The combination of factors could create a compelling case for an Auckland side to trump likely applications from a second Brisbane team and a third Sydney team.
But after the dismal failures of the Football Kingz and the New Zealand Knights, Auckland still has a big question mark over its suitability for professional football.
Where would they play? And who would fund it? Leading Australian football pundit Michael Cockerill believes the answer may require some lateral thinking.
"Oceania is the only confederation that doesn't have a professional team and if you're thinking about how to fund an A-League team in Auckland, that's a very secure way of getting seed and base funding.
"Oceania Football Confederation should look at being a partner, because they have so much to gain from it," said Cockerill.
"It requires people to look outside the square and look at this holistically. Sooner or later someone has to decide 'what's the purpose of the OFC?'.
"They want a spot at the World Cup, they want to be competitive, it would be helped by having a professional outfit.
"After 48 years they need to start being a bit more imaginative. And Auckland is the best possible outlet for that.
"It couldn't be a team entirely made up of Oceania players because it wouldn't be competitive, but you would have a foundation.
"Then you would want to provide investors in Auckland a chance to get on board."
Wellington Phoenix owner Gareth Morgan said in March he was keen to see another New Zealand team in the A-League, and was interested in getting involved but didn't want to drive the project.
Auckland City and OFC declined to comment on their current situation but six months ago Auckland City chairman Ivan Vuksich said: "If there's a possibility of another A-League team in Auckland we would definitely be keen to be involved.
"I have people working for me trying to find investors and the signs are reasonably encouraging. There are plenty of others in Auckland, perhaps half a dozen, who could do it ... but it's whether we can get them interested."
But Phoenix boss David Dome sees big clouds on the horizon for any Auckland bid. "Population-wise, Auckland works. But there's no natural home for them. Eden Park is too big and costs a lot to take games there.
"Mount Smart is earmarked to be a speedway track, and then there's North Harbour Stadium and everything we know about Aucklanders suggests they won't travel there.
"Another factor is that the FFA currently don't see any value in the money coming out of New Zealand. So why would they add another NZ team if the Phoenix are at the bottom of attendances and viewership?"
Dome said the Phoenix were agnostic about an Auckland A-League bid but thought Cockerill's OFC vision made a lot of strategic sense.
"If Oceania players could be categorised as domestic it could work, but are they willing to pump $2 million in to set it up, then 500k a year to run? And what stadium can they use?"
Crowds at Eden Park
Phoenix v West Ham - 19,183 - July 2014
Phoenix v Adelaide - 18,000 - Feb 2014
Phoenix v Perth - 11,000 - Feb 2013
Phoenix v Adelaide - 20,078 - Nov 2011
