The Current State of Rugby
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@Bones said in The Current State of Rugby:
@mariner4life said in The Current State of Rugby:
@Crucial the fanbase of the North Queensland Cowboys calls bullshit
You talking about attendance? Is Townsville similar to Dunedin or is it more like Otago in size?
Population is about 50k more than Dunners if Wiki is to be believed.
In perspective if 1 in 20 of those extra folk attend a game thats another 2.5k bums on seats -
My point was large numbers of fans from Cairns and Mackay and Mt Isa, all basically four hours from Townsville, travel regularly for cowboys games.
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@Steve said in The Current State of Rugby:
This argument of TV money vs bums on seats balancing out surely has more nuance to it.....
The Heineken cup (or whatever it is called now) up North has a sense of occasion about each game.
The stadiums have atmosphere and are generally rammed.
Seeing Danes Coles run on for his final home game to 12 people and a dog is just deflating.
The optics are terrible.
I find it jarring when I watch the highlights and the commentator be it an Aussie or Kiwi is trying to give the viewer a gee up "week 11 in super rugby and its a top of the table clash between Brumbies and Chiefs".....cuts to two teams running out to a handful of people. It's all quite odd.
It seems unsustainable to me. If the locals are that disenfranchised. Either its too expensive, on at inconvenient times, or people don't care enough any more. And that should worry the various Unions and Authorities involved.
Yes, great points. Population is one factor, but the main difference is that the supporters want to go to the games / the occasion. It's a completely different mindset.
For those that disagree, could you please tell me why Im watching an Auckland / Canterbury semi-final in the main domestic competition in front of a non sold out small stadium?
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@mariner4life said in The Current State of Rugby:
My point was large numbers of fans from Cairns and Mackay and Mt Isa, all basically four hours from Townsville, travel regularly for cowboys games.
In Ozzie that's a small trip, in NZ that's a weekend away
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@mariner4life said in The Current State of Rugby:
My point was large numbers of fans from Cairns and Mackay and Mt Isa, all basically four hours from Townsville, travel regularly for cowboys games.
That makes it much easier to understand.
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Ok I have a smile. posters saying the crowd looks terrible on tv, you realise you are the reason that crowds look no good on tv, while sitting at home watching the game? But it's the world we live in most of us can't be buggered getting off our arse and going to things. So only measure then becomes who watches game on tv!
I will add what time are games played? When it suits TV, not crowds going to games.
Christ even the so called journos are worst, they seem to sit at home watch game on tv and then pretend to be reporting on game! Remember when proper rugby reporters actually went to games, could tell you what how players went on whole field, they sent a whole group of them on AB tours etc, so you had more idea of what actually happened! -
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@Dan54 i mean....lots of us either live overseas or those that live in NZ do seem to talk about going to games
but part of the point some of us are making is how little NZR/unions/franchises do to attract fans to the ground though, is it all on us (when we can) to find out when games are on because theyre not advertised well....pay above the odds....to go on a cold winters night because they dont do may day games and watch reasonably predictable results...everyone plays rugby for a few weeks and in the end the crusaders win?
before joined my local club i went and watched my local VFL aussie rules team play quite a bit, cheap tickets, day games in the local community, local pubs advertise lunch before or dinner after, they sell loads more merch than any rugby team i've see so it would be unusual to be around port melbourne and not see someone in the "Boroughs" beanie/hoodie/scarf/scarf any given day....so you have that constant reminder they are playing
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@Kiwiwomble said in The Current State of Rugby:
@Dan54 i mean....lots of us either live overseas or those that live in NZ do seem to talk about going to games
but part of the point some of us are making is how little NZR/unions/franchises to to attract fans to the ground though, is it all on us (when we can) to find out when games are on because theyre not advertised well....pay above the odds....to go on a cold winters night because they dont do may day games and watch reasonably predictable results...everyone plays rugby for a few weeks and in the end the crusaders win?
before joined my local club i went and watched my local VFL aussie rules team play quite a bit, cheap tickets, day games in the local community, local pubs advertise lunch before or dinner after, they sell load more merch than any rugby team i've see so it would be unusual to be around port melbourne and not see someone in the "Boroughs" beanie any given day....so you have that constant reminder
It is quite apparent how different the approach was for the women's world cup and the way the warriors try to market their games, in comparison to men's rugby. Cheap tickets and entertainment pregame, make the game an entertainment experience. My FIL went to the Waratahs game, said tickets especially for kids weren't super cheap. Why not make the tickets really cheap or even free for small kids and try to pack out the ground? The money they lose on ticket sales would probably be made up at the concession stand, and the ground always looks better when it's full
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@canefan imo kids are the key, but kick off are not always kid friendly.
For me, franchises and unions should be going in to schools and giving free tickets to the kids, a tangible ticket for them to hold in thier hand...obviously free when accompanied by a paying adult.
A kid with a ticket in thier hands is going to be more insistent on going than if they just say kids go free.
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@Kiwiwomble yep mate I understand those overseas don't go of course, but noone will ever convince me that people don't know when games are on, by christ I hear ot on radio etc all the time when Chiefs are playing, they run adds a
every week reminding how team is going and where they playing. Point you are making is as an Aussie resident you don't gat advertising etc when games are being played in NZ? That surprises me a bit you think they would advertise over there.
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@Tim said in The Current State of Rugby:
@Dan54 said in The Current State of Rugby:
But it's the world we live in most of us can't be buggered getting off our arse and going to things.
You know there is a cost of living crisis, right?
I do, I also am involved, but mate I not getting at anyone, but your reply is point, saying why people don't go and why they should. As I said it the world we live in today, costs etc, games are aimed at tv watching times etc. It's a fact that you have games during day we get better crowds too, I not blaming anyone or getting at anyone. Bottom line it's aimed at tv , we pay extra for tv to watch, so perhaps have less money etc. I think conveience is more the reason, as fast foods are not suffering, as long as things are easy that's waht many people wil
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@canefan said in The Current State of Rugby:
@Kiwiwomble said in The Current State of Rugby:
@Dan54 i mean....lots of us either live overseas or those that live in NZ do seem to talk about going to games
but part of the point some of us are making is how little NZR/unions/franchises to to attract fans to the ground though, is it all on us (when we can) to find out when games are on because theyre not advertised well....pay above the odds....to go on a cold winters night because they dont do may day games and watch reasonably predictable results...everyone plays rugby for a few weeks and in the end the crusaders win?
before joined my local club i went and watched my local VFL aussie rules team play quite a bit, cheap tickets, day games in the local community, local pubs advertise lunch before or dinner after, they sell load more merch than any rugby team i've see so it would be unusual to be around port melbourne and not see someone in the "Boroughs" beanie any given day....so you have that constant reminder
It is quite apparent how different the approach was for the women's world cup and the way the warriors try to market their games, in comparison to men's rugby. Cheap tickets and entertainment pregame, make the game an entertainment experience. My FIL went to the Waratahs game, said tickets especially for kids weren't super cheap. Why not make the tickets really cheap or even free for small kids and try to pack out the ground? The money they lose on ticket sales would probably be made up at the concession stand, and the ground always looks better when it's full
Women's WC probably not great point though was it, lost a lot of money. And we all saw what happened in opening game, was supposedly a sell out, but with thousands of tickets gievn away at schools, the kids accepted tickets(never turned up), but there was still a lot of empty seats, even final which was a genuine full house was only full because NZ in it, and once again thousands of free tickets. Was great, but not sure you want that happening to often. as an example, noy sure if it still correct but in Aussie Qld RU reckoned a few years back, they needed 12-15000 people at a game to break even at Suncorp, because of price of hiring Stadium etc. So I imagine too many free or cheap tickets is out of question.
And from what I heard on breakdown here in NZ, stadiums are the ones who gett the money from the food stands etc -
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@Dan54 said in The Current State of Rugby:
@Kiwiwomble yep mate I understand those overseas don't go of course, but noone will ever convince me that people don't know when games are on, by christ I hear ot on radio etc all the time when Chiefs are playing, they run adds a
every week reminding how team is going and where they playing. Point you are making is as an Aussie resident you don't gat advertising etc when games are being played in NZ? That surprises me a bit you think they would advertise over there.
i mean this with all seriousness and not just a jab...but who listens to the radio anymore? (you obviously) but if the radio is the market you're satuarating then you're not going after the kids are you?
other sports spend the offseason (hence the benifit of a draft to keep people engaged) going after club memberships, money in the door thats not tainted week to week by poor results. my football club does debentures of for a fee you have first right of refusal on buying your seat each week, so not quite a season ticket but recognises that often you have to go to every game for a season ticket to be worth it and most people cant commit to that
If i sign up as an interstate sydney swans member i get a whole bag of merch and the ability to buy seats with other fans rather than randos....which is how you get chatting and talk about meeting up for the next one...etc etc
most importantly they have you on the hook...so rather than just sending radio adds or social media post out into the ether...they can target stuff to you
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NZ Rugby has declared off-site audiences for Super Rugby Pacific games have surged, with topline broadcast data showing a 9% increase in viewership on Sky boxes, compared to 2022.
A 28% increase in both streaming on Sky Sport Now, and free-to-air games on Prime, has also given the national body something to cheer about.
