AUT hosts Auckland FC
AUT and the Trans-Tasman Business Circle (TTBC) recently co-hosted an event for representatives from Auckland’s business, cultural and sporting communities, where the powerful story of Auckland FC’s rapid rise to success was shared by the club's CEO, Nick Becker, and Director of Football, Terry McFlynn.
Fittingly titled, ‘From Zero to Kick-Off: How Auckland FC Built a Club from Ground up’, the event offered an inside look at how the club achieved a level of success in its debut season that many thought impossible.
When the journey began, Auckland FC had no players, no stadium, or even a single football. Yet in less than a year, the city’s first A-League team in 17 years made history by winning the A-League’s Premier’s Plate.
Nick and Terry described how challenging perceptions, reimagining the game-day experience with a family focus, and daring to do things differently became the key to their success on and off the pitch - in both securing the Premier’s Plate and winning the hearts of thousands of Aucklanders.
They told the story of how a bold, community-first strategy proved that Auckland was crying out for a football club it could call its own.
“It’s a story we never get tired of telling to be honest, and one we love to share,” says Nick Becker.
“Thank you to AUT and the Trans-Tasman Business Circle for providing us the platform to tell it.
"The event created a lot of great discussion and conversation. And a lot of chat about what season two looks like for us and how we replicate the success of season one.
“Fortunately, we’ve had a long off season which gives us a lot of time to prepare, so we're feeling confident and ready to go to keep delivering for fans and for the city.”
TTBC Chief Executive Sharron Lloyd says, “At the Circle, we believe New Zealand needs more of the bold ambition shown by Auckland FC. Their journey is a story of vision, leadership, and community connection, and it was a privilege to share it alongside our valued partners at AUT.
“Now in our 35th year, the Circle continues to be the region’s foremost stakeholder engagement platform, bringing leaders together across sectors and borders to share ideas, explore challenges, and build enduring partnerships. Last night’s event was a wonderful example of the impact these conversations can have.”
AUT Vice-Chancellor Professor Damon Salesa says, “The event’s theme told a powerful story; one of vision, determination, and building something new and meaningful in New Zealand’s largest city.
“The way the club and its team accomplished what they did in their inaugural season has captivated the media and the public on both sides of the Tasman and transformed the football landscape in New Zealand.
“At AUT, we’re proud to have been Auckland FC’s official education partner since its inception and to support a club that reflects many of the values we hold as a university - opportunity, excellence, and connection.
“Our partnership is built on shared purpose. AUT is widely recognised as New Zealand’s leading university for sport and sports science. Through AUT Millennium, we support high-performance athletes, world-class research, and the development of future leaders in sport, health, and human performance. Our reputation in this space is also built on decades of working alongside - and deep connection with - a wide range of New Zealand’s high-performance sports organisations.
“It’s also why so many of our alumni are already part of the Auckland FC journey. They are a wonderful example of AUT’s great graduates making their mark in high performance sport.”
As a university that is globally known for excellence in sport and recreation, AUT offers world-class research, facilities and expertise that create valuable opportunities for students, staff and Auckland FC players alike. We’re proud to be the home of New Zealand's top sport and fitness facility, AUT Millennium, and SPRINZ, the country’s leading sports research institute. Our School of Sport and Recreation is one of the largest in New Zealand, with over 1,000 students, including 100+ research students and internationally renowned researchers who work with athletes and organisations around the world.