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.
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.
Go the Tahs!
CG2430
Guest
This. We got a pre-season trial at Newy last year (against Otago?) but apparently contractual obligations prevent them from playing competition matches there. Shame - I'm do more than the odd trip or two (on the tediously slow train) down and back each year.
Lindsay Amner
Roar Guru
I lived close to the centre of Sydney for the last few years and always bemoaned the fact that I had to travel out to Homebush. The problem wasn't so much the travel, as the complete lack of anything to do around the stadium. An early mistake I made was to attempt to stay out at Homebush and have a few after match quieties after the game finished about 10.30pm. We did manage to find a spot in a hotel bar at about 11pm, fairly soulless and barren, but by the time we left at 12.30ish, trains and buses were pretty much finished. So we looked for a taxi back to town. We joined the queue of about 200-300 people and waited as one taxi turned up every ten minutes or so. Two hours of waiting turned me off ever going to a game out there and doing anything other than leaving immediately. At least at Allianz you can walk a couple of hundred metres and you're in the middle of a terrific atmosphere on Oxford St with the bars and cafes of Paddington right at hand. The real problem with ANZ Stadium is the lack of any decent entertainment setup. Great stadium, but terrible for afterwards. I won't miss it.
tim
Guest
Since they're the New South Wales Waratahs, not the Sydney Waratahs, why not host a game or two in Newcastle or Wollongong, etc? If Allianz Stadium wants to play hardball, ANZ Stadium would accommodate most games and the rest could be sell-outs, which would maintain or potentially increase revenue. And regarding home town advantage, a side flying from South Africa isn't going to want to get on another long flight or bus.
Breakdown
Guest
It's full strength beer! For me the Waratahs are leaving the west high and dry and all to play a couple more games at the SFS. It was only 2 games a year. That's not too much to ask.
qwas
Guest
I sympathise with what you're saying but the cost of half strength beer and the weak atmosphere out at homebush mean that I'm stoked with this decision.
Bakkies
Guest
Parra but 45,000 vs 25,000 when money is tight is a big hit.
Bakkies
Guest
The Tahs blew an opportunity to expand the fan base. The Reds seem to be only Rugby body in Australia that knows a thing or two about marketing and what has worked overseas when games have gone to bigger venues
chris
Guest
Sydney has too many codes and too many stadiums. You built Concord just after a nice new Parramatta then ditched it for the SFS 2 years later and then at that time you were rewarded the Olympics you set about planning to build another white elephant
mattocks
Guest
Heres an idea, Move to melbourne. Richmond station easy to get to from anywhere in melbourne, and from more distant places as well. A short walk to AAMI stadium which I reckon is the best rugby ground in oz. And when you get there you can watch a team on the rise. The mighty melbourne rebels Then after the game it's a quick ride home or a short walk to the city if you feel like it Happy days
ncart
Roar Rookie
What other Western Sydney venues are suitable for rugby other than ANZ (which I understand to be a poor venue for watching rugby btu well located for people in the West)? Could the Penrith or Parramatta NRL stadiums be used to cater for the West?
Mr Mac
Guest
And ... after kids! When you get to my age the beers do not matter all that much but the traffic and ease of access do. ANZ wins all round - what with trains to the door & escalators instead of stairs. BTW why are the AFL & Soccer investing in new teams out west while we see such poor press for rugby at Penrith. Something is not right in rugby thinking.
Michael Essa
Roar Guru
that sounds like me before i had kids! ANZ is not great no... i prefer watching at the SFS definitely... as i've mentioned i'm happy to get to 2 matches a year at the sfs but any more than that is just a stretch. i reckon there must be many like me.
Michael Essa
Roar Guru
Yes but that wasn't available at the beginning of the season... I think they put that up to get memberships half way through the season... not great because the sunday family game days are early in the season.... what i'm asking is that we get a chance to purchase a paltinum 2 game membership from the get go... my wife acrually gets us a family memebership for xmas.... we don't want to watch the game from under the posts as well so its got to be a platinum option... i like my good seats... and as i mentioned in the article I can only committ to 2 games now they're all at the SFS... there must be others like me out there. trying to get the idea out there.
Lindommer
Guest
Michael, I also live in the Blue Mountains and am a rusted-on Tahs supporter. But I won't miss the annual round matches at Homebush (but look forward immensely to watching the final with 62,000 others!). ANZ's a very poor ground for spectators as the ground's too far away and the stands are much too shallow. Added to the viewing experience I'm part of group of rugby aficionados who meet up at local pubs in Surry Hills/Darlinghurst before Tahs matches to enjoy a few decent beers and a feed. In fact, this year we entertained a group of Rebels supporters in Surry Hills at an excellent pub before catching the train out to Homebush. Sydney Olympic Park is very poorly set up for traditional rugby pre-match socialising if you don't want to go to a restaurant; it doesn't have a decent pub with decent beer. Yes, I agree for some of us Homebush is more convenient to get to, but it's an unpleasant place to watch and enjoy rugby. However, if future Tahs matches are scheduled for Homebush I will, of course, be there to watch them.
Michael Essa
Roar Guru
read the article... this is not about that... however as you've mentioned public transport... what was wrong with catching the train to Homebush.... just need to use public transport.. shock horror
ncart
Roar Rookie
Michael, this makes sense as the Reds have lots of flexible packages - packages for just the games against Kiwi teams (Chielfs and Hurricanes) etc so I just went to the Waratahs membership site and according to it they have a 2 game package called '2 Game Flexi General Admission' this year for use at either stadium. What makes you think they won't have it next year?
Tah Mate
Guest
Maybe people will have to use public transport - Shock Horror !!
Michael Essa
Roar Guru
i hope you're right
Michael Essa
Roar Guru
just take out a second mortgage on your house and enjoy yourself i say...i'll have 2 beers and a feeling of guilt please!
Michael Essa
Roar Guru
go the tahs!