Kia backs Phoenix with unique arena plan   22 Jan 2015

Kia Motors and its Wellington dealership, Brendan Foot Kia are helping to create a temporary arena for the Wellington Phoenix.

The move will see a unique sports stadium created at the Hutt Recreational Ground in Lower Hutt to host Phoenix A-League home football matches for local fans from mid-February through to March 2015, while its central city home ground is hosting the Cricket World Cup.

Over the four-week period, the ground will be transformed into the Brendan Foot Kia Hutt Rec, with temporary stands set up for up to 15,000 fans to experience the games. On match days special events and activities will be held to promote a family festival atmosphere.

'We're very excited to be part of this new initiative to bring A-League football to the community', says Matthew Foot, Dealer Principal of Brendan Foot Kia. 'Fans will be very close to the action and will be able to enjoy a day out with the family in a market day atmosphere. It's great for football, and great for Hutt City.'

Three Phoenix home matches will be played at the Brendan Foot Kia Hutt Rec; they will be playing against Melbourne City on February 14, then the Newcastle Jets on February 22 and finally against Adelaide United on March 7. The temporary arena will also play host to ASB Premiership football matches during that period.

David Dome, Wellington Phoenix General Manager, says the club is thrilled with the support from local business Brendan Foot Kia and Kia Motors New Zealand.

“Hutt City Council and the Phoenix are aligned in that we want this to be a family-friendly, carnival-type event, attracting a wide audience who are interested in a fun day out, with an exciting and entertaining football match to finish it off.”

The sponsorship of the Brendan Foot Hutt Rec is being jointly undertaken by local Kia dealer Brendan Foot, which has a strong presence in the Wellington/Hutt Valley region, and Kia Motors New Zealand.

Kia says the opportunity to be involved in helping the Phoenix make the most of its temporary relocation to the Hutt is part of the company’s wider support for the sport of football. Kia is also the major sponsor of the FIFA Under-20 World Cup, which will take place in New Zealand starting at the end of May 2015.

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