist of the mill, it's all great banter
between the two class. It's exactly what we wanted the
Derby to represent, you know, good natured banter where people
(13:49):
get you know, on the field, it's competitive. Off the field,
it's both sets of fans supporting each other in a
good way and then having a beer with each other
afterwards and celebrating for so it couldn't be happy with
how it's playing out so far. And again you know
five o'clock kickoff time, can't wait?
Speaker 2 (14:06):
Yeah, wonderful when David, we really appreciate it because you
have given us a part of four tickets to give
away for either a family or a group of friends.
So we really appreciate that too.
Speaker 5 (14:15):
No, that's our pleasure. And like the more people that
can get there to enjoy the game, we've got, We've
got keen busses coming to the game from our Football four,
which is our community program which is based around refugee
and recent immigrants to Wellington. We've got somebody's about fifty,
you know, maybe five hundred and there coming for that game.
The more people we can get to come along and
enjoy this spectacle, the better, and it's going to be
great for the city.
Speaker 2 (14:36):
Yeah. Great, David, always appreciate your time here on News Talks.
He'd beat enjoy the day. We'll see you down there
in a few hours.
Speaker 5 (14:42):
Thanks Guds.
Speaker 2 (14:42):
We'll do for more from News Talks EDB Listen live
on air or online and keep our shows with you
wherever you go with our podcast on Ion Radio.
We need to show what Wellington football is about. We
also need to represent the history. We need to give
the fans something to be proud of. There needs to
be good energy from the players.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
You know.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
It's a celebration, no different to the Melbourne victory game
when we played last year. That was a fantastic moment.
But now this is more about New Zealand, about you
know who owns football at the moment in this country.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Center past dates here on the oll Small Breakfastal Wellington's
news dog zi'd be And Yes, Derby Day has arrived. Finally,
after seventeen years of the Wellington Phoenix being the sole
Key WE team and the A League, they have an
opponent from just up the roads. Five o'clock kickoff Sky
Stadium this afternoon here in Wellington. It is the first
(00:53):
ever professional New Zealand football derby, a Wellington Phoenix taking
on the newcomers Auckland.
Speaker 3 (00:59):
If C so much interest in.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
The game, we are going to chat to Phoenix general
manager David Doman just a moment, get an update on
ticket sales and actually your chance to win some tickets
as well. In a heir from one of the Phoenix
players taking part in today's game as well, but was
lucky enough to head along to speak to Phoenix coach
young Carlo Italiano yesterday as part of his pre match
(01:24):
press conference, and he was firstly asked are the Phoenix
favorites for this one?
Speaker 3 (01:29):
Like Auckland is suggesting one.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
I don't think they've left New Zealand yet. You know,
we've just come back from Perth, and I would say,
you know, with the money that he has available for
players and so one, he's a strong favorite.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
What is the advice that Giancarlo Italiana was given to
his younger players ahead of such a big game, with
lots of chatter around.
Speaker 1 (01:49):
Just embrace the moment. You know, both teams will feel
the same anxiety, the same fear, and you know it's
the team that handles that better. I think, you know.
And again it's just staying in the moment, controlling what
you can control. And again it's more about really focusing
on what they can control in those big moments and
(02:10):
if they stick to what we train, how we prepare,
they'll be fine.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
Gian Carlo Taliada also asked yesterday about what this will
do to New Zealand football as a whole. Having a
big rivalry like this, the landscape needs your rivalry.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
But what it does it broadens the supporter base and
healthy derby is always a good talking point. So the
long term effect is that, you know, if we build
some memories in the game, you know, like significant moments,
that next generation of young kids that watch it on
the TV or come to the game want to be
part of football. And you know that keeps the long
(02:46):
term longevity of the game.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
And the other discussion point is the different kind of
paths and backgrounds of the two clubs, and I guess
both what their aims are chief He was asked about
that as well yesterday.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
Look, I can only talk about our club. You know,
our mottos at Air Tekel. You know it's arise from
the ashes basically, and you know we really live our motto.
You know, the club for so long has been you know,
under scrutiny, whether it was viable, whether it you know,
you know, whether it merider to be in the league,
(03:18):
has gone through so many ups and downs financially as well,
supporter based, post COVID, and you know, every hurdle that
we've you know, we've we've met, we've overcome and that
shows that really ties into what the meaning of the
club is. And I think tomorrow's game is more about
our fan base enjoying that and enjoying that history, and
(03:40):
this is just another part of that history. As for Auckland,
you know, they're just starting. I'm not really sure you
know what their mission is, you know, long term, and
that's something for them to forge. But for us, it's yeah,
it's it's a real symbolic moment.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
Yeah, and I'm sure everyone here in Wellings and wants
to get that when Tonight's definitely and a lot of
the players I know have been circling this one on
their calendars for quite some time. I think we had
Sam Sutton on a couple of weeks ago saying this
was a real match he's been.
Speaker 3 (04:10):
Looking forward to for a while.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
I popped along to one of the Phoenix fan events
during the week at the railway station and a chat
to defend at Matt Sheridan, who's actually started both games
so far this season. Where has it been a slightly
different week given the big occasion we've got coming up,
if you guys try to keep it as sort of
simple and normal as possible.
Speaker 4 (04:26):
Yeah, we've kept it like just focusing on ourselves as
any other week, But of course all the boys are
riffed up for the game, and it's the first first
time this game has happened, so I guess it adds incentive.
Of course.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
I'm sure you've got a lot of mates that are
around that Auckland system as well.
Speaker 3 (04:40):
You know, what's the build up being like to this.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
You've known that this is going to be a fixture
for about a year or so now, but it's finally happening.
Speaker 3 (04:46):
Yeah, what's the chatman around among football circles?
Speaker 4 (04:48):
I guess personally, not much conversation with the boys that
I know in that team, but I'm sure there'll be
a few chats with during the game and after the game.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
Of course, yourself.
Speaker 2 (04:57):
Two starts to start the season, you'll be pretty pretty
happy with that. How much work did you sort of
put it in the off season on the back of
debuting in the senior level last year, Happy with sort
of getting the nob to start these last couple of games.
Speaker 4 (05:07):
Yeah, of course it was a goal of mine to
get more minutes this season and pick up as me
as starts as I could. Yeah, putting a decent amount
of work over the off season and just kick my
head down and got to work.
Speaker 3 (05:20):
I guess, yeah, pretty busy offseason.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
What was some of the highlights I guess a few
chances to hit away and a few different teams under
your belt.
Speaker 3 (05:26):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (05:26):
Yeah. We obviously went to Australia a few times, played
a few A League teams, which was as good practice
for us and getting ready for the season.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
How motivating was it getting that game time for the
top level towards the end of last season in terms
of wanting to work hard to make sure you had
a regular spot this season.
Speaker 4 (05:42):
Well, I guess just playing in those games was just
such like a cool experience and I had a lot
of fun during those games, So it just, I guess
motivated me more to play this season.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
Chiefly obviously has a lot of faith and a lot
of the young guys that have come through the academy
tell us what he's kind of meant to you and
how he's sort of driven you to make this next
step up.
Speaker 4 (06:00):
He's just obviously, as you said, he gives a lot
of trust in the younger players, and it's just when
you're in the games, just like play play, How would
you how you'd play in any other game. Just you know,
he trusts you, so just play to your strengths.
Speaker 3 (06:11):
What strengths do you feel you bring to this team?
Speaker 4 (06:14):
I would say probably my athleticism is my strongest point,
So just when I'm on in a wide area, just
running in behind and working up and down.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
I guess playing alongside Scott Wooden, what's it like to
sort of have someone that's been around football all around
the world over so many years. It's a sort of
added much to your development and growth.
Speaker 4 (06:30):
Yeah, one hundred percent. He's really good with the younger
boys and given information off the pitch, and then also
just like during games and trainings, he's really good with
that stuff.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
You're from down in christ Church. I guess they can
have a chance now to pick either Wellington or Auckland.
Have you had much word from down sort of Canterbury
way as to which way they might go now that
there's a new derby here.
Speaker 4 (06:48):
No, not a whole lot, to be honest. Obviously my
parents are Wellington supporters, of course, but I hope that
people in christ Shit support Wellington.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
Figures christ what's this going to do? Do you think
football around the country having a rivalry like this?
Speaker 4 (07:00):
I think it will create a bit more opportunity for
people to play at that kind of level. And obviously
there's another team, so there's more opportunity upp in Auckland
as well.
Speaker 3 (07:11):
And just finally tell us, tell us what the exciting
levels are like. Yeah, no, all that.
Speaker 4 (07:14):
All the boys are real excited and real reved up
for the game, not to not getting over excited, but
of course it's such a cool experience that day will
be Well.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
Congrats on first couple of games and all the best
this weekend, Thank you very much. Matt sheared it out
of the Wellington Phoenix camp. Yeah, he said, it's excited,
but try not to get too excited. It's hard not
to get too excited about this one. And we joined
our life by Phoenix general manager David Dome. David, morning
to you. It's finally here. There's been so much talk
about this game for so long, right, well.
Speaker 5 (07:45):
I mean it coops, Yeah, I mean, you're right. It's
hard enough to get over excited. I mean it's weird
for the players, of course, they have to keep rounded.
But for us as a club, we've been looking for
every since we knew that Auckland were coming in and
that you know, we got the first derby between the
two clubs. We've been looking at Ford this game since
the draw was announced and can't wait the day's finally come.
It's going to be a massive crowd, a good crowd
(08:06):
down there this afternoon, and the forecast is good as well,
so it's going to be a great day out for Wellington.
Speaker 2 (08:11):
Twenty thousand in terms of a crowd. Numbers being thrown
around as sort of I guess the target, all the
expectations through the week, where is your expectation and right.
Speaker 5 (08:19):
Now, oh know, it's more than twenty thousand now, so
really expect probably twenty one twenty one thousand plus. We've
almost done a thousand tickets this morning. We're going to
have to open up some more bays in the next
I would say the next hour or so. So if
it does the ticket tech site does go down for
a little bit, just give it ten to fifteen minutes
as we open up more bays. It takes a little
bit of time to work its way through. Shouldn't take
(08:39):
too long. But yeah, I mean it's the tickets are
selling really really well. They sold really really well over
the week, and I mean it sold well since the
day we put it on sale to be honest, but
you know it's going to be great. It's going to
be magnificent atmosphere. There's a good contingent to walk on
supporters coming down. There's going to be some great banter
between the two active supporter groups. It's, you know, once
in a lifetime thing, and it's I think is really
(09:00):
shaping up to be a cracker.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
Yeah, obviously everyone's excited about this first one. How's the
club going to make sure that further Derby's down the track,
you know, retain this level of interest.
Speaker 5 (09:10):
Well, I think by default is going to It's going
to be something coming out of this game, no doubt
that's going to stoke the rivalry a bit more. I mean,
we go up there a couple of weeks after this game,
so the next one is pretty close, but they host
us up there, and there's another one in next year
in March. So look, it's going to be good. Look,
there's no doubt there's going to be this ongoing rivalry now,
(09:31):
and the players have been fantastic leading up to the match,
and both clubs have been really, really good. They've both
embraced it and really worked on it and you're talking
up how great it is for football in this country.
So I think it's going to get a life, that's
don't no doubt about it.
Speaker 2 (09:45):
The new team in general, David, what's sort of that
done to the Phoenix? Has it had an effect on
you yet? I guess either commercially, you know, football wise
on the fields, you know, how's you sort of have
you sort of responded to their existence over the last
sort of twelve months.
Speaker 5 (10:00):
But look, it certainly raised the profile. The media coverage
over the last week's been huge. We've been on you know,
all through the media, both social media, online and traditional media.
It's all been talking about the derby, which is excellent. Commercially,
we're pretty good. We've got a really solid coterie of
partners really just solidified up hasn't really hadn't impact too
(10:21):
much of the yet, which is good. The players we
knew there were, you know, we knew that Auckland has
been coming for a while, so we've you know, we've
invested a lot into the academy and we've signed, as
you would have seen with Nathan Walker during the week,
we've signed a lot of our youth players for long
term contracts. You know, going back eighteen months now because
we knew that this was coming through and we knew
that that was the future of the club. So we've
(10:41):
we've been ahead of the curve on that. But no,
it's been fantastic, you know in terms of raising the
profile of football being we couldn't have asked some more.
And you know, having twenty I don't know, twenty one,
twenty two, maybe even more twenty four thousand here on
a Saturday afternoon in Wenington, which it submit has been
doing a bit tough over the last couple of months.
If we can bring a little bit of joy to
(11:03):
the city and help the bars and the restaurants kick
along today and afterwards as well, I mean, how good
is that for the city? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (11:10):
Exactly.
Speaker 2 (11:11):
Obviously a five o'clock kickoff, but we know that everyone
wants to get on their seat right in time for that.
What are you recommending for people heading along today in
terms of win to get to the stadium when, to
make sure they can get through the gates with plenty
of time to see the action.
Speaker 5 (11:24):
Yeah, do what Yellow Fever are doing. Leave about four o'clock,
don't leave for five to don't try and get at
the Stadium at five to five and get there for kickoff.
Strongly suggest getting there as early as possible. Yeah, I would.
I mean, I think that the stadium's got a deal
on where if you get in there between what is
at three point thirty and four, that they've got twenty
percent off their food and beverage, which is a good
(11:45):
intended to get there early. Yes, Otherwise, just get there
in plenty of time. Don't wait for the last minute. Yeah,
between three thirty and four is there's a few discounts
around the hospitality stuff as well. Be get there really definitely.
Speaker 2 (11:56):
And David, how significant does this sort of stack up
against others significant moments of the Phoenix has passed across
seventeen years, you know, playoff games and other bits and pieces,
But how special is this one?
Speaker 5 (12:06):
Oh? It was right up there, absolutely right up there.
You know the semi final last year. You know a
couple of court finals who have had at the game
at Sky Stadium. We've gone to extra time and apparently shootouts,
games we've played against overseas teams we've come here. Newcastle
and west Ham have both been here, and Bocca Juniors
of course La Galaxy. I mean in terms of the
(12:28):
history of the club, and I included that the first
game back after COVID, which is our regular season best
ever crowd of about twenty four thousand we've played wester
night after COVID. That's really the target now, and we
had that was a magnificent crowd. We won that three
nol we're looking at I think we could probably go
very close to getting that number today around at twenty
four to twenty five thousand, And what a night, what
(12:50):
an afternoon that would be for the club, Like you say,
to add it to the list of other magnificent games
at sky Stadium.
Speaker 2 (12:56):
How proud were you of that plane that flew over
Mounts last weekends with the Phoenix Phoenix marketing and Auckland
going to respond today in any way.
Speaker 5 (13:05):
Do you think who knows? I know, they've bring a
lot of people down that we expect maybe three hundred
fine to maybe even five hundred orcand support, which is
a great turnout and magnificence to them that they've brought
down a really strong contingent to support their team in
the first derby. And who knows? I mean, I think
you know that's all part of it, right, everything we've seen.
Remember they had the we're not going to call it
(13:26):
pitch invader, but the person that ran onto the field
at our even Park game last last season, which was
unofficially official, I guess you could say. And then we
had to play of course, supporting us from a Phoenix
fan up there in Auckland. Look, it's all great, it's
all great, grist of the mill, it's all great banter
between the two class. It's exactly what we wanted the
Derby to represent, you know, good natured banter where people
(13:49):
get you know, on the field, it's competitive. Off the field,
it's both sets of fans supporting each other in a
good way and then having a beer with each other
afterwards and celebrating for so it couldn't be happy with
how it's playing out so far. And again you know
five o'clock kickoff time, can't wait?
Speaker 2 (14:06):
Yeah, wonderful when David, we really appreciate it because you
have given us a part of four tickets to give
away for either a family or a group of friends.
So we really appreciate that too.
Speaker 5 (14:15):
No, that's our pleasure. And like the more people that
can get there to enjoy the game, we've got, We've
got keen busses coming to the game from our Football four,
which is our community program which is based around refugee
and recent immigrants to Wellington. We've got somebody's about fifty,
you know, maybe five hundred and there coming for that game.
The more people we can get to come along and
enjoy this spectacle, the better, and it's going to be
great for the city.
Speaker 2 (14:36):
Yeah. Great, David, always appreciate your time here on News Talks.
He'd beat enjoy the day. We'll see you down there
in a few hours.
Speaker 5 (14:42):
Thanks Guds.
Speaker 2 (14:42):
We'll do for more from News Talks EDB Listen live
on air or online and keep our shows with you
wherever you go with our podcast on Ion Radio.
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