Fans need to turn out to score return match

Organisers are still hopeful Hawke's Bay football fans will turn out for the Wellington Phoenix's inaugural match at McLean Park this Sunday.

Sport Hawke's Bay commercial manager Kevin Murphy said 1000 season ticket holders from Wellington were already making the journey north to Napier to watch their hometown team take on the Newcastle Jets, in round three of the A-League.

"Right now we have sold about 4500 tickets for the game, we would like to see another couple of thousand local fans turn up on Sunday."

He said if people bought their tickets before match day they would save $10 on ticket prices.

"We need to get some more people to the game. The people of Hawke's Bay need to understand if we want to host events like this again we need to get out and support it."

He said strong support would already be shown by the 1000 travelling fans.

"It will have a huge economic impact for the region, the accommodation is chocker block, not many events in the region can attract 1000 out of towners, and it is good to see McLean Park hosting an event that is not rugby or cricket. We have not really seen that in the past, and it will be good for the city."

He said the Wellington club has made it clear if Sunday's 5pm fixture is a success New Zealand's only A-League team will play future matches at McLean Park.

"We also have the big U19 national tournament over Labour weekend, and to have the Phoenix game in the middle of it is great."

Tickets for the match can be bought online at ticketdirect.co.nz or from the McLean Park ticket office.