If a tree falls... Wallabies win but Gold Coast ignores Test clash with Pumas

my brother is a regular there; free bus and train with a season ticket for Blues - no parking hassles. The Park managed ok at RWC, encouraging people to use the public transport systems which were greatly upgraded for that event, and remain in place now. It hosted it's first rugby test in 1921. How do you get your 5km? It is only 3km from Auckland's CBD.

It's the All Blacks' fault. ARU's Bill Pulver Hit hard by slumping crowds, the Australian Rugby Union has admitted the Wallabies' Eden Park nightmare has taken the ''wind out of our sails''. The All Blacks' 51-20 demolition of Australia three weeks ago also appears to have taken a significant number out of their ticket sales in ensuing Perth and Gold Coast tests. ARU chief executive Bill Pulver admitted the drop-offs, which also occurred in Brisbane and Melbourne in the June series against France, were a major concern to the cash-strapped code. However, what momentum that built up following seven straight wins and then a 12-12 draw against New Zealand in Sydney was lost once Australia forfeited the Bledisloe Cup for the 12th straight year in forgettable scenes in Auckland. ''I think that game at Eden Park, because we all felt we were in with a serious opportunity, took the wind out of our sails a little bit,'' Pulver said. Despite the weekend's paltry crowd, Cbus Super Stadium is currently pencilled in to host Argentina again in 2018 as the last game in a three-Test agreement. But the ARU says Gold Coast, to host the world sevens series next month, is in danger of losing future international rugby events, especially if they don't pack their 27,000-seat stadium.

Ah Midfielder you really do love manipulating the facts. So when we compare week 1 of NRL finals to week 1 of AFL finals (not the big win of week 2 AFL to week 1 of NRL) on FTA we see the following: NRL Fri FTA (Nine & GEM) 869k AFL Fri (7 & 7mate) 889k Sat Arvo 780k AFL 712k Sat Nite 747k AFL 856k Sun 745 AFL 743k NRL total 3143 million AFL 3200 million So not the big win hey Midfielder as you like. Pretty good from the NRL with all the so called doom & gloom. Now if you want to add Fox Footy figures, which would be unfair as the NRL doesn't have the luxury, you may have a point but that would be an unfair comparison as it is unfair to compare week 2 AFL finals ratings with Week 1 NRL finals..

Good points Old Bluey. Scheduling could not be moved much - maybe to a Friday night or day game. Three things come together to make it hard for Rugby as things stand now... 1. The product - stulfifying stoppages while refs lecture experienced forwards, way too many rules around scrums/rucks/mauls - fans increasingly won't pay money to see 65mins of rugby in 80mins.The IRB has got to move on this or they'll lose fans and income globablly. 2. Marketing - The ARU's budget is not being spent well - They've failed to use radio spots (least expensive for best reach) which can create excitement, atmosphere and reach people who otherwise may not be aware of game details (and there appear to be many, also with the NRC, who are not being reached). 3. Radio - Free editorial opportunities on radio news broadcasts with a little imagination and initiative to dig up interesting stories on players, clashes, fitness/or not et al. But it must be done consistently...particularly for breakfast news broadcasts when audiences are largest. Jack.

I think the crowd issue is due to many factors but here's my two cents worth: 1) The Gold Coast is a hard sell - to most footy codes, as well as next years Commonwealth Games apparently. 2) It appears these days people would prefer to sit in their lounge rooms and watch it on their massive TVs and channel surf while they are it. 3) I think the 'Wallaby product' has lost it's gloss when they play about 15 tests a year. Is it so special to see them play anymore ? 4) The game is bagged from pillar to post for not 'being entertaining' and 'difficult to understand'. It receives negative press from most media outlets obsessed with promoting and protecting their codes like NRL and AFL which attract the bigger advertising dollars and pay the wages. I like what I see in the NRC rules, to make it more attractive, so hopefully something comes of this at a higher level but I wouldn't hold my breath with the IRB.

Sorry Jack, but when schoolboy and club rugby illustrate better and more consistent skills then these alleged professionals why would anyone shell out a $100+ ? Even under12's are more entertaining to watch!

The point is, despite NZ having one-fifth of the population that Australia does, rugby’s the national sport across the ditch. I understand there are challenges in NZ (not to mention most rugby markets across the globe), but the fact that rugby is very much a mainstream sport and has a religious-like following gives you a distinct advantage when compared to a market like Australia. Of course it’s not the only reason rugby appears to be struggling in Australia, but the ARU needs to address it’s almost invisible presence on our landscape to start making some inroads.

From what I heard Rugby clubs have struggled to get in to Brentford and Craven Cottage due to having extra crowds in those areas which disrupts traffic and requires police. The Beehive is a no go as the AP has a capacity requirement and LI's heartland is in the south west. I couldn't imagine the council approving another stadium development after granting Sarries Copthall. That's why London Welsh are playing in Oxford instead of Old Deer Park. LI are actually moving their base up the road from Sunbury. There is a stadium near Barnet called Allianz Park I am not sure why Barnet FC think that they can get a stadium built there. Sarries had to jump through hoops to get Copthall. Hence the Aths track and temp stands. They were talking about going to Regents Park before that got approval. Wasps train in Acton so it was natural for them to get in to a stadium near there.

Does the AFL have 90 odd professional clubs?

Not at all Rob, just think that if you're looking for solutions, know what the problem is.

Fair point Jack.

Eden Park was built in a residential area in 1900 when I take it that cars weren't around in NZ at the time.

Has the ARU ever considered the 'loss leader' notion. Reduce ticket prices, free tickets for children under 12 et al? Get new people in to watch, improve the basic skill sets of the WBs and schedule games at better venues, with more thought to clashes with other events may help to get new viewers in. Rugby clubs also have to be taught to interact with their local communities a little better to get more youngsters and their parents involved. Ticket prices are a short term strategy which have to be run in conjunction with others. Mainstream media is another problem and one of the better ways of addressing this is to start spending money in the media. You advertise with them, they will give you more exposure. Something rugby desperately lacks.

Jack - As far as the Gold Coast as a city is concerned I could not possibly live there because it is just so ugly,third world Dubai style horror story modern architecture destroying the seafront, and then you drift inland and it gets even worse an aesthetic nightmare until you get to the hinterland were natural beauty finally gives the brain a chance to escape from the ghastly ugly world below. Sure it has got surf beaches but Australia has thousands of miles of them and most Gold Coast beaches are pretty bland actually,Coolangatta is the pick of it.

A few issues here firstly the location.Rugby in Australia is really a Sydney Brisbane game because that is where most of the Rugby playing Schools are concentrated so that is where most of the games supporter base live, the game would have pulled at least double that crowd at Lang Park.Sure there are pockets of support in provincial cities and regional towns but the pockets are pretty small. Secondly Argentina are yet to capture the imagination of the sporting public even some hardcore Rugby people find it hard to get excited when we play them, we need to lose to them a few times to get people really interested in them.Remember back in the seventies Sydney people had lost all interest in interstate Rugby League and even in the early days of origin they were at best lukewarm about the concept.It took Queensland beating them a few times to get them interested and the same applies to Argentina. Thirdly September is a bad time of the year in Australia for obvious reasons,the casual sports fan who might otherwise watch is busy elsewhere and media coverage is hard to get.There is not much the ARU can do about the last two factors but test matches should be played in Brisbane or Sydney unless you are talking about New Zealand which might be worth taking to Melbourne or Perth

And the uk equivalent of afl? None. And don't say football we have that here too

Real hero

Why would you go pay good money late at night in the rain when you could watch it in your warm home with more atmosphere. plus the league games were fantastic as well as the afl. Scheduling by the aru is pathetic.

Its really that simple, I should be the marketing manager

Clueless I was born in post code 2025 and have lived/worked in NYC, Hong Kong and Dubai but choose to live on the Gold Coast Next time you are on the GC, try leaving Cavill Mall