I think from a crowd perspective this is perfect timing for the new Auckland team.
As someone has already mentioned rugby is on the decline attendance wise. Domestic and super rugby band wagon days are well and truely over and likely beyond repair.
League at Mt Smart has been the new band wagon. On the back of a great last season, they have sold out each of their home games at Mt Smart, which is amazing.
However they have had a crap season, so there is no guarantee this band wagon will continue. Players like Johnson leaving will not help as he has always been integral to this side. RTS and Tohu Harris will be another year older as well. From both a marketing and player view they are likely a team in decline.
The band wagons (looking at the white middle class and even higher) have however now became used to entering the Penrose area. It’s not as scary as it seemed and it’s likely their kids play football and not league.
Can foresee a number jumping ship, especially if Auckland recruit well in their foreigners, market well and start the season ok. They have heavily recruited kiwis and not ausis so there should always be a kiwi presence which will help -unlike the knights.
A hard core of 5 to 7k I think is possible, with potential for the bandwagon initially to fill the place for the first game and thereafter nix /final games, with 12k going to games in between.
As someone has already mentioned rugby is on the decline attendance wise. Domestic and super rugby band wagon days are well and truely over and likely beyond repair.
League at Mt Smart has been the new band wagon. On the back of a great last season, they have sold out each of their home games at Mt Smart, which is amazing.
However they have had a crap season, so there is no guarantee this band wagon will continue. Players like Johnson leaving will not help as he has always been integral to this side. RTS and Tohu Harris will be another year older as well. From both a marketing and player view they are likely a team in decline.
The band wagons (looking at the white middle class and even higher) have however now became used to entering the Penrose area. It’s not as scary as it seemed and it’s likely their kids play football and not league.
Can foresee a number jumping ship, especially if Auckland recruit well in their foreigners, market well and start the season ok. They have heavily recruited kiwis and not ausis so there should always be a kiwi presence which will help -unlike the knights.
A hard core of 5 to 7k I think is possible, with potential for the bandwagon initially to fill the place for the first game and thereafter nix /final games, with 12k going to games in between.