The decline and fall of the Melbourne Cup
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I was referring to the broad shift in workplace culture. No more boozy weekday events, more emphasis on actually working and/or going home on time.
I think I disagree with you that it's a bad thing? It's generally a positive I think? Plenty of opportunities for people to get on the cans at the appropriate times, but I think what we're moving towards might be a bit more inclusive (apologies for using a word that will upset a bunch of Ferners) and better for people's lives overall.
We're still having a Christmas Party at work and I will have a few drinks but I have no interest in getting pissed with my colleagues, and frankly never have.
And I agree the crowds are still big, and the VRC won't be going broke anytime soon. But racing is losing it's relevance day to day. None of my mates talk about it. Nobody at work asks if anyone watched the Everest or the Cox Plate. I reckon if you polled people under 30 a small minority would know what the Caulfield Cup was.
And I used to get a whole load of 'tip please' texts, I used to work at the TAB (long time ago). Crickets now. But I'm just as disconnected as my friends.
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im not sure its much worse since we've ben in aus, its obviously different to NZ as we're not at work so getting dressed up and office sweepstakes arent a thing for us. trams have been full of people obviously going to the races....maybe a little post covid, we use to go to a pub with mates....then we did a few years out on their lawn picnic vibes....going to the pub again today but probably not till after lunch so maybe a little
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@Nepia said in The decline and fall of the Melbourne Cup:
Yeah, I've noticed it too, my office is not doing a sweepstake today as far as I know.
Maybe it's still as big in Victoria though?
Well they have a public holiday, so it could cut both ways. If you're not in the workplace maybe it's easier to ignore, but also easier to go to Flemington if you are into it.
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@barbarian apologies i thought you were talking about racing, not boozy workplace culture.
i have avoided the majority of work events for many many years.
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@mariner4life said in The decline and fall of the Melbourne Cup:
@barbarian apologies i thought you were talking about racing, not boozy workplace culture.
I get the impression that risk averse workplaces have contributed to the demise thanks to the odd workers not being professional in their behaviour.
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with regards to racing, it could be more to do with social circles. Almost all of my mates will watch the carnivals every saturday, and we'll regularly travel for racing events. Most of us own horses too. We all have Cairns Jockey Club memberships. Some of us are also members elsewhere.
This was not always the case. I only opened a betting account before the first Everest (thank you Redzel!). I can't remember every discussing the weekend's racing with people who weren't also racing people. Shit, i still don't now (I don't really need to, group chats mean we have done it all in real time).
Maybe my point is we are getting older and everything is changing, not least the way we consume media, and interact with people. Some good, lots not
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@antipodean said in The decline and fall of the Melbourne Cup:
@mariner4life said in The decline and fall of the Melbourne Cup:
@barbarian apologies i thought you were talking about racing, not boozy workplace culture.
I get the impression that risk averse workplaces have contributed to the demise thanks to the odd workers not being professional in their behaviour.
100%. Tourism used to be a fun industry to work in. Now it is just like every other industry, constricted by red tape and the fear of liability.
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@mariner4life said in The decline and fall of the Melbourne Cup:
Maybe my point is we are getting older and everything is changing, not least the way we consume media, and interact with people. Some good, lots not
I think that's true, but I do think there are a few very clear signs that the Cup isn't what it was.
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@antipodean said in The decline and fall of the Melbourne Cup:
@mariner4life said in The decline and fall of the Melbourne Cup:
@barbarian apologies i thought you were talking about racing, not boozy workplace culture.
I get the impression that risk averse workplaces have contributed to the demise thanks to the odd workers not being professional in their behaviour.
That's a part of it for sure. I also think a run of very prominent horse deaths turned off a portion of people and gave voice to the animal activists. So big workplaces became more risk averse when it came to a boozy Tuesday lunch but also the issue of animal cruelty .
Previously you had one or two hippies in the workplace who didn't like the Cup, but they broadly stuck to their knitting when the race was on and nobody cared. Now their are more of them, and their issues are more keenly felt by workplaces wanting to be more inclusive, for better or worse.
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The roar at Flemington when they jump, when they go past the straight the first time, and at the finish, is unlike anything i have heard. The energy is incredible.
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@antipodean said in The decline and fall of the Melbourne Cup:
@mariner4life said in The decline and fall of the Melbourne Cup:
@barbarian apologies i thought you were talking about racing, not boozy workplace culture.
I get the impression that risk averse workplaces have contributed to the demise thanks to the odd workers not being professional in their behaviour.
Even before Covid my workplace had banned any drinking in the building, so the Friday drinks trolley was a thing of the past. Post Covid work functions are basically non-existent, especially with so many people working 2 - 3 days from home.
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@mariner4life said in The decline and fall of the Melbourne Cup:
The roar at Flemington when they jump, when they go past the straight the first time, and at the finish, is unlike anything i have heard. The energy is incredible.
I don't doubt that at all. I think racing as an event itself is still very strong. Because at the end of the day people love to dress up and get on the cans with their mates on a lovely spring day.
I suppose my thoughts were more on it's cultural cut-through. Talk around the watercooler etc.
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I went last year. It was absolutely awesome. Over the four day festival about 260k attended. Is racing for everyone? No. Does it matter? No. I'm a very enthusiastic punter, but I'm careful about who I advertise it to in woke old Wellington. Is the Melbourne Cup/horse racing on the decline. No way. It is getting new fans, it is becoming more engaged in becoming entertainment for everyone attending. Look at the crowd at the Everest. Very young. Not just old blokes in tweed jackets. As for the work culture angle. It is great work drinks are a thing of the past, including trying to incorporate events like these. I make a good wicket, and don't want to jepordise it by offending Indigo the HR advisor after making a shitty joke.
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@SouthernMann said in The decline and fall of the Melbourne Cup:
Is the Melbourne Cup/horse racing on the decline. No way. It is getting new fans, it is becoming more engaged in becoming entertainment for everyone attending. Look at the crowd at the Everest. Very young. Not just old blokes in tweed jackets.
And in that regard I think the VRC/ATC have been very smart, pivoting from Carnivals and big days being festivals rather than just race days.
But I do contest your point to some extend, in that while the day itself is well attended, it's on the decline in the sense that it's no longer 'the race that stops a nation' where 80-90% of the general population have an interest in the race, who wins etc.
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@barbarian said in The decline and fall of the Melbourne Cup:
@SouthernMann said in The decline and fall of the Melbourne Cup:
Is the Melbourne Cup/horse racing on the decline. No way. It is getting new fans, it is becoming more engaged in becoming entertainment for everyone attending. Look at the crowd at the Everest. Very young. Not just old blokes in tweed jackets.
And in that regard I think the VRC/ATC have been very smart, pivoting from Carnivals and big days being festivals rather than just race days.
But I do contest your point to some extend, in that while the day itself is well attended, it's on the decline in the sense that it's no longer 'the race that stops a nation' where 80-90% of the general population have an interest in the race, who wins etc.
Can say that about anything though. The NPC final in NZ used to get 35k attending. It doesn't anymore. People are getting more diverse interests. Racing clubs, are pivoting to ensure younger people are enjoying events. There are good events during the year.
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so attendance is up, viewership is up, betting numbers are up, but it's on the "decline"?
and you are basing it on a made up number of 20-24 million people caring at some point in the past? right
