Lord Gnome of Howick MBE
I am not usually a fan of union, but;
https://www.flickr.com/photos/62036547@N03/sets/72157632693013308/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/62036547@N03/sets/72157632693013308/
Blain
Lord Gnome of Howick MBE
Blain
It was on the waterfront in front of a bar with a big deck on the 2nd story, girls would walk past, those guys would grab them, everyone did a countdown from 10. If they flashed they got free drinks. Pretty intimidating when 200 people are yelling at you to get your tits out!!
Lord Gnome of Howick MBE
Wellington Warrior
I see former junior warrior Dylan Collier is making his debut for the NZ Sevens team this weekend
mt.wellington
Warriors Orange Peeler
Contributor
Pretty pathetic turnout and this is just before the New Zealand team comes out...
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Wellington Warrior
Yip the fun police have killed it... hopefully the 9's doesn't go the same way!
Take away the party and all you have left is the actual games to watch...and they are borin as hell!!
Take away the party and all you have left is the actual games to watch...and they are borin as hell!!
Lord Gnome of Howick MBE
They said on the news yesterday that only 20,000 tickets had been sold, vs 43,000 for day 1 of the nines.
The nines needs to concentrate on the sport before it goes the same same way as the sevens.
The nines needs to concentrate on the sport before it goes the same same way as the sevens.
Wellington Warrior
That's where the sevens went pear shaped. It was all about getting absolutely shit faced beforehand, dressing up and spending your time in bars on the way to the stadium, then walking around the concourse at the stadium. Nobody paid the slightest bit of attention to the games apart from the NZ games.
From what it looked like last year the nines was all about the games. This year seemed to be a bit more about the party which with the PC brigade getting louder will mean trouble!!
From what it looked like last year the nines was all about the games. This year seemed to be a bit more about the party which with the PC brigade getting louder will mean trouble!!
mt.wellington
Warriors Orange Peeler
Contributor
Absolutely!
Nobody goes to the 7s to watch the footy. For a gauge on how many people go to watch the footy just look at the regular attendances at the Wellington Hurricanes games. Its pathetic.
As you posted what its about is getting pissed, having fun and enjoying the party atmosphere. The local council and organisers then turnaround and increase the ticket prices by a ridiculous amount, limit beer sales, ban outdoor music which effectively kills the after party and sends the troops in to squash anyone looking like theyre enjoying themselves in the slightest out on the roads.
What a bunch of complete idiots. They have killed the goose that laid the golden egg and ruined the party for the 80% of people who couldnt give a shit about the game...
mrblonde
But why would anyone buy a ticket to an event to get pissed and have fun (your 80%) when you can get that anywhere for the price of the booze? They have to concentrate on the sport otherwise why bother? I imagine the IRB bigwigs wouldn't be overly happy but as has been pointed out, the 7's plays to small crowds everywhere so evidently they can put up with it.
Lord Gnome of Howick MBE
Wellington Warrior
That was the catalyst for the change. The IRB were not happy with people not paying attention to the games and just going to drink - especially with 7's now an Olympic event! Then last year the police threatened to oppose the stadium's liquor licence after the shambles of the last 7's. By all accounts it was absolutely feral!!!!
Next year they are talking about big changes made, and don't under estimate the pulling power of potential All Blacks vying for an Olympic spot (SBW, Messam etc)
Lord Gnome of Howick MBE
mrblonde
The other thing the 9's get right is playing Saturday and Sunday. Even so, I'm surprised more didn't turn up given the Friday this time was a holiday.
mode81
Sevens use to be the hottest ticket in town, the event use to sell out in minutes now their practically giving tickets away.. Sevens was great when it first appeared but the novelty has worn off simple as that. Sevens use to be a one off event in it's early days hence the massive crowds to watch the likes of Christian Cullen, Jonah Lomu, Waisale Serevi etc now it's part of a drawn out world series that has become stale.. 15 years of same old same old will do that.
I went to a couple of early Welly sevens tournaments when it first started and it was a blast! Actually felt like one massive party, now days residents have lost patience with drunken goons.. security are heavy handed idiots.. drink and party curfews are in place which makes you feel like your walking on egg shells not to piss the police off... the whole scene has lost its appeal therefore people look at alternatives like the Nines or music festivals.
The difference between Welly and Auckland is the fact that the Nines was never advertised as one big party, Wellington sevens was always promoted as one big party!.. At the Sevens it's about dressing up walking the concourse and generally making a fool of yourself in front of strangers.. at the Nines many dress up but most people wear their team apparel and actually focus on the footy, that's the key.. at the end of the day the focus should be about the on field action.
I went to a couple of early Welly sevens tournaments when it first started and it was a blast! Actually felt like one massive party, now days residents have lost patience with drunken goons.. security are heavy handed idiots.. drink and party curfews are in place which makes you feel like your walking on egg shells not to piss the police off... the whole scene has lost its appeal therefore people look at alternatives like the Nines or music festivals.
The difference between Welly and Auckland is the fact that the Nines was never advertised as one big party, Wellington sevens was always promoted as one big party!.. At the Sevens it's about dressing up walking the concourse and generally making a fool of yourself in front of strangers.. at the Nines many dress up but most people wear their team apparel and actually focus on the footy, that's the key.. at the end of the day the focus should be about the on field action.
Wellington Warrior
Not sure about this year but in the past when they played on Waitangi Day they added the 15% surcharge on top of their already horrific prices!!
Tonbridge (Swanley)
you might like this quote, I certainly did:
"I'm in awe, having Sonny around. To be in the shower, or in the pool with him, it's quite buzzy," Savea said.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11579890
It certainly made me raise an eyebrow as I read this!
mode81
^^ Haha dodgy guy Ardie.. he's usually articulate with his words .. I immediately thought uh oh that's a crazy statement to make in this day & age of pc madness. Quite funny and weird at the same time.
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