The first Test at the Gabba has set a new trans-Tasman attendance record for the venue, despite stands being empty and fans sparse.
Day four of the clash attracted just 6,608 cricket supporters, largely due to showers that meant only 53 overs of play was possible.
The crowd over the first four days totalled 52,199.
The highest attendance for a trans-Tasman Test at the venue had previously been 52,082 – in 2004.
The first day was the best attended, when 16,181 came to the ground.
To put the numbers in a different context, AFL club Brisbane managed to draw a bigger crowd to eight of their 11 games in 2015.
The Lions finished second last on the ladder, winning just four games for the season.
It shows just how low-drawing a side New Zealand are, while the unusually early date for the first Test has also been a source of frustration for Cricket Australia and Queensland Cricket.
“We would rather be a week later,” CA chief executive James Sutherland recently told ABC radio.
“Without going into all the intricate details, the dates for the World Twenty20 (in March 2016) … had been pushed to an earlier time.
“That just squeezed us back into this first week of November.
“(Melbourne) Cup week is difficult … to create the noise and anticipation about it is very difficult.”
Nonetheless, it’s understood Cricket Australia’s promotional spend on the Gabba Test was relatively small compared to the funds being invested in other fixtures.
The absence of a tour game in Brisbane meant the Black Caps arrived the week of the game and captured little local interest.
Ticket prices was the explanation that most Twitter users gave for the modest turnout.
Regardless of the reasons, the empty stands were an unsightly backdrop to the contest between Australia and New Zealand.
Plenty of pundits bemoaned the modest turnout, many opining that it showed the need for players to embrace day-night Tests.
“The crowds for this Test are consistent with our forecast,” a CA spokesperson said.
“However, in saying that, we always want more people through the gates and anticipate that to be the case during the next two Test matches.”
Ticket sales for the day-night clash at Adelaide Oval, which will feature the controversial pink ball, are at Ashes levels according to CA.
FIRST TEST CROWD
Day 1 – 16,181
Day 2- 14,187
Day 3 – 15,223
Day 4 – 6,608.
H Parsons
Guest
Agreed - warm mid-strength beer no spirits or wine, surly attendants, outrageous food prices, and having to walk a mile to get / exit taxis, all reasons I stopped attending 6 years ago. Used to love rums at the cricket - no fun at sport anywhere in the 'Nanny State' Grumpy middle aged man.
AR
Guest
Agreed. Don't expect any more than 60k to Boxing Day, and it will fall away quickly after that. I have a feeling Australians will be getting their cricket fix from the BBL this summer.
sham
Guest
Will be interesting to see who turns up to the boxing day test. It will be a sad test that will show how far the Windies have fallen. From a cricket perspective it will hold little interest but people will turn up as it is an event. What worries me is what happens in 20 years? Will people keep turning up to watch Australia flog touring sides year after year after year.
Boomeranda
Guest
+1
AR
Guest
The game was over. Rain coming down and halting play. 6,608 doesn't surprise me one bit. I know I wouldn't have gone.
Matth
Guest
Hard to say as the bars and corporates were full. We were there and I must say $70 plus food for Dad and son made it a bit expensive. But people worrying about this crowd are being a bit silly. It was raining on Sunday and it was live in our living room. It is still the biggest crowd for NZ at the Gabba, so I would guess CA are actually pretty happy, especially as it has gone into Day 5 to a get a few thousand more in. Let's face it, we will sell out only for the Ashes. We will get a decent crowd for India because of the expats. For the rest you will see this type of crowd. It is not like Sydney and Melbourne where the tests are always in the school holidays. My kids are in the middle of exams and assignments and can't really afford a whole day at the cricket. But they can work at the dining room table and look at the TV every now and then. This makes the day night experiment a good thing. They will get a good crowd in Adelaide, and I would schedule one of these each non-ashes year.
Joey Johns
Roar Guru
It didn't take a rocket scientist to work out Yesterday morning that there wasn't much cricket to be played. I'd rather watch it in the dry comfort of my living room than get half of what I paid for.
Hayley
Guest
For the test match at the basin next year I can get a test match pass for around $90 and Im allowed to take my own food into the ground. Why is it so expensive over there?
P.Marlowe
Guest
I was there on Friday. That reported crowd figure of 14,000 seems a tad ambitious.
Paul
Guest
We saw this at the FFA Cup over the weekend as well. At first, the sight of empty seats at what should be well-attended sporting fixtures had me fearing for the economy, but turns out the pricing of the events was simply unreasonable. Comes down to the old 10,000 paying $40 or 40,000 paying $10 - bear in mind 40,000 people = more people needing food/drink, better atmosphere etc.
Albi Mangler
Guest
Ticket prices is definitely a factor but the Gabba does itself no favours with the food/drink prices and security fun police out in force. 10 years ago I could get a Test Match pass for 5 days for $130 and would go to most of the play. Now I can only attend 2 days for the same price. They need to make Day 4 or 5 $10 adult with children free.
bryan
Guest
Im of the personal opinion that ticket prices should be enough to cover the cost of using the ground, nothing more. It shouldn't be a revenue raiser. More important for the long term future of the game to get people to go.
josh
Roar Rookie
I was there on Friday. Tickets prices are a bit over the top. Anywhere in the upper sections are minimum $50. Coupled with price gouging for food and drinks prices. Saw almost $8 for a frozen fanta drink, $8 for mid strength schooners. Then, what usually happens is people leave the ground at lunch and head to the local pubs, where food and drinks are cheaper (or at least value for money) and don't come back rather watching it, in relatively air conditioned comfort. It was hot in the afternoon session. I think if CA go down the ECB trend, of bidding venues, they shooting themselves in the foot. One thing is we are limited with only 6 venues. But, then the cost of the bidding versus the actual gate takings will probably lead to lower overall takings, and reducing the income to the state associations. CA can’t really complain about attendance, when local advertising was pretty limited. Advertising for the series in general is limited, only real the Adelaide test is the one with all the hype. Also New Zealand have adopted their play for a draw approach, bar Williamson.
Pie Thrower
Guest
I love going to the first day of the Brisbane test regardless of who they are playing. This year - didn't go along. There was no advertising about it in the lead up to the test. None whatsoever. I couldn't really get any interest from mates to go along and watch the kiwis. But I think more than this - is the fact that the Brisbane test moves around within November so much. Unlike Sydney and Melbourne which have designated start dates which people can plan - it is impossible to make a yearly commitment to go along. (Oh and of course the fact ticket, food and drink prices are so high and you get growled at by security for doing anything during the dat - it isn't a pleasant experience at the game)
spruce moose
Guest
No surprise the NZ v SA series had smaller numbers. No one turns up to test cricket anymore in SA. Which is a true shame, because I'd go to Newlands for all 5 days in a heartbeat. Beautiful stadium with the worlds best view in the background
cantab
Guest
I've been to the last 4 NZ v Aust games at the Gabba (but could not make this one) It's sad that the crowd is always tiny and over half the stands are closed. Though It's good that this was a record crowd as it is against the trend of diminishing test crowds. NZ v SA test in SA saw even smaller numbers, however every T20 game sold out. It unfortunately provides some justification to cricket NZ cancelling the 3rd test (NZ home series) and replacing it with 3 ODI's.
Steve
Guest
I often wonder if people were around watching test cricket in the 80's and 90's. Nobody has ever turned up. I remember as a kid watching Brian Lara's 277 in Sydney along with about 16 other people. -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
bill
Guest
The match was over and the wather terrible yesterdays crowd was ok. Satursay a bit disapointing. Was there thursday and it was slow and turgid, hopefully day nights are a success
jamesb
Guest
Wow! Just 6,608 on a Sunday. Regardless of the weather and opposition, that's terrible.