FilthRugby
Nicholas Shehadie (39)
Yeah, you're totally right. Canberra DEFINETELY deserves a game, especially considering the success of ACT Rugby (historically).
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wamberal
Phil Kearns (64)
The Goldy is an unusual place, from what I have seen, the Rugby demographic is either Kiwis, or they are Aussies who are mostly here for a relatively short period of their careers. Or, like me, they are retirees, and would definitely go to an afternoon Test match, but are just not bothered to go to a game that starts so late.
rugbyskier
Ted Thorn (20)
Only this weekend the ACT Government has said that the new stadium in Civic will be delayed by five years. The costs of acquiring and demolishing over 1000 homes contaminated with 'Mr Fluffy' loose asbestos insulation means that relocating the Civic Pool will be postponed. The pool site is where the covered stadium will be built.
I could say if the ACT Government hadn't wasted money on sculptures of giant owls that look like a penis and building a prison that costs more to run per prisoner than it did paying NSW to house them, then they could afford the 'Mr Fluffy' remediation and going ahead with the stadium. And don't get me started on the billion dollar train set down Northbourne Avenue!
rugbyskier
Ted Thorn (20)
Given the ground capacity at Canberra Stadium of around 24-25,000, the 21-22,000 at the Wallabies v Italy test and the Brumbies v British & Irish Lions aren't too bad.
yep, no doubt there should be no more games on the GC. I wouldn't be taking them to Adelaide or possibly even Newcastle etc just yet.
Unfortunately the Wallaby brand just isn't where it was a decade and a half ago. We don't have the marketing budget needed to make such endeavours a success. We need to consolidate at the moment. Focus on the known markets.
The 7s will not be on the GC after this year. They will be either BRisbane or Sydney and, unfortunately for Briso fans, it seems Sydney is prepared to throw more money at it. Not a bad thing.
the ARU needs to rebuild its popularity and focussing that on Sydney is probably a fair strategy.
Unfortunately the Wallaby brand just isn't where it was a decade and a half ago. We don't have the marketing budget needed to make such endeavours a success. We need to consolidate at the moment. Focus on the known markets.
The 7s will not be on the GC after this year. They will be either BRisbane or Sydney and, unfortunately for Briso fans, it seems Sydney is prepared to throw more money at it. Not a bad thing.
the ARU needs to rebuild its popularity and focussing that on Sydney is probably a fair strategy.
Scrubber2050
Mark Ella (57)
Crowd was disappointing. The Goldie boasts about 500,000 people, Brisbane 1 hour up the M1 probably 1.4 million, and Northern Rivers another 200,000.
It gobsmacks me that we couldn't get a sellout, whether on the Gold Coast or even Brisbane for test matches, other than against NZ
It gobsmacks me that we couldn't get a sellout, whether on the Gold Coast or even Brisbane for test matches, other than against NZ
kiap
Steve Williams (59)
I do think Canberra deserves another go. One reason they were shunned is that their last Test drew 15,000 (admittedly against Fiji who don't draw high crowds).
The Brumbies average 13,000. Would they get 20,000+ for Argentina?
We'd like to think so.
It'd make it a lot easier with their new stadium proposal, but that's now a fair way off for the ACT. As said earlier, the ARU is still bound and signed on the dotted line to play one more Test on the Gold Coast sometime in the next few years. Maybe they're the ones to get a side like Fiji next time.
Penguin
John Solomon (38)
Or you can drive down, about 50 minutes these days, go to the park & ride across the highway in Mudgereeba & take the shuttle across to the game, about an hour travel all up & easy! Not to mention cheaper seats than at Lang Park tests. Travel time is not an excuse for Brisbane folk.
kiap
Steve Williams (59)
Brisbane fans aren't answerable for that crowd — IMO. That game should have got at least 10k more if staged at Ballymore or Suncorp.
The weather hasn't helped the ARU this year. But CBus is not in a good location to attract good crowds. There's nowhere to kick on. The Titans don't draw well either.
The weather hasn't helped the ARU this year. But CBus is not in a good location to attract good crowds. There's nowhere to kick on. The Titans don't draw well either.
Melbourne Terrace
Darby Loudon (17)
Not an option if you want to have some beers with the lads (pretty much a requirement these days with Australian Rugby) or don't have access car which is increasingly more common among students and inner city supporters.
Penguin
John Solomon (38)
Mate, if there is the will there is a way. It is an option, but obviously lots of people decided there wasn't the will.
Not everyone goes to watch sport with the lads either, the Goldie test is a perfect one to take the family, close to the action & cheaper seats.
Ruggo
Mark Ella (57)
In the known market I would love to know why that first French test at Suncorp got such a rubbish crowd? From a branding perspective it was the first test of the year and the first test since the Wallabies had a rather good EOYT.
Maybe a return to afternoon rugby would be a goer. To keep the TV boffins happy, maybe the ARU could look at sealing the time slot before the test that is played in NZ rather than the slot after it.
Wilson
David Codey (61)
There seemed to be a real lack of marketing for it up hear, that combined with a price rise on origin tickets meant the broader audience largely gave it a miss. It was more or less a reds crowd in the end.
Melbourne Terrace
Darby Loudon (17)
The French Test at Suncorp was poor because tickets weren't seen as good value and the public reacted accordingly.
Afternoon Tests would be a automatic winner on the crowds front, 3pm kick offs on a Saturday like in Europe should be the only time Tests are played. Unfortunately it's nothing to do with the local market and all to do with Europe/South Africa TV Networks who are far bigger. 8pm kick off here is a 11am kick off for the Home Nations. Putting a game on at 3pm so it's played before the NZ game and shown at 6am GMT is probably the last Murdoch and his minion want to do.
liquor box
Greg Davis (50)
I hate afternoon tests, but do think the Pumas Test on the Gold Coast would be ideal for it. Take the kids to the coast, watch the rugby and then stay the night at a resort.
Daytime tests are crap on TV when played at a ground with large grand stands, the ball disappears when it goes above the shadow of the grand stands. Even in September sitting in the sun at a ground gets bloody hot in QLD so only half the crowd are comfortable.
Tangawizi
Peter Fenwicke (45)
I would have to vote for a 3pm kick off if the GC somehow lands a Test again.
There were plenty of people there last night who had travelled from Brisbane for it but as mentioned above the long train ride back put many more off.
Clearly hardly anyone that actually lives on the Gold Coast bothered to show up for it. Maybe they just don't like Rugby that much? So I can't vote for them to get another match unless the contract has already been signed.
I'd like to see a game played at the Adelaide Oval at some stage. Nice big 50000 seat stadium within easy walking distance of the CBD and plenty of pubs & restaurant.
There were plenty of people there last night who had travelled from Brisbane for it but as mentioned above the long train ride back put many more off.
Clearly hardly anyone that actually lives on the Gold Coast bothered to show up for it. Maybe they just don't like Rugby that much? So I can't vote for them to get another match unless the contract has already been signed.
I'd like to see a game played at the Adelaide Oval at some stage. Nice big 50000 seat stadium within easy walking distance of the CBD and plenty of pubs & restaurant.
To be frank I think it's a wider societal thing. Whether it's economical strains or social (lack of spare time etc) but it's part of a broader trend. Most sports and events and activities have reported down scaled crowds over the last 12-18 months.
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