I think we all have to concede that the boat has sailed for the 'poor' long before they reach this age. Our academy and elite programmes all over the Country from about under 11 level cost a poultice and the talented but poor kids are probably lost there. Its the talented and rich that are still floating around when they get to this level. In saying that I'm not belittling or having a go at parents that make huge sacrifices to have their kids involved in any of these programmes in any sport, I'm one of these myself with basketball. If I didn't have so many ex wives and talented children, I'd be a rich man now.
NZ: Hosts of U20s World Cup 2015
Big announcement by NZ Football in the next hour on venues for U-20 world Cup 2015:
Likely to be eight games in Wellington, but no semis or final (6 group games, a round of 16 and a quarter):
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/sport/9042788/Capital-to-miss-out-on-World-Cup-features
"Today's 1.45pm announcement comes after a two-year selection process which involved tours of the venues by Fifa and the NZF Local Organising Committee."
.... as interest builds around the country - Dunedin to get some games it seems:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10912840
MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT COMING FOR DUNEDIN12:17 PM Thursday Aug 15, 2013
The Dunedin City Council has called a media conference this afternoon for what it's calling a major announcement for the city.
It's giving nothing away on what will be unveiled. The briefing will be held at Forsyth Barr Stadium at 3:30pm.
Big announcement by NZ Football in the next hour on venues for U-20 world Cup 2015:
Likely to be eight games in Wellington, but no semis or final (6 group games, a round of 16 and a quarter):
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/sport/9042788/Capital-to-miss-out-on-World-Cup-features
"Today's 1.45pm announcement comes after a two-year selection process which involved tours of the venues by Fifa and the NZF Local Organising Committee."
.... as interest builds around the country - Dunedin to get some games it seems:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10912840
Well my watch says it's gone 2.45 and I haven't heard anything yet. Maybe I should go check the fax machine...
Auckland - North Harbour
Whangarei
Hamilton
New Plymouth
Wellington
Chch
Dunedin
Big announcement by NZ Football in the next hour on venues for U-20 world Cup 2015:
Likely to be eight games in Wellington, but no semis or final (6 group games, a round of 16 and a quarter):
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/sport/9042788/Capital-to-miss-out-on-World-Cup-features
"Today's 1.45pm announcement comes after a two-year selection process which involved tours of the venues by Fifa and the NZF Local Organising Committee."
.... as interest builds around the country - Dunedin to get some games it seems:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10912840
Well my watch says it's gone 2.45 and I haven't heard anything yet. Maybe I should go check the fax machine...
ANNOUNCEMENT ON FIFA U-20 WORLD CUP NZ 2015 FACEBOOK PAGE:
With just under two years until kick off in the first match of theFIFA U-20 World Cup New Zealand 2015, FIFA and the New Zealand Football Local Organising Committee (LOC) have confirmed that seven cities will host matches during the tournament. After a robust selection process the seven successful cities to host the tournament are:
Auckland
Christchurch
Dunedin
Hamilton
New Plymouth
Wellington
Whangarei
?#?u20WorldCup2015?
Auckland
Christchurch
Dunedin
Hamilton
New Plymouth
Wellington
Whangarei
?#?u20WorldCup2015?
FIFA U-20 WORLD CUP NEW ZEALAND 2015 HOST CITIES UNVEILED
(FIFA.com) Thursday 15 August 2013
© Foto-net
The Host Cities for the FIFA U-20 World Cup New Zealand 2015 were announced at a media event held at the Maritime Museum in Auckland (New Zealand) today in the presence of John Key, Prime Minister of New Zealand, Dave Beeche, CEO of the LOC for the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2015, and Frank van Hattum, President of New Zealand Football Inc.
The seven Host Cities and stadiums named today are: Auckland (North Harbour Stadium), Christchurch (Christchurch Stadium), Dunedin (Otago Stadium), Hamilton (Waikato Stadium), New Plymouth (Stadium Taranaki), Wellington (Wellington Regional Stadium) and Whangarei (Northland Event Centre).
The FIFA U-20 World Cup – FIFA’s second-biggest men’s tournament – will be held on Oceanian soil for the third time after Australia hosted the competition in 1981 and 1993. The event will take place from 30 May to 21 June 2015.
FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter said: “New Zealand hosted the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 1999 and the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in 2008 and enjoys a proud history of successfully hosting FIFA events. Bringing the FIFA U-20 World Cup to this sports-loving country will for sure enhance the image and popularity of the beautiful game in New Zealand. The Host Cities play an essential role in delivering a FIFA competition and I am pleased to see that football fans in cities across the whole country will have the chance to become a part of it.”
Dave Beeche, CEO of the LOC for FIFA U-20 World Cup 2015, was full of praise for all of the cities that were involved in the bidding process.
“To have seven stunning venues locked in nearly two years out from the first match gives us a great planning time-frame and we’ll use all of it to ensure that a stand-out event is delivered. This tournament has a huge global following and that’s the opportunity we have with this event – to deliver exposure for New Zealand and host regions both directly during the tournament and via a massive international television audience. With the world’s best footballing talent on display and stadiums full of colour, noise and atmosphere, it will be a new experience for New Zealand that everyone will want to be a part of,” said Beeche.
MORE DETAILS ON WHICH GAMES CITIES ARE HOSTING UP NOW ON FACEBOOK:
https://www.facebook.com/u20worldcup2015
Match Allocation Overview
Auckland FIFA HQ
- Opening Ceremony & Opening Match
- Pool Play (4)
- Round of 16
- Quarter-final
- Semi-final
- 3rd vs. 4th Play-off - played as a double header with the -- Final
- Final & Closing Ceremony
Christchurch
- Pool Play (6)
- Round of 16
- Quarter-Final
- Semi-Final
Wellington
- Pool Play (5)
- Round of 16 – x2 (double-header)
- Quarter-Final
Hamilton
- Pool Play (6)
- Round of 16
- Quarter Final
Dunedin
- Pool Play (6)
- Round of 16
New Plymouth
- Pool Play (5)
- Round of 16
Whangarei
- Pool Play (3)
- Round of 16
Good to see the U20 World Cup recognising the football hotbed that is.... Whangarei???? Wait, what?
So an Eden Park final was merely rumour. 3/4 playoff plus final a double-header at North Harbour, cap. 25,000. Tickets could be hard to get for that one folks.
North Harbour Stadium ???? Seriously??? That is a shocking venue to choose for such a huge Worldwide event - its wide open to any wind and rain, bizarre seating that gets miles from the pitch, only 25K (with any more at the ends only having crap views), not accessible by decent transport and miles from anywhere decent to hang out! No fan-trails possible up there! Seriously, I'm not being Wellington-biased here but Westpac Stadium in Wellington is streets ahead of North Harbour Stadium in terms of a venue. Bigger capacity, sheltered, better seating all round the pitch and you can walk there from town which can have a big hyper-concentrated World Cup buzz going on. Hell you'd even be better off letting the final get hosted in Dunedin with its wicked stadium, city proximity and full-on university sector that would guarantee the visiting fans would have a blast they wouldn't forget in a hurry.
I'm amazed Fifa would go for North harbour really. Its kinda guaranteeing Auckland will under-do what should be our biggest event ever. At least Eden Park has some sort of conection to the city - but North Harbour Stadium - really? We are really misisng the boat with this.
No Napier, thought they would have been in line for a few games! would have back them over whangarei (really!) and new plymouth.
And it gets the opening and closing cermonies as well - holy hell!
Better start praying for perfect weather
North Harbour Stadium ???? Seriously??? That is a shocking venue to choose for such a huge Worldwide event - its wide open to any wind and rain, bizarre seating that gets miles from the pitch, only 25K (with any more at the ends only having crap views), not accessible by decent transport and miles from anywhere decent to hang out! No fan-trails possible up there! Seriously, I'm not being Wellington-biased here but Westpac Stadium in Wellington is streets ahead of North Harbour Stadium in terms of a venue. Bigger capacity, sheltered, better seating all round the pitch and you can walk there from town which can have a big hyper-concentrated World Cup buzz going on. Hell you'd even be better off letting the final get hosted in Dunedin with its wicked stadium, city proximity and full-on university sector that would guarantee the visiting fans would have a blast they wouldn't forget in a hurry.
I'm amazed Fifa would go for North harbour really. Its kinda guaranteeing Auckland will under-do what should be our biggest event ever. At least Eden Park has some sort of conection to the city - but North Harbour Stadium - really? We are really misisng the boat with this.
North Harbour is FIFA HQ for the event. As well as NZF HQ. 'Nuff said.
North Harbour was always going to be odds-on favourite. Headquarters of NZ Football and don't forget was the FIFA HQ for the very successful FIFA Women's U17 WC back in 2008 - + decent facilities including an artificial pitch for teams to train on
Most other cities have plenty of artificial pitches and other facilities for training. Wellington is full of dedicated football ones.
I'm just surprised that when they could have had the pick of the venues to turn on the biggest tourney NZ is likely to see for decades they chose North Harbour Stadium for the opening, closing, semi finals, 3rd and 4th, and final.
Honestly - if you were picking the best place to hold all that - for the quality of the games (hope like hell for no wind and rain), the comfort of the teams and fans gettign around, for the big-event atmosphere that everyone remembers, and the international TV audience - then you'd pick North Harbour? There is a reason Wellington was chosen for and still retains the 7s and the All Whites Qualifiers. And the general consensus was that Dunedin Stadium had the best all-round atmosphere of all RWC games.....its pretty much the polar opposite of what North Harbour Stadium is....
I'm not anti-Auckland with this - its just that of the feasible stadiums and settings in NZ is that the best we can do?
If I wasn't already anti Auckland I would be now. Fuk me. The rest of the footballing world are going to have a laugh
Interesting how FIFA have gone for mainly "football rectangle pitches" as apposed to "oval stadiums". They don't like Ovals..never have. I guess in terms of logistics Auckland was the obvious choice for the big games. Easy to fly into and the head of NZ FIFA and NZF. But the stadium in Nth Harbour is not great for ambiance. its exposed in bad weather, hard to get to and there is almost zero interesting life in the surrounding area, its not a great advertisment for NZ or NZ football. Also Auckland has a terrible record of crowd support in football.
I hope Wellington gets a couple of the big South American teams playing at the ROF. There will be plenty of supporters coming over form sth America...could be a real buzz.
Interesting how FIFA have gone for mainly "football rectangle pitches" as apposed to "oval stadiums". They don't like Ovals..never have. I guess in terms of logistics Auckland was the obvious choice for the big games. Easy to fly into and the head of NZ FIFA and NZF. But the stadium in Nth Harbour is not great for ambiance. its exposed in bad weather, hard to get to and there is almost zero interesting life in the surrounding area, its not a great advertisment for NZ or NZ football. Also Auckland has a terrible record of crowd support in football.
I hope Wellington gets a couple of the big South American teams playing at the ROF. There will be plenty of supporters coming over form sth America...could be a real buzz.
How many showed up for the Paraguay game down there, I don't remember? did NZF make a profit on that?
Interesting how FIFA have gone for mainly "football rectangle pitches" as apposed to "oval stadiums". They don't like Ovals..never have. I guess in terms of logistics Auckland was the obvious choice for the big games. Easy to fly into and the head of NZ FIFA and NZF. But the stadium in Nth Harbour is not great for ambiance. its exposed in bad weather, hard to get to and there is almost zero interesting life in the surrounding area, its not a great advertisment for NZ or NZ football. Also Auckland has a terrible record of crowd support in football.
I hope Wellington gets a couple of the big South American teams playing at the ROF. There will be plenty of supporters coming over form sth America...could be a real buzz.
How many showed up for the Paraguay game down there, I don't remember? did NZF make a profit on that?
16,477 apparently
Interesting how FIFA have gone for mainly "football rectangle pitches" as apposed to "oval stadiums". They don't like Ovals..never have. I guess in terms of logistics Auckland was the obvious choice for the big games. Easy to fly into and the head of NZ FIFA and NZF. But the stadium in Nth Harbour is not great for ambiance. its exposed in bad weather, hard to get to and there is almost zero interesting life in the surrounding area, its not a great advertisment for NZ or NZ football. Also Auckland has a terrible record of crowd support in football.
I hope Wellington gets a couple of the big South American teams playing at the ROF. There will be plenty of supporters coming over form sth America...could be a real buzz.
How many showed up for the Paraguay game down there, I don't remember? did NZF make a profit on that?
HOME OF FOOTBALL .....yeh I can remember some games in the caketin that crowd control was a misnomer.....
Most other cities have plenty of artificial pitches and other facilities for training. Wellington is full of dedicated football ones.
I'm just surprised that when they could have had the pick of the venues to turn on the biggest tourney NZ is likely to see for decades they chose North Harbour Stadium for the opening, closing, semi finals, 3rd and 4th, and final.
Honestly - if you were picking the best place to hold all that - for the quality of the games (hope like hell for no wind and rain), the comfort of the teams and fans gettign around, for the big-event atmosphere that everyone remembers, and the international TV audience - then you'd pick North Harbour? There is a reason Wellington was chosen for and still retains the 7s and the All Whites Qualifiers. And the general consensus was that Dunedin Stadium had the best all-round atmosphere of all RWC games.....its pretty much the polar opposite of what North Harbour Stadium is....
I'm not anti-Auckland with this - its just that of the feasible stadiums and settings in NZ is that the best we can do?
Agree on Nth Harbour ...its shit and not even a home game for most Jaffas , esp if you've got to get across town in rush hour traffic etc , miserable hole with crap services and no atmosphere .....still better than Fred Taylor paddock tho.....
If I wasn't already anti Auckland I would be now. Fuk me. The rest of the footballing world are going to have a laugh
You're anti Auckland because of where Fifa have chosen to hold a game of football?
There is no possible way I could be any more over the anti Auckland shit.
Auckland is going to have to work hard to exceed the pre-game, in-game and and post-game experiences fans will get at many of the other venues -I'm thinking Dunedin and Wellington in particular with their tight stadiums and fan-fun-friendly layouts. But some of the other venues will also be good too as I can imagine most of the regional cities making a extra big efforts - they can do it well when they want to as they get untied behind events.
North Harbour Stadium isn't going to do that unless something major is done to create a dedicated fan zone - linked to North Harbour by a really well thought out match-integrated mass transport system. A strong focal down-town fan zone is needed - probably on the best bit of the waterfront somewhere to feature Aucklands most vibrant areas and best natural featues - a strong, organised and event-dedicated mass bus system is needed - maybe make this a feature - a bus-based 'fan convoy' or 'bus train' - definitely using the bus-lanes exclusively. A strong quick connection between the fan zone and the stadium is needed - ideally something that is fun, fast and simple. Overseas fans won't expect the difficulties they will face trying to get to North Harbour stadium if they are left to themselves - most will be used to walking or catching a train.... I hope the organisers have good plan for this so problems associated with Aucklands transport constraints and North Harbour Stadiums sub-optimal and souless location can be smoothed over for the event. Got to find ways to give it the best shot. Otherwise it will be nationally embarrassing given the massive exposure we're going to get.
It sure is an opportunity for NZ but we need Auckland to really come through to make it special - that will certainly need something special to be done as just running the status quo with just a few balloons and some party hats isn't going to cut it.
My pick for the venue most likely to have the 'best' overall atmosphere and football experience (at games and around them) is Dunedin. That was the pick for many media that went to the RWC games.
You can polish a turd , but its still a turd ....
Well to get the best out of this for NZ and NZ Football we're going to have to make sure everything we can improve and innovate fun into before and after the 'turd-experience' is as good as it can be possibly made.
Ill get my polish....
When The AW's played Honduras (which, incidentally drew a bigger crowd than the game in Wellington against Paraguay) at NHS, there were free buses from various points in Auckland including down town.
Stop complaining Wellington - you got the WCQ.
I blame John Morrison, he's obviously dropped the ball big time on this.
And it's now clear that without Celia Wade-Brown's last minute intervention we wouldn't have got the WC play-off either.
I think for the U17 Womens Word Cup, Wgtn just had a couple of QF games too didn't it (and pool play)?
Not really fussed, but if it's an excuse to dump on Akld then that'll do me.
#Dorklandtwunters
When The AW's played Honduras (which, incidentally drew a bigger crowd than the game in Wellington against Paraguay) at NHS, there were free buses from various points in Auckland including down town.
Stop complaining Wellington - you got the WCQ.
Not complaining or making any point about crowd size, just saying Auckland will have to lay on some good stuff like a free bus system to make up for the very sub-optimal location of NH Stadium. I hope they really go for it hard and make a good fan zone and a painless transport system happen. But lets face it - its a long way second to the Cake-Tin and Dunedin Stadium in all facets of event quality apart from happening to be in Auckland. The organisers better just hope they get dry and windless weather cos their ain't much shelter at NH Stadium.
As said before, I would say Dunedin Stadium (not Wellington) would have been my pick for the best venue overall.
I think for the U17 Womens Word Cup, Wgtn just had a couple of QF games too didn't it (and pool play)?
Not really fussed, but if it's an excuse to dump on Akld then that'll do me.
#Dorklandtwunters
Taking the bait...
... You can take your windy-arse, pretentious, can't get a coffee for shit, dreary, politician ridden, rude cold village and stick it. I'll take friendly, sunny, warm, vibrant, multi-cultural Auckland and its nice beaches and quality football team any day.
[/quote]
Taking the bait...
... You can take your windy-arse, pretentious, can't get a coffee for shit, dreary, politician ridden, rude cold village and stick it. I'll take friendly, sunny, warm, vibrant, multi-cultural Auckland and its nice beaches and quality football team any day.
[/quote]
Better than Edinburgh any day.
Taking the bait...
... You can take your windy-arse, pretentious, can't get a coffee for shit, dreary, politician ridden, rude cold village and stick it. I'll take friendly, sunny, warm, vibrant, multi-cultural Auckland and its nice beaches and quality football team any day.
¿por qué estás tan enojado?
[/quote]
Taking the bait...
... You can take your windy-arse, pretentious, can't get a coffee for shit, dreary, politician ridden, rude cold village and stick it. I'll take friendly, sunny, warm, vibrant, multi-cultural Auckland and its nice beaches and quality football team any day.
[/quote]
Better than Edinburgh any day.
Looking back over that rant, it describes Edinburgh fairly accurately.
transport for the honduras game was fine. they will need to build a huge party central area out on the oval or something to allow fans to get there early, eat, drink and be merry. i've been to a few NFL games including a superbowl and there wasnt much around the outside of them. although there were plenty of options inside the stadia
I blame John Morrison, he's obviously dropped the ball big time on this.
And it's now clear that without Celia Wade-Brown's last minute intervention we wouldn't have got the WC play-off either.
Really? What happened there?
RUGBY IN NZ CONCERNED ABOUT FOOTBALL IMPACT SHOCK HORROR !!!!
"PUNTERS WILL REALISE OVAL BALL CODE IS CRAP IN COMPARISON" FEAR RUGBY BOSSES...
"WON'T BE ABLE TO GIVE AWAY TICKETS TO SUPER THUGBY."
"RUGBY BOSSES TO LAUNCH CAMPAIGN TO REMIND KIWIS OF THEIR RUGBY ROOTS - CALLED 'WE'RE ROOTED' "
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/9053419/U-20-World-Cup-will-impact-on-Super-Rugby
"U-20 WORLD CUP WILL IMPACT ON SUPER RUGBY"
'At an early stage we requested the tournament not be held during the knockout rounds, but during the regular part of the competition. Obviously there will be some impact.
''Exactly what that is, it is too early to say as we are now working on the draw for 2015 and trying to achieve the best possible result.''
Fri, 16 Aug 2013 7:20a.m.
Dave Beeche is the CEO of the organising committee for the
FIFA U20 World Cup who yesterday announced the host venues for the 2015
tournament
http://www.radiolivesport.co.nz/David-Beeche/tabid/454/articleID/15312/Default.aspx
Darren Bazeley appointed coach. Won't he be coaching both the U17 and U20 in ASB at same time. Surely this is a stupid move??? Unless the U17 actually have no build up games?
Mili had enough huh?
Interesting. I guess that makes Willy the U17 coach?
When The AW's played Honduras (which, incidentally drew a bigger crowd than the game in Wellington against Paraguay) at NHS, there were free buses from various points in Auckland including down town.
Stop complaining Wellington - you got the WCQ.
From memory, only marginally bigger. Given your bigger much population and iirc your game was on the weekend and ours was midweek. But yeah sure, go Auckland.