The Wellington Phoenix will return to Dunedin to play an A-League game against the Brisbane Roar in mid-December.
The Wellington-based football club made its first appearance on a Dunedin pitch when it hosted Brisbane in a pre-season game at Forsyth Barr Stadium on August 20.
While the Phoenix was dispatched 5-1 in a lopsided encounter, the event was a success with those involved giving the roofed stadium and the raucous crowd of 15,037 the thumbs up.
The fans, dubbed the Yellow Fever, donned gold shirts, waved Phoenix flags, stamped feet and belted out chants, creating a real sense of occasion.
Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert described the atmosphere as "electric" and said the club would like to return for a league match. Yesterday, that wish became a reality.
Both sides will met in a full A-League match on December 14 at the venue.
"Dunedin getting this game against competition from Australian venues is a reward for the incredible support we received on our first visit to the city earlier this year," Herbert said.
"It was humbling to have 15,000 fans turning out to support us and we are looking forward to playing in such a great atmosphere again. Hopefully, with a reversal of the August result."
Dunedin Venues Management Ltd chief executive David Davies also welcomed the news warmly.
"We're very pleased, obviously," Davies told the Otago Daily Times.
"We certainly hope it will become a regular event. We wouldn't be doing it if we thought it was going to be a travelling circus.
"As with all of things, a lot of it comes down to making sure the tickets are sold. But we think there is an appetite in the city and that is why we have been awarded the game."
The game is being staged midweek, so realistically a crowd of 15,000 would be a stretch. Davies is targeting a crowd of about 10,000.
"For the league that is still a good crowd for a midweek game."
The Phoenix is expected to arrive in the city three or four days earlier to promote the game.
