Otago United coach Terry Phelan has jokingly suggested his side should change its name to Nomads as the football club prepares to play its home matches at Sunnyvale this season.
Shunted back and forth from the Caledonian Ground to Carisbrook, to Tahuna Park and now Sunnyvale, you could not blame Phelan for feeling a bit disoriented.
"We even did our pre-season camp at Wanaka, but that really is too far for supporters to travel," quipped Phelan.
However, it was just another small obstacle which he hoped to make into a stepping stone.
"Our players know Sunnyvale, but visiting sides that are used to playing in modern enclosed grounds with grandstands etcetera might be a little put off by playing on a public park. That will suit us," Phelan said.
Otago United chairman Dave Lamont said scheduling conflicts and track maintenance were the main reason behind the shift from the Caledonian to Sunnyvale.
The Caledonian running track will be relaid in January, and with athletics having first use of the facility during the summer months, United has had to find another location, he said.
"Athletics use the track on Saturday and for us to play there on a Saturday we would have to kick off at 6pm, but then the teams can't get [a flight] out."
Lamont said New Zealand Football was not prepared to fund overnight stays and Otago United was not in a position to pay for visiting teams' accommodation.
Sunday games were not an option, either, because of scheduling conflicts. Carisbrook was also on the outer, mainly because it was more expensive to hire.
But also, with United attracting small crowds of between 500-1000, the feeling was the venue was too big and lacked atmosphere.
"Our crowds were worse at Carisbrook than they were at the Caledonian."
Sunnyvale had a better feel for families with its grass embankment, he said. It also had good car parking and there were facilities to sell food.
"We just felt that was the way to go for this year. If it is successful we will be bettered positioned to have a crowd to take back to Carisbrook or, preferably to the Caledonian."
