The Wellington Phoenix are backing New Zealand’s BLACKCAPS this Sunday in the Cricket World Final and are encouraging fans to wear their Phoenix stripey, BLACKCAPS shirt or turn up in black to show their support at their match against Sydney FC at the same time.

The Phoenix will also be playing the cricket live pre-game and at half time, have live text updates on the screen, ground announcements during the game, Westpac Stadium will open the Mezzanine Bar after the game until the break in innings and we will be screening both our game and the cricket in the corporate lounges and on the concourse screens.

Wellington Phoenix General Manager David Dome said that the football club, currently in first place in the Hyundai A-League and taking on third place Sydney on Sunday afternoon, has been swept up in the achievements of the BLACKCAPS.

“The performance of the BLACKCAPS has taken New Zealand by storm and the Phoenix is getting in behind them.

“We are encouraging fans, if they are not going to wear their traditional Phoenix stripey, to come to our game to show their support by wearing a BLACKCAPS shirt or just black.

“Our game is broadcast around the world live and of course into Australia – having those pictures going back into Australia supporting the BLACKCAPS from Wellington would be quite powerful!

“We wish captain Brendan McCullum, his squad and the entire organisation all the best for this momentous occasion in Melbourne on Sunday afternoon.”

The Phoenix play Sydney FC in a potentially season defining match at the same time and Dome has asked Wellingtonians to get out and support the Phoenix in this crucial match while acknowledging the that the final is attracting a lot of sports fans’ attention.

Dome says that the Club has been working with the FFA over the last few weeks in anticipation that this scenario would eventuate and while it is not possible to reschedule the match, the Club in conjunction with Westpac Stadium has come up with some solutions to make sure fans are kept up to date with the final while at the Phoenix’ game.

“We will be playing the cricket live pre-game and at half time, have live text updates on the screen during our game, the Mezzanine Bar will be open after the game until the break in innings and we will be screening both our game and the cricket in the corporate lounges and on the concourse screens.

“We’ve listened to our fans and we know that they will want to keep up to date on the cricket while they are at our game so we’ve tried really hard to ensure that fans won’t be missing out on any of the action on the day

“We would like to acknowledge Westpac Stadium’s excellent assistance in facilitating the initiatives as without them we would not have been able to respond to fans’ requests for cricket updates.”

At A Glance

Cricket World Cup Final, New Zealand Black Caps v Australia or India, Melbourne Cricket Ground, 4.30pm (NZDT)

Wellington Phoenix v Sydney FC, Westpac Stadium, 5pm (NZDT) Tickets from www.ticketek.co.nz/phoenix

Fans to wear BLACKCAP supporting attire.

Cricket World Cup final to be screened pre-game and half time on big screens at Westpac Stadium

Mezzanine Bar to screen cricket post game until innings break

Corporate Lounges and concourse screens to have both games live throughout

Live scores on the big screen.

Live ground announcements during the match.