I noticed that the last Chiefs game was played at Mt Maunganui. They also play home games in Rotorua, with Hamilton being their principle home. Why? Because they are all in the Waikato province.
It got me thinking, why don’t the Waratahs, who are supposed to represent NSW, only play at Sydney Football Stadium (sorry, they sometimes venture all the way to Homebush for the odd game also)?
There are obvious reasons to play in Paddington, and probably the main one being it is a large capacity ground close to the largest fan-base. This obviously can attract the biggest revenues.
However, the crowds at the SFS haven’t exactly been bursting the gates at Waratahs games in recent times.
This is no surprise, with recent seasons showcasing nothing but stifling and uninspired rugby as well as losing far more games than have been won. Hopefully coach Michael Cheika can remedy both of these problems soon.
Meanwhile, perhaps this can provide the perfect opportunity for the Waratahs to think a little outside the box by thinking outside Sydney.
I noticed that this year one of the poorest crowds recorded for a Tahs game turned out, albeit partly due to ugly weather, barely scraped 11,000 fans.
Why not take one of the seasons home games to a place like the Central Coast, Coffs Harbour or even Dubbo?
These places may not be by themselves heartlands for rugby but surely a Super Rugby game could be marketed to draw fans from the surrounding areas.
Please correct me if I’m wrong, but I would guess some fans from Orange or Bathurst would venture to Dubbo or a Gosford game would attract some of the fans from the Hunter Valley and Newcastle.
These grounds have capacities over 11,000 so if the punters do turn up the ground would look packed, the atmosphere more exciting and the revenue would be comparable to a poor night at the SFS.
This revenue could possibly be made up by merchandise sales to a relatively new market.
Is the idea of venturing outside Sydney far-fetched?
Probably, especially considering that the NSW rugby aren’t currently known for their innovation or superior management, but it actually follows in line with the current top down strategy that the ARU seem to be adopting (not that I agree with it).
Wouldn’t it be great to see the Tahs actually spread their wings a little?
I would argue that NSW country rugby once held together the backbone of Australian rugby. Why not pay something back?
Bradley Reynolds
Guest
Mudgee has a purpose built stadium with all the mod cons for holding major events. The stadium surface is second to none and was shown in recent City vs Country 2012 and Parramatta vs Titans in 2013. The region has the ability of not just hold events but promote and run successful events. Have a look at the disaster at Coffs Harbour's match in 2013 which attracted little over 4,000 people. Mudgee has on of the oldest rugby clubs in Australia and has a proud history. Mudgee is becoming one of the best wine regions in Australia, which should be able to attract quite a number of people from Sydney. Just a thought
SonofaGun
Guest
So that brings you back to 1 in 10 (20% of 50 is 10)
Bakkies
Guest
Not when you have corporate boxes to fill. Games are already gone from the SFS to Homebush.
Billy Bob
Guest
Great, now all we need is someone to sign the cheque, make the phone call and book the stadium.
Murray
Guest
Dubbo has a ground that can hold about 18,000.- We held City Country League at 11,000 with lota of ground left It would be old school standing on the hills with a 1500 grandstand. The new surface is the equivalent to the good Sydney stadium surfaces if not better cause no shade from grandstands. Country areas could do with access to good sport and be good for Tahs to be among the grass roots - junior rugby numbers going really well at the mo in the Central West
Nostradamus
Guest
I think youll find half the Brumbies come from Qld usually. or are NSW rejects who suddenly find form in the capital - says something doesnt it.....
Nostradamus
Guest
Crusaders only played outside Cchurch when the stadium was broken...Doubt they will do it this year
Wal
Roar Guru
Yup and it is driven by the young ones. We often drive past Blue tongue when a Mariners game is on, and my 6 year old is already wanting (much to my disgust) to be a part of the atmosphere and have me take him to a game. Where as I took him to the Crusaders Tahs games last year and he still talks about it as the best experience of his life. The broblem being it cost his old man well over $100 in Fuel Parking and Tickets. At least he cheered for the right team!!!
Wal
Roar Guru
I like what the Blues are doing this year, rather than going out and trying to sign up a bunch of nearly retired stars. They are looking to build a team for the years to come. And if successful this does 2 huge things, the fans will follow players that they have watched develop and built and emotional attachment to and as the team improves with time the fans feel like they have been part of that process. We all love to go and watch a Isreal Falou or SBW but ask any Reds, Brumbies or Crusaders fan and they would put Genia, Ioani, Carter, McCaw, Mogg, Lealiifano as far more a valuable asset to their team. Case and point Ruben Thorne is a god in Canterbury. With instant success often comes instant failure.
Worlds biggest
Guest
Shop, a lot of NSW Rugby is marketing spin so you would think they would have the marketing component down pat. They need to take a leaf out of the Reds book. Jim Carmichael, McKenzie and Daniel Herbert have done a fabulous job re engaging with Qld Rugby supporters hence there 30,000 odd members. While they don't move games out of Brisbane it's something they too should consider given the size of the state. Back to the Tahs, I think Cheika gets it, he has spoken about engaging with the supporters. The players now all stay behind after home games signing autographs, chatting to the supporters as opposed to the poncy warm downs. The Tahs need to engage with there supporters throughout the State and moving a home game each year to a regional area is the way to go.
Wal
Roar Guru
Thats the one, they even changed the traffic lights in Dunedin to Blue Yellow and Maroon and some Farmer on the main Highway had his sheep make this masterpiece for the Crusaders team bus to drive past. http://cdn.3news.co.nz/3news/AM/2012/3/15/246675/go-otago.jpg?width=460 I would love a copy of the match, one of the best games of Rugby I have ever seen.
atlas
Guest
one of the NZRU's stated goals for next 3 years (incl winning RWC!) is to work towards increasing rugby interest in Auckland. There was a census in NZ last month be interesting when results are out; the previous 2006 one showed 37% of Auckland region inhabitants had been born out of the country, Akld city an 18.4% Asian-born population. Real challenges there introducing rugby. I have UK friends there now, they bought a four ticket Blues supporters pass for just NZ $65 each - forwarded me an email yesterday saying there is free ferry/rail/bus transport for card holders going to today's match, plus a free Blues supporters scarf for them at the ground. It may sound desperate - but at least they are making an attempt. They've had two approx 30,000 crowds this year.
Shop
Guest
That is something I never thought about Wal. If you were in the Tahs marketing group why wouldn't you be thinking - there are near 7 million people within a 300 km radius. How can we get a full stadium for 8 games per year? Taking the game to the is probably the best way to start.
atlas
Guest
12 clubs in Wairarapa-Bush* W-B play in the Heartland Competitions (Meads Cup and Lochore Cup), effectively NZ's 3rd and 4th division of provincial rugby, finished 3rd last year in Meads Cup All home games played in Masterton A new CEO last month, he starts with a Union debt of approx $100,000 - hard to get out of that one. *Pahiatua is Bush country - from 1890 -; Wairarapa and Bush merged in 1971
mania
Guest
wow, even jafa's cant be fkd with jafa's
Atawhai Drive
Guest
Wal, it always used to puzzle me when I would read about the poor crowds at Auckland (pre-Blues) matches in the 1980s and early 90s. That was a great Auks team, but the fans just didn't show up. I think the Blues got reasonable crowds in 1996-97, the first two years of their existence, but not so many now. Eden Park was and still is a dog, no matter how much money they've thrown at it. That Canterbury-Otago match you refer to _ was that the 1994 RS match in which poor old David Latta conceded a late and decisive penalty? I have a DVD of that match. The atmosphere was incredible.
Wal
Roar Guru
The other side effect would be more people from some of the closer regions may also come into Sydney for games at the SFS Newcastle Wollongong and Gosford is almost another million potential customers that might make the trip to the SFS for a match
Wal
Roar Guru
Probably a bit better marketing that to the eastern toffs,than a night on the pokies at gosford leagues
Wal
Roar Guru
Doesn't it some point become a use it or lose it situation, if less than 15,000 people are going to turn up to games then don't some others deserve a chance to show them up.
Wal
Roar Guru
Isn't a Queenslander? ;)