Crowds - The thread of Australian whining

Mentioned earlier by someone about entertainment as they went to some game either in Wellington or overseas -

Couldn't we have entertainment on the concourse? RedBadge are pretty anal about ANYTHING that happens on THEIR concourse but what about approved entertainment?

Facepainting was suggested - free kids face paint in Nix colours?

I don't know how much it would cost to implement and/or whether a volunteer army would be able to provide concourse entertainment.

And that's assuming people think it would add to the "package".

Oh I just had a negative thought. Stadium probably don't want entertainment because people are supposed to be listening to that voice telling them what NOT to do, and what they CAN'T do (sorry Piney!! )

There is entertainment on the concourse and face painting inside.

Most people are keen to get inside so don't really stay to listen to whoever is performing.

Just a basic question re no buzz and not knowing kick off times.

In Auckland I saw billboards in key places for a week leading up to the game = 20k, with all other factors.

Most casuals or new fans don't know exactly when the game is on, but if they see a billboard with Iffy and Leo telling about it Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday they might think about it on Thursday, chat to their friends about it, get amped and do something about it Friday or Saturday...

...a return to the Adshel's used in the early seasons then?

Would require money spent ion marketing (which hasn't seemed to be the case prior to this weekends game).

I don't care personally but apparently the casual crowd want "bang for buck".

Like loud stadium music that would drown out their voices anyway so they don't have to feel pathetic when they don't offer any vocal support to their team.

When I discussed marketing/billboards/bus shelters with the team when they were down in Dunedin (because some quarters of YF had complained about lack of such advertising) I was told that it costs a sh*tload. I can imagine it would.

Mind blown. I've heard that so many times but never realised it was Piney. Incredible.

Would have to OK it with the FFA, as the contract here is every A league is live.

Very good point here! Don't know how much difference it makes, but I know of many others who receive free tix most games.. from various sponsors/businesses. More than once we have been offered free tickets on the concourse/at the gates from those who have been allocated too many freebies.

Not sure how long it's been Piney for - when I was there for the Jest Nixmas game someone commented "oh, they've gone back to using the Piney one!", and when I listened sure enough it was Piney. Not sure when there was a change to/from/back to Piney.

actually might have been for a bit longer than a week...

As sponsors we get a few free tickets a work. But I still buy a season membership every season

Medal please.

The concourse IS inside.

The bit outside the gate is not the concourse. It is Fran Wilde Walk.

The concourse is the bit inside the stadium that allows you to walk all the way around the stadium (when it is all open) between the outer wall of the stadium and the wall with the openings into each Aisle. It's 14 metres wide and 650 metres all the way around. The food and beverage outlets are on the concourse.

See

http://westpacstadium.co.nz/facilities/

Food and beverage outlets can be found all the way around the concourse.

http://www.westpacstadium.co.nz/key-facts/

Width of the concourse     14 metres
Length of the concourse     650 metres

and

Length of walkway to rail station*     680 metres

* i.e something that is other than the concourse...


bwtcf2012-01-24 23:39:53

Pedant.

After you go through the gates but before you are inside the stadium.

What's that called then?

The Fran Wilde Gambol?

Used to count the number of Nix posters when I used to do the South Wellington to Lower Hutt commute in the early seasons. Always saw posters (sometimes both sides north and south) on Karo St/Victoria St intersection before the tunnel, always at least one on the Newtown/Riddiford St/ Hospital stops, and spread through the city.

It was great to go to a Sunday afternoon Nix game, walking up Featherston St, through the Railway Station and seeing several Adshel Nix posters for the game at the various shelters on the way.
Two and a half hours later, on the same route back, with the crowds all streaming past, all the posters had been changed with the new Nix posters for the next home match, sometimes 2+ weeks away...A beautiful, well oiled piece of precision marketing, right there!!...and typifying to me the marketing attitude and excellence called for once again, leading into season 12-13.
RedGed2012-01-25 00:28:56

I'm moving to Wellington come Feb for educational purposes. +1 extra here :)

bwtcf2012-01-25 08:25:57

From reading the above there are many reasons why people dont/wont go to the games.

Are you aware that the economy is in the toilet at the moment?

No, just GCU's season.

Personally I think that Gareth is doing a bloody fantastic job at the moment.

bwtcf2012-01-25 10:46:47

Is that supposed to be a cant....

or can can be "can't" ?

NZ'ers attitude to going to watch live sport.................

- Do I want to go and see a decent game and support the Nix (or Lions, Blues, Firebirds etc etc)
- Hell yes - 100% sure I'll go.
- Damn I don't like the beer or food - 99% I'll still go
- Parking is a pain (cost, no parks, officious wardens),or public transport is costly or lacking - 90% I'll go
- Wow $29 is expensive (to me), but I'm still 80% sure I can scrape enough together to attend
- What a booking fee as well, bugger - but I'm committed now - 75% sure
- Damn the kick off time is not to my liking / clash with X factor / my turn with the collection box at destiny - but I may still go if the weather is fantastic - 60% sure I'll go
- I can't get anyone to go with me - still I can go on my own, I may make new friends - 50% sure I'll go
- Oh game is on TV at the same time - 30% I'll go and see it live
- People will be swearing and standing up - 29% I'll go though

Finally the day arrives - it's raining / too hot / windy / I've got a a headache / there is a queue at the ticket box
- watching at home for me then...

On that one blog that 2ndBest linked, most of the comments seemed to be "we casual fans don't actually know when the games are on". Suggestions?

Not sure how much of an issues that is.  Surely people can take 5 mins to look online.

They have to go out of their way to do that though,which means they were thinking of going in the first place.

I think a lot of it as a lack of awareness of when games are on. The black out thing got people to take notice of the posters,talk about it and suddenly they know there is a game on.

Couple that with clubs telling people about the game,and this weekend should be good!

- When the Hurricanes are playing, there is a note on the weather page 'Hurricane warning' on the day the game is on, also has time. 
Most people who read the DomPost will look at the weather, so would see it for a week before the game and get a daily reminder

- Posters at Wellington station, and/or posters on trains and busses.

- printed on Mojo takeaway coffee cups / Wendys super sundae cups / Db Export bottles (not sure who drinks this though)

- Posters at Les Mills, Sony, Addidas shops

- Branded T shirts with home game times printed on back -  for staff in sponsors shops (and season ticket holders)

- Printed on back of receipt rolls at supermarkets (again not sure who takes any notice of these)

- banner at top of Stuff
 

...although people who follow the Phoenix that closely that the club have contacts probably do know.  It's how the general punters find out and that is hwere you may just have to bite the bullet and get a couple of high-profile billboards up that mean no-one can miss it.

- scantily clad promo girls handing out flyers on lambton quay

And inside. Erm so I hear.

I know someone's friend who heartily endorses this suggestion.

Yes.  He just suggested to me that vouchers promoting the game with free Mermies dollars would be a winner for both enterprises.

Well, it's not like something like that is unfeasible.

there are cheaper options: