NZ v Australia heading for the biggest crowd in 55 years

First topic message reminder :

Everything is set for a classic this Saturday and it seems that Aucklanders (or dorklanders as they are known - no offence aucklandlaurie!) are coming out in their droves to test the new (or tarted up) facilities at the grand old lady, Eden Park.

Ticket sales are now well beyond 50,000 and with a capacity of 61,000 there is a chance of a sellout, taking into account the usual walk-up crowd (yes, we have walk up crowds even for tests in NZ). The crowd would come close to the 61,240 who turned up for the test in the epic 1956 NZ v SA series.

The stage is set for an intriguing glimpse of what could be the WC final in a few weeks time....one thing's for sure, there'll be no shadow boxing this weekend. I think NZ will turn up in the same manner they did for the Springboks at the same ground last year and we all know how that one turned out....

NZ by 15-20

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/5390867/Wallabies-coach-predicts-epic-encounter

Sam - think the RFU would have to pay a fee to hire the other grounds which would cut into profits. They need to pay for the recent refurb of Twickers too!

ASBO - I looked it up, must have driven past it a few times when Bordeaux was the only available (or closest) port of call. If you zoom out on google maps, look directly east from Nerac, across the A20 from Montauban, I am directly halfway between caussade and villefranche de rouergue. Shameful of me to admit but I am yet to have watched a top 14 game in this rugby (and league) mad area!

Sam - think the RFU would have to pay a fee to hire the other grounds which would cut into profits. They need to pay for the recent refurb of Twickers too!

That's what I meant by lining their pockets. It's all to do with the financial benefits of the RFU rather than trying to raise the profile of the sport across the country as a whole. I live in Leicestershire and it's a real slog for me to get down to Twickers (and I live within 5 mins of the M1), it must be a real ball ache for any northerners. No wonder the northern clubs are struggling to grow their fan base.

With my suggestion the RFU would still get 2 AIs and the Baabaas game at Twickers and then cuts of the games held elsewhere. Not to mention the 6N games and the sevens tournament as well as the AP final.

"50,000? Wow! That's a big crowd for NZ."

Suprising that with the poularity of Rugby in NZ that crowds are not much bigger.

Wales with a population a third less that NZ regularly fills the 78,000 capacity Millenium stadium!

chewed_mintie wrote:Pot Hale - I think it is key to remember that if NZ put its eggs all in one basket like the British countries and build one ground to hold 70,000 plus where the national team would play all its games then I do believe that we'd fill it every time. However, we share our games out, because the AB's belong to the country, not Auckland (for example)...

Seagultaf, I wrote this in response to a similar remark

chewed_mintie wrote:
Ticket sales are now well beyond 50,000 and with a capacity of 61,000 there is a chance of a sellout, taking into account the usual walk-up crowd (yes, we have walk up crowds even for tests in NZ). The crowd would come close to the 61,240 who turned up for the test in the epic 1956 NZ v SA series.

Wow! I thought Kiwis liked Rugby

Population of (The Republic of) Ireland is similar to NZ. Population of Dublin is similar to Auckland. Rugby is without doubt the most popular team sport in NZ. Rugby is without doubt the 4th most popular team sport in Ireland (Behind Football, Hurling, and Soccer)

But we can get 82,500 at an interpro! (Leinster v Munster Croke Park may 09)

And they have seats left at a Tri nations game.

Like WTF dude.

See above......again

That is interesting.
How many of the Irish/ Wales matches have visting fans?

For instance for a Wales English match at Millenium are there English fans that attend in big numbers.

I mean its not as if NZ has a country of over 50 million clipped on next to it or a vast continent 35 km across the water.

Other than that, perplexing

Scrums, breakdowns and counter attacking will be the primary focus tonight but interestingly Cooper plays his first test in NZ at of all places Eden park in front of 60k+

How he handles that as a Kiwi will also be interesting.

Seems the tactical chip kicking is coming into discussion, something I'm not a great fan of as it requires a little luck even with a well placed kick, but adds to the mystery even more.

One of the most keenly anticipated tests Ive seen for a while.

Can't wait...

aucklandlaurie wrote: Morning folks:

Pot Hale........... i saw your 50,000 comment above,it caused me to count 7 New Zealand cities that have hosted All black International test matches in the past three years, we in new zealand have to work very hard to make rugby succesful in New Zealand,what may work for you guys in Ireland may not neccessarily work down here.
i wont be on 606 to morrow evening,just nipping out to have a look at a rugby game over in the Sandringham area..... the surface at eden park is apparently like Augusta..

Aucklandlaurie - no need to be defensive - my wow was genuine. I know how difficult it is for NZ rugby to fill stadia around the country, given travel times, low wages, poor public transport, crap narrow and windy two lane roads, and dispersed populations. Got this feedback from fans on the Aussie and NZ forums, so a 50k crowd is very good considering the RWC is coming up and people are saving their shekels for Sept/Oct. Or have already spent them. Ireland with a similar size population takes matches to RDS or Thomond Park - that's about it. But it has the advantage of being a much smaller country.

So Pot, what about my question- does the fact that you have 50 million next door or 250 million within the distance it is to our nearest neighbours Oz with 24 odd million make a difference.

How many domestic Irish or Welsh- not those living outside Ireland or fans of the opposition teams make up those numbers alone?

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:

chewed_mintie wrote:
Ticket sales are now well beyond 50,000 and with a capacity of 61,000 there is a chance of a sellout, taking into account the usual walk-up crowd (yes, we have walk up crowds even for tests in NZ). The crowd would come close to the 61,240 who turned up for the test in the epic 1956 NZ v SA series.

Wow! I thought Kiwis liked Rugby

Population of (The Republic of) Ireland is similar to NZ. Population of Dublin is similar to Auckland. Rugby is without doubt the most popular team sport in NZ. Rugby is without doubt the 4th most popular team sport in Ireland (Behind Football, Hurling, and Soccer)

But we can get 82,500 at an interpro! (Leinster v Munster Croke Park may 09)

And they have seats left at a Tri nations game.

Like WTF dude.

Showing your ignorance there I'm afraid...

Firstly, Ireland has more people (by about 25%) and a population density of 190/sqm versus 42/sqm.

And the fact that 1/3 of NZ's 4.3m population is on the South Island...and the distance from Invercargill to Auckland (1400km/800m) is the equivalent of travelling from Donegal to Paris - through over a 100 million person catchment area.

60,000 at the game today will be great - although I would have liked to have seen NZRFU build a bigger new stadium (not on the Auckland waterfornt) but maybe south of the city on the way to Hamilton (properly serviced by transport, etc)

Linebreaker wrote: - although I would have liked to have seen NZRFU build a bigger new stadium (not on the Auckland waterfornt) but maybe south of the city on the way to Hamilton (properly serviced by transport, etc)

Great idea.
That would have provided access from the South and away from the congestion of Sandringham which is dibolical to get to and from.

Only problem is after he match people have to travel for miles to be anywhere- socially or accommodation wise.

Wellington has the perfect scenario for a centre city stadium with brilliant access form all transport modes. Just doesnt have the population base.

I've been involved in stadium designs here and overseas Taylor.

'I had a dream' once of building one near Rotorua which would have been my gift to NZ (I'm half Kiwi). It was a spectacular looking structure with lots of 'pointy bits' (finger like roof structure - almost forming two closed hands with fingers outstretched (yet still separated) - referencing Maori mythology/symbolism/silver fern... and that it was laden with intricate wooden details which were hand carved by locals.

Missed the cut for 2011 - but I will get my act together for the next one (2020's?), organise funding and support, etc. NZ has to think big I feel... so much to offer the sporting world - and you deserve top notch rugby facilities.

Taylorman wrote:So Pot, what about my question- does the fact that you have 50 million next door or 250 million within the distance it is to our nearest neighbours Oz with 24 odd million make a difference.

How many domestic Irish or Welsh- not those living outside Ireland or fans of the opposition teams make up those numbers alone?

Sorry Taylorman - I didn't realise you had asked me a question. Is this in relation to me saying that 50,000 is a good crowd for NZ given the difficulties around public transport, narrow two lane roads, long travel distances, lower wages/spending money, cold/wet weather, night-time matches, the warmth of the TV room, alternative outdoor pursuits than watching sports, etc? These are reasons given by NZ fans in regard to falling attendances at SR games, and to attendances at test matches.

I don't have 50 million next door. And I wasn't making any comparisons with Ireland or Irish crowds.

I don't understand the question "how many Irish or Welsh - not those living outside Ireland or fans of the oppositions teams make up those numbers?" What do you want to compare to - an Ireland/Wales match in the 6 Nations? An interprovincial between Leinster/Munster? I don't see the point to be honest.

Ireland is a smaller country in size, has much better road infrastructure, more modern public transport, a single national stadium, easy access to it (4 hours or less in most cases), afternoon test matches, coverage on at least two separate TV channels, more expensive tickets but a better household income, a similar size population (for a Leinster/Munster match) and a bigger one for test matches, real provincial-based teams (as opposed to more difficult to promote SR 'franchises'), more money to pay its players and promote its product, and a fan-base that's willing to travel/overnight/weekend for a game. I don't know the numbers of opposition fans that travel to a match in Ireland - depends on the opposition. I would reckon England travel in most numbers. What percentage they'd make up of a 52,000 crowd in Lansdowne I don't know - I'm sure someone here will know the answer.

I'd still say 50,000 - Wow - that's a good crowd for NZ - for all the reasons stated above and in an earlier post.

or a match at Eden park there would be 80% roughly from Aukland itself with the rest from the rest of the North Island/ NZ and maybe a couple of thousand at most from Oz to support. I'm not sure but a reasonable guess.

Auckland has about 1.3 million so obviously has the population to support 60,000 plus on its own.

Many will have world cup tickets so selling this out as well is good.

I just wondered how many travelled from outside Ireland or England for a 70k+ to any match in either country.

If the crowd is 80 or more % local residents then we fall behind badly given Rugbys popularity here- its the first choice sport by a long way.

But my guess is for the big matches people travel into the country- not easily done here- the nearest being 1300km away... just an observation.

Taylorman wrote:or a match at Eden park there would be 80% roughly from Aukland itself with the rest from the rest of the North Island/ NZ and maybe a couple of thousand at most from Oz to support. I'm not sure but a reasonable guess.

Auckland has about 1.3 million so obviously has the population to support 60,000 plus on its own.

Many will have world cup tickets so selling this out as well is good.

I just wondered how many travelled from outside Ireland or England for a 70k+ to any match in either country.

If the crowd is 80 or more % local residents then we fall behind badly given Rugbys popularity here- its the first choice sport by a long way.

But my guess is for the big matches people travel into the country- not easily done here- the nearest being 1300km away... just an observation.

Taylorman - this is a just a guess on my part but I think ticket allocation to opposition is about 10% of the seats. I wouldn't be surprised if it's better in Ireland, England or France than in NZ. I had a recent discussion on another forum with a bunch of Kiwi fans and the odd Aussie on this topic. Average attendances have been falling year on year in NZ and in Australia - there's a good website with stats on the Aus figures. The reformed SR comp might see an improvement this year to at least arrest the trend. And apparently TV numbers watching are up - more so in Aus I understand - a Rebels first season fillip possibly. It's surprising, but from what I heard from the other Kiwi guys they figure the numbers are still good. Given the significance of tonight's match, I wouldn't be surprised if it goes to 60k with walk-ups.