Auckland FC - Once the Knights, Always the Knights
Terry was successful until his tactics for success caught up with him and then he wasn't.
The A-League has dwindled in attendances, dwindled in broadcasting fees and dwindled (arguably) in quality of football over the last five years. To make ends meet they've had to do ridiculous things like selling the Grand Final to Sydney for 3 years. This all may turn around in the next year or two, I don't know!
Welnix have always been open that they're not in the A-League to make money, but to bring economic activity and prestige to Wellington. I have no idea what Marc Mitchell's motivations are. But the Ponzi aspect of the current A-League (i.e. that it is kept financially viable only by attracting new investment) is indisputable.
Look at the higher level of youth players coming through.
No way the standards dropped.
The A-League has dwindled in attendances, dwindled in broadcasting fees and dwindled (arguably) in quality of football over the last five years. To make ends meet they've had to do ridiculous things like selling the Grand Final to Sydney for 3 years. This all may turn around in the next year or two, I don't know!
Welnix have always been open that they're not in the A-League to make money, but to bring economic activity and prestige to Wellington. I have no idea what Marc Mitchell's motivations are. But the Ponzi aspect of the current A-League (i.e. that it is kept financially viable only by attracting new investment) is indisputable.
maybe you should track down Marc Mitchell and explain to him that he is extremely naive and he's getting Ponzied.
One of the few things I remember about Terry S, is a Bob Jones comment about meeting him once (before the fall from grace) and being singularly unimpressed by Terry's smarts.
So without knowing much at all about Marc Mitchell I'm optimistic he has a plan to make an Auckland A League franchise work that isn't part of a ponzi scheme.
Also I'm an outlier and don't think taking the GF to Sydney for 3 years is a ridiculous decision at all. Not when it brings a bit chunk of cash into the clubs, post some very tough years financially. The AFL & NRL have their grand finals always at the same venue (Covid excepted). The FA Cup final is always at Wembley. Plus apart from that controversal loss to Sydney years ago, the Nix have never realistically been close to being in, let alone hosting a GF. Do the 3 years in NSW and then review the financial landscape.
From a Nix point of view I’m happy that the finals format guarantees a home final en route. But if we had a chance of becoming champions it would sharke me it wasn’t at the RoF.
I do worry about the competition financials and how the voting happens given the EPL seems to be one club one vote and they do block the big clubs flights of fancy at times.
Is Mitchell American? Any other members of the consortium known? Not solely real estate money? Do they like cats? Who are the football figures on board?
Initially they talked about Marc Mitchell and his bid which is understood to be the favourite bid currently, also they mentioned his relationship with the breakers had soured.
Then they said the second bid is lead by ALI WILLIAMS and a bloody toy company 'Zuru' (I think he is married into that toy firm through his Mrs but could be wrong).
And then they said one news understands that there is an expectation of a fudgeing WATERFRONT STADIUM being built for the teams home in the future. WTF. I think they said they were interested in a site for the stadium at 'silo park' or something on the waterfront.
I think silo park is heavily contaminated land but thats another story...
Initially they talked about Marc Mitchell and his bid which is understood to be the favourite bid currently, also they mentioned his relationship with the breakers had soured.
Then they said the second bid is lead by ALI WILLIAMS and a bloody toy company 'Zuru' (I think he is married into that toy firm through his Mrs but could be wrong).
And then they said one news understands that there is an expectation of a fudgeing WATERFRONT STADIUM being built for the teams home in the future. WTF. I think they said they were interested in a site for the stadium at 'silo park' or something on the waterfront.
I think silo park is heavily contaminated land but thats another story...
Have just seen that. Wild is putting it mildly.
New stadium - Yes please!
Can envisage it would be some sort of precinct that would be developed - Like what a lot of developments in America seem to be doing: New stadiums, entertainment and housing in the surrounds. Would be a massive project if it were to go ahead though.
Straight up crazy couple of days though, and I'm very much here for the continuous wild swings and speculation.
Always been a pipe dream in Auckland to have one but fudge me it would be amazing.
Still a couple of things to work through by all accounts - but it looks as though they are close…Canberra not as far down the track yet…https://t.co/KUSoeToaUL
— simonhill1894 (@simonhill1894) September 7, 2023
My God, if they're really talking about "waterfront stadium" again, I defy anyone to try to argue that all these rich people must know what they're talking about :D
My God, if they're really talking about "waterfront stadium" again, I defy anyone to try to argue that all these rich people must know what they're talking about :D
Actually Ali Williams had quite the unlikeable clown persona as an All Black. Then caught out sniffing coke in Paris. But he's gone on to build a bit of a career post rugby in commercial property. Successful people don't have to be likeable. Wiki says Williams had been in a relationship with Anna Mowbray (sister of Nick) since 2019. Anna having been heavily involved in ZURU with her brothers. All juicy stuff.
But the talk of a new stadium seems a bit mad, when you don't even have a team yet. Surely you'd wait to setup a club and then try and work in with other likely tenants like the Blues & Warriors - plus Auckland Council & national Govt before looking at gandiose ideas like that.
My understanding is the Ali Williams/Mowbray siblings bid as reported by 1News tonight was a thing, but isn't any longer – or at least isn't the preferred bid
— Andrew Voerman (@andrewvoerman) September 7, 2023
Had been talk APL was trying to bring the two together at one stage, which might still be the case https://t.co/cYPqaypC8V
Actually Ali Williams had quite the unlikeable clown persona as an All Black. Then caught out sniffing coke in Paris. But he's gone on to build a bit of a career post rugby in commercial property. Successful people don't have to be likeable. Wiki says Williams had been in a relationship with Anna Mowbray (sister of Nick) since 2019. Anna having been heavily involved in ZURU with her brothers. All juicy stuff.
But the talk of a new stadium seems a bit mad, when you don't even have a team yet. Surely you'd wait to setup a club and then try and work in with other likely tenants like the Blues & Warriors - plus Auckland Council & national Govt before looking at gandiose ideas like that.
My understanding is the Ali Williams/Mowbray siblings bid as reported by 1News tonight was a thing, but isn't any longer – or at least isn't the preferred bid
— Andrew Voerman (@andrewvoerman) September 7, 2023
Had been talk APL was trying to bring the two together at one stage, which might still be the case https://t.co/cYPqaypC8V
I love the idea of a waterfront stadium but God, the mind boggles at how hard it would be to pull off such a project
Just because someone is wealthy doesn't excuse them for being dicks.
Actually Ali Williams had quite the unlikeable clown persona as an All Black. Then caught out sniffing coke in Paris. But he's gone on to build a bit of a career post rugby in commercial property. Successful people don't have to be likeable. Wiki says Williams had been in a relationship with Anna Mowbray (sister of Nick) since 2019. Anna having been heavily involved in ZURU with her brothers. All juicy stuff.
But the talk of a new stadium seems a bit mad, when you don't even have a team yet. Surely you'd wait to setup a club and then try and work in with other likely tenants like the Blues & Warriors - plus Auckland Council & national Govt before looking at gandiose ideas like that.
My understanding is the Ali Williams/Mowbray siblings bid as reported by 1News tonight was a thing, but isn't any longer – or at least isn't the preferred bid
— Andrew Voerman (@andrewvoerman) September 7, 2023
Had been talk APL was trying to bring the two together at one stage, which might still be the case https://t.co/cYPqaypC8V
I love the idea of a waterfront stadium but God, the mind boggles at how hard it would be to pull off such a project
As much as I also love the idea of a waterfront stadium, I can't help but feel it's a pie in the sky idea that's been tacked on by these bidder's in order to appear to be the better option.
Just because someone is wealthy doesn't excuse them for being dicks.
And I suppose it's fine to dismiss Nick Mowbray's Twitter ranting if you're not one of the minority groups / poor people he's trying to whip up hatred against
Just because someone is wealthy doesn't excuse them for being dicks.
And I suppose it's fine to dismiss Nick Mowbray's Twitter ranting if you're not one of the minority groups / poor people he's trying to whip up hatred against
Whipping up hatred isnt exactly an indicator of dumbness though is it?
And in general wealth is a strong indicator of success, which is a strong indicator of some kind of smartness - excluding institutional wealth. Self made billionaires have found a way to take advantage of the system we live in to make massive amounts of money. Call it luck or smarts, it's worked, it doesnt mean we should all respect and love them, but their efforts deserve to be recognised.
Just because someone is wealthy doesn't excuse them for being dicks.
Just because someone is wealthy doesn't excuse them for being dicks.
And I suppose it's fine to dismiss Nick Mowbray's Twitter ranting if you're not one of the minority groups / poor people he's trying to whip up hatred against
Whipping up hatred isnt exactly an indicator of dumbness though is it?
And in general wealth is a strong indicator of success, which is a strong indicator of some kind of smartness - excluding institutional wealth. Self made billionaires have found a way to take advantage of the system we live in to make massive amounts of money. Call it luck or smarts, it's worked, it doesnt mean we should all respect and love them, but their efforts deserve to be recognised.
If the Mowbrays want to invest in a football team that is great and I applaud them. But Nick will have to reign in his bullshark opinions because the public are generally very unforgiving of a billionaire owner of a sports team with controversial, stupid or discriminatory social views.
Plenty of folks who have become successfully wealthy, did so in spite of their parents. Plenty. But yipe for sure having a very smart business acumen doesn't automatically translate into other areas of life. Politics being another obvious example.
If Nick Mowbray is sprouting anti trans stuff he probably shouldn't then be a part owner of an Auckland A League club. But doesn't mean I can't like his story of going to China as a virtual kid from his folks Waikato dairy farm, and creating a massive toy company with his siblings.
Anyway AV is saying Williams & Mowbray are likely 2nd choice to the Mitchell bid. Hopefully the American has no controversial skeletons in his internet history. I want an Auckland club to happen.
Just because someone is wealthy doesn't excuse them for being dicks.
And I suppose it's fine to dismiss Nick Mowbray's Twitter ranting if you're not one of the minority groups / poor people he's trying to whip up hatred against
Well feel free to fund the team with all of your money then comrade.
I genuinely wonder why you even follow professional football if you have such a problem with rich people? Genuinely, what is your angle?
Of course I'm sure it would be very expensive, but this city has spent its entire existence half-assing stadiums and look where that's gotten us.
Actually Ali Williams had quite the unlikeable clown persona as an All Black. Then caught out sniffing coke in Paris. But he's gone on to build a bit of a career post rugby in commercial property. Successful people don't have to be likeable. Wiki says Williams had been in a relationship with Anna Mowbray (sister of Nick) since 2019. Anna having been heavily involved in ZURU with her brothers. All juicy stuff.
But the talk of a new stadium seems a bit mad, when you don't even have a team yet. Surely you'd wait to setup a club and then try and work in with other likely tenants like the Blues & Warriors - plus Auckland Council & national Govt before looking at gandiose ideas like that.
My understanding is the Ali Williams/Mowbray siblings bid as reported by 1News tonight was a thing, but isn't any longer – or at least isn't the preferred bid
— Andrew Voerman (@andrewvoerman) September 7, 2023
Had been talk APL was trying to bring the two together at one stage, which might still be the case https://t.co/cYPqaypC8V
Just because someone is wealthy doesn't excuse them for being dicks.
And I suppose it's fine to dismiss Nick Mowbray's Twitter ranting if you're not one of the minority groups / poor people he's trying to whip up hatred against
Well feel free to fund the team with all of your money then comrade.
I genuinely wonder why you even follow professional football if you have such a problem with rich people? Genuinely, what is your angle?
If Nick Mowbray is tweeting against Trans people, most of us wouldn't be so comfortable with him part owning an Auckland club. But that's without doing a full examination of what he's actually scribbled on X.
You are right though Doloras seems to abhor the thought of anyone striving to be wealthy. It's pure evil. But sadly I don't see Marxism bringing a pro football team to Auckland (or anywhere but crumbling Havana) anytime soon.
She sucks. And she's broke afaik.
She sucks. And she's broke afaik.
And dead.
There’s plenty of football knowledge out there that comes with a side salad of sharke political takes.
As long as he’s not one of the QPR guys. I just caught up with half of what happened to the club.
And I personally think Morgan is right about cats- but that’s only if we want to save native birds. I know a lot of lefties who let their cats run free.
I usually prefer stadiums in the suburbs. Downtown after everyone working goes home is a bit of a soulless place imo. But yeh a 20k stadium near sold out quite often with good corporate facilities could see the club make money even. Not sure it should be downtown and it won’t be for next season anyway.
There was long ago talk about a chap from Giltrap Toyota being keen. Is he involved in either bid?
Auckland to be announced soon as new club in A-League.
— Ray Gatt (@Gatty54) September 8, 2023
https://www.oneroof.co.nz/news/rich-listers-mount-maunganui-house-price-record-may-not-stand-for-long-41301
I thought Murray Holdaway (chairman Auckland United) might be involved somehow. NBR rich list has his net worth at $50M.
The Mowbrays I see live in Kim Dotcom's old digs!
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/new-faces-among-nzs-richest/JTKLCY2LKUIXPUR43NM4BD67VI/
Always been a pipe dream in Auckland to have one but fudge me it would be amazing.
If the proposed North Shore Line train tunnel under the harbour goes ahead, the Wynyard Quarter will have it's own train station. As I've mentioned on here before, it really is a great location for a Stadium. However the current plans are for a public park there iirc.