Will Auckland FC go one better?
Did you know that football is the largest team participation sport in New Zealand, with over 170,000 registered players in 2024 [1]?
As a proud premium partner to Auckland FC - one of the big success stories of NZ sport last year - we’re excited to see the hype building as the club head into their second season.
Anyone attending this season’s games will see the Alvarium logo on the team’s shirts, and the Go Media Stadium will feature our ‘Invested in goals’ ads around the ground.
In case you missed it last time - sidenote, where were you?! - here’s a recap on what makes the football club so special, and why Alvarium is delighted to be a partner.
Back of the net, front of mind
Known as the ‘Black Knights’, the newest team to join the A-League enjoyed a stellar maiden season last year, falling agonisingly short in the semi-finals.
For Kiwi fans of the ‘beautiful game’, the team’s home games quickly earned a reputation as one of the hottest tickets in town. Regular scenes of jubilant fans chanting and bouncing on the terraces resembled the atmosphere you might expect at an Argentinian game, or a Bundesliga match.
Feeding that fan-frenzy was a playing squad given licence to entertain. The club was the fastest in the league to notch 50 goals during the season and went 14 games unbeaten. An impressive 11 of their players were picked to play for the All Whites[2].
And it wasn’t just the action on the pitch that helped grow a loyal fanbase from scratch. The team’s home ground at Go Media Stadium became synonymous with a great day-out for families, offering pitch side entertainment, food, and all-round good times.
Talent on and off the pitch
Underpinning the team’s success on the pitch is some serious firepower behind the scenes.
Auckland FC is majority owned by American billionaire Bill Foley and is part of an impressive stable of sporting teams. His other prize assets include Bournemouth FC from the (UK) Premier League, and the Las Vegas Golden Knights - a US ice hockey giant.
There’s also some high-calibre local ownership, thanks to the involvement of entrepreneur Anna Mowbray and ex-All Black Ali Williams. Three former All Whites – Winston Reid, Tim Brown, and Noah Hickey – all joined the local ownership group in 2024, bringing useful player insights to the club’s strategy.
If that strength-in-depth wasn’t impressive enough, the team recently unveiled its latest signing - Tāma the Kingfisher – an eye-catching new mascot ready to rip into the new season.
In an effort to go the full distance this year, an exciting cohort of new players has joined the playing squad. Lachlan Brook, an Aussie winger, comes to Auckland after stints in England, the US, and Australia. Other new signings hoping to help the team go one better in the 2025/6 season include Sam Cosgrove, Jake Girdwood-Reich, and Oli Sail.
Why we're proud to sponsor
At Alvarium, we like to invest in community goals, and tohelp our clients invest in their own long-term financial goals.
We’re proud to partner with organisations that play a positive role in local communities. From sponsoring the NZ Paralympic team in Parisin 2024, to supporting the work of the King’s Trust in Aotearoa and more, our commitment to helping New Zealanders achieve their dreams is woven into our corporate DNA.
With that in mind, Auckland FC’s ambition to be an inclusive and supportive club is particularly appealing to us. As the team’s website says, “Our Club Isn’t Exclusive. In Fact, It’s Where We All Belong. Just Like Our City, We’re Building A Community Where Differences Are Celebrated. We Know Diversity Makes Us Stronger, And That’s How We Roll.[3]”
Last year, the club committed to donating 20% of every membership to the local clubs nominated by its members. That type of community focus is something we can definitely get onside with.
Want to cheer the team on?
As a premium partner, we are delighted to have matchday tickets to a select number of home games throughout the season.
If you would like to go to any of the games, please speak to your Adviser directly. Tickets are allocated on a first come first served basis.
For information about the fixtures, please visit the Auckland FC website here.
If the first season is anything to go, the future looks very bright for the Black Knights and everyone involved in the team’s efforts to grow. To the club and all of the fans who make matchdays so special, we’re right by your side. C’mon you Black Knights!
[1]Source: https://aucklandfc.co.nz/news/auckland-fc-and-northern-region-football-launch-community-football-clinics/
[2]Source: https://aucklandfc.co.nz/about-us/
[3]Source: https://aucklandfc.co.nz/about-us/
