The New Year has arrived, the Test match is finished, and so I have been putting the sporting events into the diary for 2010.
During the delays and breaks at the Test, talk turned to the Super 14 and the Waratahs.
The consensus was that the Brumbies would pose the greatest threat to the Waratahs. “And it’s a home game for us. You beauty!”
“Not so fast ” quipped another, adding “I think they are taking it to ANZ! Contractual obligations!”
After a quick iPhone powered examination of the Tahs website, we discovered that the game was going to ANZ.
In allowing this farce to continue, NSW Waratahs management have ignored the remaining supporters who currently make it happen for them as well as those supporters who they hope will make it happen for them in the future.
The core Waratahs fans that remain have had their loyalty severely tested over the past few years. I don’t wish to relive these painful memories.
Let’s summarise them in two words: “Dunning” and “field goal” or “Winning” and “ugly” when all that resulted was “losing” and “ugly”.
The Waratahs have six home games: Sharks, Lions, Blues, Cheetahs, Hurricanes will play at SFS.
The Waratahs Vs Brumbies is the big game, the local derby, the grudge match, the one we all want to see, the one that can bring the crowds back, the one that can entice a new audience, has been unilaterally removed from the deal for the faithful who turn up each week to the SFS.
Who built them a $10m training and office facility? The Members. Who provides at least 7,000 supporters, or 30 percent of their dwindling total home crowd, to every game, win lose or draw? The locals and the members.
Worse still, there has been no offer to these supporters who have effectively paid for tickets to a game, only to have it moved.
There are very few supporters of any sporting team who, having bought a ticket, will buy a replacement ticket to the same game to go to a stadium that lacks both atmosphere and viewing quality.
Further, the new supporters, those in the famous western Sydney cohort that is yet to materialise in terms of actually turning up to games, get only one game.
Despite it being the contest of the season, these new supporters are expected to attend the game in the soulless, atmosphere “free” ANZ stadium.
The new supporters that turn up will also have to put up with arguably the worst stadium for rugby in the world while the acclaimed SFS sits empty. This is hardly the way to win over and build this audience. I expect a crowd of 30,000, and at this level, another own goal by the Waratahs management.
Disloyalty to these core and new supporters is a dangerous attitude for such a financially marginal team as the Waratahs.
But there is more.
1.The Waratahs have three trial matches. These have also been moved to Lismore, Orange and Canberra respectively. One or more of these games would be ideally suited to Parramatta Stadium and the new supporter base in Western Sydney.
2.The Waratahs core supporters will not have one local derby in 2010 at their home ground. The Force, the Reds and the Brumbies are all away!
3.The home Crusaders trial match has been cancelled.
4.The first three games are away games: two of which are in South Africa and played at inhospitable hours. The three month tournament will be almost a third completed before the Waratahs even get in front of their supporters in a home game.
5.If the Waratahs make a slow start to the season, the season will be financially doomed before a home game has even been played.
In conclusion, the Waratahs management have made and continue to repeat several fundamental mistakes:
1. They have lost focus on their core audience. Not addressing this audience’s needs when unilaterally moving the best games will further damage the Waratahs core support and be very expensive to rebuild.
2. They are chasing a new audience (Western Sydney) but with an inferior product and venue.
3. They have treated this new audience as “dumb” when in fact they are a very discerning audience who are spoilt for choice and used to good stadia like Penrith and Parramatta.
4. They are attempting to win over this new audience without investing in their tribal representatives in the Sydney Grade competition, Penrith and Parramatta.
5. I believe, but am happy to stand corrected that this contract with ANZ is for 10 years. Letting this contract to run in its current form could destroy the Waratahs completely.
I strongly suggest that the management return the shot gun approach to the gun cabinet and exchange it for the targeted rifle shot approach.
Vote for your preferred option in the poll below.
[poll id=”61″]
westy
Guest
Yikes whilst not the fault of NSWRU( and the parramatta club also bears some responsibility) Western Sydney should have only had one club.. Although with the benefit of hindsight this is what should have been micromanaged. Players produced in the region could have been given some incentive or points discount to stay in the region. What we have now is a possible middle class dogfight developing in the north west betweem Eastwood and Parramatta whilst penrith and the south west are left untendered. Training at Granville and playing alternate games at St marys and Granville could have worked. . Ypu can achieve artificial parity and development without money. So what if it would have overtly favoured the western Sydney team . "Home games each week" in Penrith and Parramatta. I know the two clubs would have rejected it but it was the way to go.
Rusty
Roar Guru
Have got to say as long term visitor that I agree that Homebush is probably one of the worst rugby stadiums I have ever been to. My top 5 would be as follows 1. Newlands - A 50k seething cauldron of people right on top of the field, place is very rarely short of atmosphere and the smell of the nearby brewery, biltong and braais all add to it. Parking can be a pain but the pubs and restaurants in the surrounds are also excellent for pre and post libation. Home town and home stadium, nuff said. 2. Millenium Stadium - Cracking atmosphere, welsh song, world class facilities, walking distance to local night spots in Cardiff. Jus tops 3. Old Landsowne Road - Bit of wind tunnel if you were on the hill but again amazing atmosphere a short walk from the city centre. Excuse the pun but superb craic with the locals afterwards. Only problem being, your guts run black for a week afterwards! Look forward to the new one 4. Twickenham - With the new south stand simply superb, excellent facilities, a lenient search policy and again amazing atmosphere during internationals with plenty of options for a tipple after. Have even been there for smaller games e.g. 7s, barbarians and it still seems initimate. My only gripe is the train back out to Richmond can get heavily congested 5. Suncorp - Recent Boks test was my first time and to put it simply - it shits all over Homebush in all facets So if you ask me the key things for a stadium as are as follows - atmosphere from numbers, crowd arrangement or stadium layout - ready availability to booze and ablutions as the latter generally follows the former in a rolling snowball fashion - easy transit in and out of the area and stadium - pre and post game venues for celebration/commiseration with all fans Having been to Homebush for the Tahs and Wallabies I found it meets zero of the above
Daniel King
Guest
Personally, i don't want 'Tahs membership and i'll only go to a few games per season...Brumbies would be the one but i'm not going out to that soulless cavern that is ANZ. There must be others like me.
sheek
Guest
Yikes, While I appreciate it's not the job of the NSWRU to run Penrith, it's also obvious (from what you say) the problems confronting the Emus overwhelm them. Those problems are clearly beyond the Penrith management. The NSWRU should do what the ARU did to them some 6-7 years ago, & run Penrith until such time as they can satisfactorally stand on their own feet. After all, you would expect NSWRU to have the necessary tools. Penrith & the greater west is too important to be lost to rugby union. NSWRU/ARU must do what's required to save the situation.
Justin
Guest
Is that all games at SFS? How much of your annual fee goes to NSWRU? I thought you were an SCG Trust member...
LeftArmSpinner
Roar Guru
but my mates and I have loyally continued to turn up despite these farces. many is the time that, at the final bell, we have just rolled our eyes, stretched our limbs and shaken our heads in disappointment, along with the other members untiol someone said "Oh well, I guess I will see you next week for more of the same rubbish!!!" then a good game comes along and we dont get a seat in an empty stadium!!!!!! frankly, as of today, I am seriously thinking of giving the Tahs away altogether and maybe supporting the Melbourne team. they appear to be making some exciting moves. Mitchell is a "goer." Waldron, McQueen, lookin good. Oh, and they will play in a purpose built, rectangular stadium!!!!!!!
LeftArmSpinner
Roar Guru
JB, thanks. also, it is a barometer on the interest that currently exists in rugby in western syd. parramatta are on the verge of closing the doors completely..................
LeftArmSpinner
Roar Guru
why not. i pay an annual fee that includes all waratahs games. but, look at it from the Tahs POV. why piss the members off? they are the ones going to the low qual games at SFS, Lions, Cheetahs etc. and its not as if there is a shortage of seats at homebush!!!! its empty. so another 5000 bums on seats helps improve the atmosphere.
LeftArmSpinner
Roar Guru
here here!
LeftArmSpinner
Roar Guru
as regards the west, surely there is enough good old western entrepreneurialism to make a rugby team successful. Where is the guy who grabs a Parramatta or Penrith or Pirates and takes them forward. Wow, it could be very special in both the syd grade and national grade comp. but dont call it 3rd tier. its rugby. fast, passionate, funny, exciting and very entertaining. Give me Vinny Byrne, The bus, the kennedy bro's, "Arrogant" Nick (super quick fullback at pirates), sons and nephews of famous dads at randwick, Berne, Nethery, Wright, Maxwell, etc.
LeftArmSpinner
Roar Guru
Sheek, correct. but only involving clubs that have got off their arses and built a proper, sustainable club for such a venture. In syd, only the mighty Syd Uni would qualify so the ranks are thin. according to those that know, it is about mgt. and that Uni's strength is that they are very well managed!!!!
Yikes
Guest
sheek, it's not for lack of trying. NSWRU does not run the Penrith club. At the end of 2009, Penrith's coaching staff and some senior players told the club that they wanted to move the club's training closer to the city (to Granville), possibly rebadge the club as the Western Sydney Rams, and start from scratch with a new management team chasing new sponsors, continuing to play out of St Mary's League's ground. The Penrith board said no. Accordingly the coach left, as will many players I fear, still supportive of rugby in the west, but disappointed at the way the club is run. I heard they might not even be able to play the whole 2010 season at St Mary's like they did in 2009. Another disaster, as it was the best ground in club rugby. The thing is - there has been a steady stream of financial and logistical support offered and provided to Penrith over the years from NSWRU. But they keep throwing it all away. What can you do? The problems of Penrith have been long documented (see an article that got some comment from Fab Fenton if I recall correctly). But is it really the NSWRU's job to micromanage a club? Wouldn't it hear howls of conflict of interest from the other clubs? And if NSWRU did step in and take over the club (somehow) what about the other 4 or 5 Premier clubs who are on the verge of being broke also?
sheek
Guest
JB, Well said. While it is not the fault of Sydney University itself, while they continue to fly high but represent no suburb or district, Penrith continues to grovel low, while representing one of the most massive youth catchment areas in Australia. How the NSWRU is able to allow this anomaly to continue unchecked defies my understanding of logic & wisdom.
sheek
Guest
Westy/Leftie, Which is why I have have reluctantly & finally realised there is no future for a national provincial comp. A national club comp -ARC - is the way to go. For example, both Brisbane & Gold Coast deserve a place at the national table. In Sydney, the situation is a bit more complicated. There are two traditional & one development, areas, that must be included in any national comp. The EAST & NORTH represent the traditional rugby areas of Sydney, while the WEST represents the necessary development area. Another thought - choice of grounds is critical to the future. How ironic that the purchase of Concord Oval all those years ago has been severely criticised ad nauseam, when in fact it was a very sound decision in principle. The real problem for Concord was a lack of developing parking areas. Maybe it could have been done, but the opportunity was lost long ago. Also, bear in mind, rugby union's woes 100 years ago had a lot to do with their inability to find secure grounds. When they did eventually make a purchase, it was seen as crudely extravagant! The NSWRU needs to look very carefully at entering into useful arrangements with ground owners/managers. Well, not only in Sydney, but all the major rugby centres.
sheek
Guest
Timmypig, This is a wonderful post. You have actually described the experiences of many rugby fans, & said what they also feel. Great stuff. In the late 90s, rugby was infiltrated by the cafe latte set, the networkers, the wowsers, the 'being seen is the important thing' wankers, etc, etc, etc. These people didn't care about rugby itself, it was merely a means to an end for them. Unfortunately, some of these people found their way into critical posts in the ARU, NSWRU, etc!!! I'm not talking necessarily of the CEOs & like, but those acting as a conduit between the movers & shakers & general public. Info back & forth hit a roadblock with these people.
sheek
Guest
Gee, I don't know about this. Back in the early 80s, when I was a young fella, I would make an effort every year (from Sydney) to get to one Brissie test, & sometimes a state match as well. Lunch at Brekkie Creek was a test Saturday tradition. Massive BBQ rump steaks & beer off the wood. Then walk to Ballymore, watch the game in wonderful surroundings, & drink on downstairs (back of stadium) afterwards. Can't remember how I ever got home though..........
rugbyfuture
Roar Guru
of course if you stay in the eastern suburbs its going to be an easy walk to the SFS, much like if you stay at the novotel homebush bay its an easy walk there, you can just as easily find a hotel on the other side of sydney even staying at the stanford at north ryde its easier to get to homebush, ps the train line does go from kings cross and it continues out to homebush. theres also less traffic there. as for the stadimum everone agrees but its merits are that it is easier to get to for those in western sydney and has the capacity. he isn't a member of the Waratahs he's a member of the SFS so its justifiable that he doesnt like it being at stadium australia because he doesnt get his priority seating.
Fragglerocker
Roar Rookie
Note: I'm a Brumbies Supporter I have to disagree with the move to Homebush, I know it seats more people but my two main problems with the move are the problems getting to the game and the stadium itself. I can't speak for those who drive up to Sydney for the game and drive straight back the same night, so I don't know about parking issues etc. However for people like myself who travel to Sydney and stay at a hotel or pub, Homebush is a difficult ground to get to. Even staying at a pub in the Cross, the SFS is walking distance, plus your back 'home' 15 minutes after the final whistle. As for the Stadium, Homebush is the worst rugby stadium in the world, and I've been to some shockers. It is an Olympic stadium, designed for oval sports and track and field, not for rugby and soccer. For rectangle-field sports there isn't a good seat in the house. The Millennium stadium in Cardiff seats almost as many (more if not for one end being chopped short so as not to hang over the Cardiff rugby ground next door) and doesn't have a bad seat. However I think the crowning blight in this matter is the treatment of regular season ticket holders. To move to another ground and not give season ticket holders (most of whom purchased tickets in good faith believing the home derby would be included) a ticket to the game is unforgivable. In my experience supporting the Brumbies, in some seasons I've found additional events and functions included free of charge that weren't even mentioned when buying my season ticket. Games that weren't included (such as finals) were clearly marked as not included before you paid for your membership.
Fragglerocker
Roar Rookie
Lefty, Your first selection of "two words" being "Dunning" and "field goal" brought back some painful memories best forgotten. I'm a passionate Brumbies supporter, but even I was tearing my hair out and shouting expletives watching that one. In that case my choice of two words would have been "Brain" and "Fart".
Pete
Guest
... and those of you in Eastern Sydney, just follow the blue line on the road... you'll get there eventually and enjoy one hell of a pub crawl!