Wellington is being urged to get behind the historic double-header in world-class football to make it a sell out at the Westpac Stadium on Saturday.
“This has been an ambitious plan to bring international football to New Zealand and we want to do it again, but it will be very difficult unless we get another four to five thousand people to the event this weekend,” General Manager of the Wellington Phoenix, David Dome said today.
The Carlsberg Football United Tour has been two years in the planning, has taken many thousands of hours of work and it culminates with the double header at Westpac Stadium on Saturday. West Ham United plays Sydney FC at 2 pm, followed by the Wellington Phoenix taking on Newcastle United at 4.30pm.
Ticket sales are currently at 27.5k and Dome says that while sales have been steady they are below what is required to fill the stadium.
“We have done something remarkable here. We’ve created history. Very rarely do two English Premier teams play in separate games on the same day at the same venue. Not only that, the Wellington Phoenix is only the second team in the A-League to beat an EPL team.”
The Wellington Phoenix beat West Ham United last night 2-1 at Auckland’s Eden Park in front of 19,183 spectators.
“We were a couple of thousand people shy of breaking even on that match.”
The night before in Dunedin a crowd of just under 10,000 had watched Newcastle United thump Sydney FC 4 nil.
“Wellington is the capital of football in this country and we know we can fill a stadium because the city is passionate about the game and their team.
“We also guarantee that Saturday is going to be wall to wall entertainment from gates open at 12pm until the end of the last game around 7pm.”
“We’ve got tonnes of stuff for families and kids to do to keep them entertained if they want a break from the football and there is all sorts of entertainment, music and demonstrations throughout the day.
“These are two great, famous old English Premier League Clubs and they deserve a sell out from the people of New Zealand to show our appreciation to them for coming all the way over here.
“The Eden Park match was an unbelievable experience for the team and the fans – the atmosphere was incredible and what a moment in New Zealand sports history for the Phoenix to beat an English Premier League side.
“This Saturday is an historic event and it may never happen again – regardless of the match results, Saturday will make history for sport in this country”.
At a glance
1. Carlsberg Football United Tour 2014, Saturday 26 July, West Ham United v Sydney FC 2pm, Wellington Phoenix v Newcastle United FC 4.30pm.
2. Tickets are available from ticketek.co.nz.
3. Tickets start at $115 for an adult and $55 and $285 for a family for both games (cheaper than an All Blacks test)
