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Bye-bye to ANZ for the Tahs

22nd May, 2015
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The Waratahs reckon they can still make a fist of 2017. (AAP Image/Daniel Munoz)
Roar Guru
22nd May, 2015
31
1387 Reads

It is with mixed feelings that I prepare to head to ANZ stadium on Saturday night to watch my beloved Waratahs take on the mighty Crusaders.

My mixed feelings have little to do with the fact that I have an inkling the Waratahs will not beat the Crusaders this time. For me going to the rugby is less about the result and more about the enjoyable experience. I am looking forward to the game win, lose or dra.

No, I have mixed feelings because this Saturday will mark an end to an era on two fronts.

This Saturday’s fixture at ANZ stadium will most likely be the last time Richie McCaw and Dan Carter play a Super Rugby match in Sydney. It’s unlikely they will be back here for a semi-final or for another final. I respect these two and will be watching them closely.

But what is really going to make me cry into my ridiculously over-priced beer on Saturday night is the knowledge that this fixture will be the last regular season game the Waratahs will play at Homebush, possibly forever.

As of next year the Waratahs will play all their regular season games at the SFS, a.k.a Allianz Stadium. There is nothing wrong with that except if you happen to be a Waratahs member with young children that also happens to live outside the Sydney area. In my case I travel in from the Blue Mountains and have two young kids.

For logistical and financial reasons the only realistic way to remain a member with a young family outside the Sydney area these past couple of years was to opt for the smallest four game membership package.

With two young children I have personally relied these past couple of years on attending the two Sunday afternoon games in Sydney per season. On these occasions you can take the kids with you and still get them back home at a reasonable hour.

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For the other two matches I have gone to the two evening fixtures at Homebush with the wife. I am old-fashioned in that I try to avoid taking kids to evening matches for all sorts of boring reasons. What I will say is that on these two occasions per season we’re happy to fork out for the expense of a babysitter. But that’s where we draw the line.

As of next year if we were to purchase the same package we will need to head right into the city centre four times a season. For us and I’d imagine many others that is starting to become a stretch. Travelling right into Moore Park only twice a year is more reasonable when you’ve got a long way to travel and kids.

This article is therefore really a plea to the people in power at the Waratahs to once again offer a two game membership package for members. Particularly for those of us that live outside of Sydney and/or have young children. This way we can stay members and go to the two Sunday afternoon games per season. For me that is a reasonable request and I hope this does not fall on deaf ears.

I don’t wish to play games of emotional blackmail but I know I personally will be relinquishing any future memberships unless a two game membership package is put back on the table. It can be done because we used to have the option of a two game package before 2014.

I know the counter-argument will be to simply go to the Sunday afternoon matches as a non member. I say it’s not the same special feeling you get when you get your decent seats, cap, sticker or ridiculous key-ring that you immediately throw away.

For some of us being a member is what ensures we can talk our wives into planning to go to at-least two games a season.

I can only hope sanity prevails now that ANZ Stadium is out of the equation.

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Go the Tahs!

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