The Wellington leg of the World Rugby Sevens Series is just three weeks away, yet only 1300 tickets have been sold for the two-day event. Does New Zealand just not care about rugby sevens?
The sevens series has ballooned in popularity over the past few years, heading to more countries, with participation rates on the rise all around the world.
But it seems New Zealand have gone the opposite way.
While the Kiwis have always had a leg on the series tour, a once sold-out crowd nearly every year has turned into a dampening emptiness of spare seats.
Westpac Stadium in Wellington has a capacity of 34,500 yet, as mentioned, only 1300 of those seats have been sold for this year’s event so far, an embarrassing figure for the organisers.
It’s not a one-off either. Even last year they only produced 15,000 fans – less than half the stadium’s capacity.
Hospitality New Zealand Wellington regional manager Dylan Firth was realistic in his assessment of the current state of the tournament.
“The event is not as huge as it once was, so people are not putting any investment into it,” Firth told Stuff.
Wellington Sevens general manager Steve Dunbar tried to be positive about the situation, but there’s a hint of desperation in his hopes.
“Each year we listen to fans and to change the market approach,” he said.
“We are doing all we possibly can. I hope people come out and have a good time.”
In contrast, the South African leg of the series saw 50,000 people fill Cape Town Stadium on both days of the tournament. That was just four weeks ago, so it’s not like the sport as a whole is slipping in popularity.
On top of that, the opening leg of the 2016-17 series in Dubai saw a record-breaking 100,000 fans walk through the gates to witness the action. This in a nation with a limited rugby history – or market, for that matter.
So what’s the go with New Zealand, arguably the best rugby nation on the planet?
The New Zealand sevens side are the most successful in the competition’s history, and by a large margin as well, winning 12 of the 17 series since its inception back in 1999.
However, they’ve fallen behind as of late, making way for a dominant Fiji side that have won the last two series back-to-back, relegating the Kiwis down to third in the process.
If I was a pot stirrer, I might say they don’t care because they aren’t winning, so they stick with the 15-man game. But I’m not, so I won’t.
At the end of the day, it’s a disappointing look for New Zealand rugby and the players themselves, who’ve always been so successful in the game.
woodart
Guest
wellington sevens was a huge success until the cops stepped in and convinced the organisers that partying fans wernt needed. about five years ago they had a rethink and told us(the people who pay the bills) that rugby was more important than partying. combined with that arogant attitude was a hoisting of prices by many welly accomadation providers, and a general disatisfaction of the food and drink provided by the caketin. all those things happened just before league came up with their 9s which were scheduled about two weeks before welly. a perfect way to phuck up a great event . moving it to somewhere else wont matter if they repeat the same mistakes.
BrainsTrust
Guest
Thats show me to no one in NZ really understands the appeal of Sevens. NZ is one only team, pacific islands have multiple teams, make the tickets cheaper and put it in Auckland. The reason rugby league 9;s work in Auckland is all the Kiwis and Pacific islanders in rugby league. 200K is a piddling amount, to keep it in Wellington, thats only 1500 tickets. AFL got paid 600k to play there by the same council not as much as Beckham but still plenty. The beauty of NZ is also the AFL doesn't control the place and the media so they revealed the truth about the AFL match there. They got a crowd about 13k only half of whom paid for tickets.. The council got told they would bring in 20 times that 600k into the Wellington econony and they believed them. If you look at the economic modelling the Tasmanian government received from some consultancy I think they told them they would get about 17000 tourist spending about 3000 each in Tasmania or about 50 million.They then had an expose from someone claiming only 200 people travelled from interstate for one of the matches. I would think for the AFL they would have been lucky to get 500 travelling to nZ for the match. To be more sensible just say each person that travels for the rugby sevens spends 1000 in Wellington. If they get 3000 travelling and staying in Wellington for the event that is 3 million to the local economy. so while its not the AFL fantasy figure of 20:1 its 15:1 so its not a bad spend. There are not many sevens events in the region there is Sydney l, rugby league 9's is a one off, that would attract tourism, the AFL match however you would think even AFL fans in other parts of NZ could fly over to Australia to watch their home team in preference.
ClarkeG
Guest
to Savage - yes I thought it was quite good, mens and womens. Was it any better than the world series or other competitions? - well I'm not sure to be honest as that question had not crossed my mind but then you could ask that question of any Olympic sport. And the answer is ...does it matter. Was the athletics better than the previous World Champs.. .was the swimming better than the last World Cup...who knows. Would you have your mind blown away if you watched 7s now...hmmm...probably not because I think your mind is pretty much made up but if you had watched the Olympics mens final you would have seen a simply outstanding Fijian team. If you can make it clearer by drawing a picture then by all means as I am struggling to see your point to be honest other than you just don't like sevens ... and if that is the case then that is ok.
RugbyLover
Guest
We all hope that happens Katipo. The sooner the better. Please please take it off us... for the good of us all... please.
RugbyLover
Guest
What would the picture look like?
Katipo
Guest
@Savage. Each to their own, as you say. Personally I'm loving the Sevens. I gotta say I am more excited by the Sevens series than Super Rugby to be honest. So many great players on the circuit now from Perry Baker to Axel Muller to Dan Bibby to Virimi Vakatawa. The athletic talent is amazing. And plenty of nations who can win a tournament. It's highly competitive. I love it. The only downer is Wellington...
Katipo
Guest
The NZRU are to blame too for being so stubborn. The tournament should have moved to another city years ago. They declined to make the move. Their responsibility. Now I think the best move is to another country. I hope the tournament is taken away from NZ completely and given to an emergent nation that cares about Sevens.
watcher
Guest
The Wellington 7's are a bit like a one day cricket game. Some are there for the game, a lot are there for the partying. Once things got a bit out of hand drunkedness wise and it wasn't family friendly anymore. So families and rugby fans pulled the pin. The organisers have tried to harden up on the drinking so the party animals pulled the pin. So the ticket sales are where they are. The organisers are to blame for short term profit (drinking) over long term success of the tournament.
SAVAGE
Guest
Good on Fiji for winning the Gold Medal, but seriously, you tell me since you obviously watched the comp in the Olympics........was it any good? Was it any better than the world series that went on before the Olympics, or any competition in the past? Is it any better now as a spectacle? Would I have my mind blown away if I decided to sit and watch 7s now? Each to their own, I'm over it as a game and a spectacle. There, does that clear it up for you? Or would you like me to draw you a picture?
piru
Guest
..... it's an Olympic sport
Bakkies
Guest
Perth did bid for it a few years back
Jerry
Guest
No, not really. The 7's was a party, but they wanted it to be a family event. But It's too long and too late to take young kids to, so families don't want to go.
piru
Guest
Different sports with different objectives. 9s is a league promotion 7s is a standalone sport
piru
Guest
They haven't brought it west yet, arguably the best climate for 7s rugby in the world
clipper
Guest
Still a shame though - thought there was talk of a world class stadium at Denarau - which would be even more likely now after the Olympics. I'm sure they would pull in a lot of tourists as well.
clipper
Guest
just wait until 12 years! Also Auckland is far bigger than Wellington, which often struggles to get a crowd to anything.
Big Marty
Guest
Yeah well said Kirky 7s is a nothing sport that even most rugby fans don't care about let alone anyone else. Summer should be about spending time at the beach or watching cricket. Rugby should not be played at this time of year especially this Mickey Mouse version.
Big Marty
Guest
It is being compared to League because they also have a similar version with the NRL nines. I would hardly say 7s is booming worldwide. fans only turn up for the party nothing else. The rugby is a sideshow that people quickly lose interest in. 7s has always failed in Australia and is dead as a door nail in NZ. To think it is a huge sporting event is laughable and delusional
ClarkeG
Guest
NZ Womens 7s won the silver medal at the Olympics.
Tigranes
Guest
I think what was wrong with Olympic 7s as far as NZers are concerned is that they didn't win a medal. I reckon Fiji would do a better job than Wellington, but they don't have the infrastructure there.