Crowds - The thread of Australian whining

They've got to watch about overdoing the home-away games. It has worked, and Christchurch and Auckland have both been good, but the novelty does wear off and a portion of those crowds are less likely to attend a second or third time. You saw that with the drop off between the first and second games in Christchurch.

...with Gareth in the media talking up how much they lose I reckon the chances of another side are significantly limited.

There is always hope the new TV deal will be much improved on the last and cover at least the salary cap.

Junior822012-01-24 10:25:17

The other thing critical to ongoing success of a big crowd this week is that we win.  If Gareth wants those coming this week to come back fortnight week we need our shirts off comfortably in the last ten.

Without wanting to be critical of the great work done by the Yellow Fever, I think there is a danger that going to the Phoenix has become regarded by the wider public as something that is only done by a cultural clique.  Ie, there is a perception that you can't just go to the stadium on a sunny afternoon to watch some football - instead you have to go the whole hog, buy the shirt and the scarf and learn the chants and engage with a tribe.  That is attractive to many of the core fans, but less attractive to most casual punters. 

And cheerleaders.

bwtcf2012-01-24 11:27:44

This is a valid point and it makes me wonder how Gareth reacts when the marketplace doesn't enthusiastically embrace one of his businesses. Does he threaten his customer-base or try to improve the competitiveness and performance of his business?

As a nix person who has seen and loved many games at the Wellington Regional Stadium (as I shall refer it as) but now living a bit far away from Wellington, I would be VERY interested in a 'six pack' style ticketing system that Feverish speaks of. Or like a 10-trip train ticket style system. This may not work in the long term as the more popular games and games with the better weather would probably get more people through the gates more than anything, but the Nix 7,8,9 whatever they are will have my $120-$150 already and I have the option of walking up to the gate when and if I am in Wellington to watch the nix.

I am sure that Ticketek could accomodate such a system.mikecj2012-01-24 11:28:17

As mentioned above a "10-trip" system doesn't depend on the ticketing agent but more on the Stadium itself. A few issues:

- a barcoded 10-trip ticket can easily be set up to be valid for x games at the ticketing turnstile.

However:

- would Westpac be open to the possible upgrades necessary to accommodate this?
- how about seating allocation? Despite no chance for a regular season sellout (let's be honest), stadia still don't like unallocated seating. Not sure if this is due to security or what

It's a good idea worth pursuing but just mentioning likely barriers that would have to be worked through.

If Stadium insists on allocated seating then your 10-trip would have to be presented at Ticketek in exchange for a "real" ticket for the game, and I can guarantee Ticketek won't do that for free. ahmad2012-01-24 11:35:29

lol we're f**ked, we're going to lose the Nix entirely now i bet. By taking more games away more people in wellington are going to give up entirely on the Nix. The only thing that'll save us will be if Ricki and the players put their hands up and say 'we're not moving'. Terry would never have suggested such a thing

Terry also didn't pay his staff or creditors.

Not sure that's the best way forward for the Club.

[

I was with you until the last line.Mike then you lost me...

Why couldn't a ten trip ticket be allocated to a seat? There's bazillions of seats that are not allocated. Just choose an aisle on the Thordon side of the ground and reserve/allocate it to ten trip ticket holders. bwtcf2012-01-24 11:45:01

any idea that involves Ticketek actually doing something outside the norm is doomed from the start...........

You can exchange any seat you have inside the stadium for a fever zone ticket Ahmad. Just go to the security desk opposite aisle 18 and ask to swap ticket.we show friends/family how to so they can join us in the zone with no entrance hassles...does that only apply to Fever Zone swaps though, anyone know?

Also to keep it simple Bwtcf a ten match ticket should be allocated same seat all ten matches like a season ticket. Simple is something Ticketek might be able to grasp. Usually you can move around,swap to Fever Zone as above..if sold out, tough ..enjoy the atmosphere!RedGed2012-01-24 12:03:14

bwtcf2012-01-24 11:49:35

Do the Aussie tickets go through Ticketek over there?

Might be a tie up with the League then?

Yes. It might be. You raise a valid point...

Which would make escaping their incompetence a bit difficult

Something like this would work for most out of town supporters.

It's not the tickets we find expensive, it the other associated costs and extras that add up for our family trips to the Nix, or even just a game away with out group of fans here.

If we're not bringing the family down, we usually pack the people mover for the trip.

While a lot of locals can probably just jump on a train an hour or so before kickoff, most out of town supporter have to write off a whole day or half day at least just for travelling.

Something as simple as free stadium parking for those from out of town, you get the pass when you purchase your tickets online ahead of the game.

I know generally after driving for a few hours, the last thing i want to do is take on a massive walk.

Hell i'd be happy if I could buy a special out of towner ticket which got me my game ticket, bundled with a stadium connection train ticket to & from Waikanae. We did that for one match and it was great not to have to drive that last leg, so I could chill a bit and get ready for the game.

The train ride is is quite fun when you see other getting on in their stripeys.. it's all part of the atmosphere for us of going to the Nix.

For us, Family Season passes are just not that affordable, I realise they're great value, but you really have to be able to get to a certain number of games to break even.

That flexible pick six idea is great, certainly would look at investing in that.

Why can't we start paying for next years memberships now? And why so much in added fees?

I loved someones idea about buses from Palmy, and other outlying regions. Palmy is just a 45 minute drive for us, but to jump on a bus with a group of others to go to the game, that sounds like something we could do more frequently. I'd happily pay more for my ticket if it included a cheap bus fare as well.

Surely intercity, newmans, or naked bus would love a little bit of an influx on what might be quiet routes.

Just make sure they stop for food!

Maybe work with football clubs in those target areas. Help them organise it. Bus, tickets, burger & a beer for $50. $5 from every ticket goes to the club. Supporting local football etc

I can't speak for ideas to work with locals, but i know the things that would help make it more realistic for my family & friends to get to games.

I think you will find that it's a STADIUM tie-up not League. Does any other agency ticket for Westpac?

I don't think people would necessarily wait until the better games at the end of the season either. If they're bored on a weekend, the nix are playing, they can go, and they see the ticket sitting there, they may actually just go. Until maybe it gets down to their last game, then they may save it for a game toward the end. I think its a great idea. Tegal2012-01-24 11:59:58

(Actually, Andrew, that's "to spite their face".)Doloras2012-01-24 12:00:56

I remember back in the day going to a wellington rugby game at athletic park, and one of the pubs in town did a deal where you paid $30 or something, you got a beer before and after the game, and a bus to the park.

Thanks for that FZ swap info. Didn't know that.

Even so I think you will find resistance from Ticketek/security unless a seat is allocated.

Yes you can allocate a Thorndon side area but that's not good for TV appearance in terms of perceived numbers.

Would they be open to a YZ style of unallocated seating in another aisle (other side of YF but still on the sunny side?) where multi-pass holders get unallocated entry into?

And Multi-pass would 100% be for regular season only. It would never work for semis (putting aside the fact that it's an FFA fixture).

How does the Multi-pass ticket for the Roar work I wonder? You can buy for 3 consecutive games at a slight discount.

Gareth will be pleased.

i think it is a little unfair of gareth to compare our crowd numbers with australian cities, they at least get a decent away crowd for some of there matches not like wellington where their is little or no away support because of the travel involved.

theprof2012-01-24 12:09:14

bwtcf2012-01-24 12:11:24