Wellington Phoenix A-League club ‘haemorrhaging’ money

Wellington Phoenix’s game against Melbourne Victory will be played at an empty WIN Stadium for this reason.

The Phoenix’s match against Western United last month was played in front of only 586 fans at WIN Stadium. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

The likelihood of a tiny crowd at Wollongong’s WIN Stadium has led to Wellington Phoenix playing their A-League match against Melbourne Victory on Wednesday night behind closed doors.

The Phoenix announced the news on Tuesday after failing to secure a commercial partner for the match.

“Unfortunately, we’ve had to make a tough decision and play tomorrow night’s Men’s Round 12 match against Melbourne Victory behind closed doors,” the Phoenix tweeted.

“This comes after we were unable to lock in a local commercial partner for tomorrow night’s match.

“We would like to apologise to all our Australian based fans who were looking at making the trip down to the Gong tomorrow night, we appreciate all the support you have given us at matches this season.”

Unfortunately, we've had to make a tough decision and play tomorrow night's Men's Round 12 match against Melbourne Victory behind closed doors.

This comes after we were unable to lock in a local commercial partner for tomorrow night's match. pic.twitter.com/A7wTchH4Ek

— Wellington Phoenix (@WgtnPhoenixFC) February 7, 2022

The Phoenix has been based in Wollongong since last season due to border restrictions between Australia and New Zealand caused by Covid-19 ramifications.

Phoenix general manager David Dome told stuff.co.nz: “This year it has been much, much more difficult to get financial support from Wollongong corporates … and that was the only thing that made the men’s games in Wollongong viable.

“I’ve got to be honest with you, the ticket sales for the men have been abysmal. We’re not even in the ballpark of being able to cover the costs.

“We’re haemorrhaging money with the men’s games in Australia because obviously we don’t have the support base there. The commercial support in New Zealand has been much stronger this year, but on the flip side the commercial support in Wollongong has been extremely poor and the attendances are so low that it reduces your costs significantly if you don’t open up to the public.”

The three A-League matches the Phoenix have played at WIN Stadium this season have attracted crowds of 1512, 1948 and 586.

While the first two were against NSW-based opposition in the Central Coast Mariners and the Western Sydney Wanderers, the 586 figure was against Victorian club Western United last month.

The Phoenix also gave up hosting rights to their weekend 3-1 win over Macarthur FC at Campbelltown Stadium.

They have also shifted Saturday’s home match against Adelaide United to Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, where the game will be part of a double-header that includes the contest between Sydney FC and Western United.

Australian Professional Leagues chief executive Danny Townsend said the Phoenix were “haemorrhaging” money.

“This is an unprecedented situation with the global pandemic and a team playing in a different country,” Townsend said.

“We have to try to mitigate the impact.”

However, Townsend said it was not the job of the APL, which runs the A-League, to help the Phoenix find a commercial partner for the match.

“It’s part of their own stadium negotiations,” he said.

Originally published as Wellington Phoenix A-League club ‘haemorrhaging’ money