Suncorp Stadium Atmosphere Lacking

[barbarian]

The match of the round in the local comp would make a great curtain raiser.

Don't know. It would aggravate fans of the local clubs because they would have to pay more and travel further to see their team. Regular rugby fans aren't going to go that early either- they want to have a good feed and a drink before they get to the game, so they dont have to put up with overpriced crap at the ground.

I am not opposed to the idea, but I don't think curtain raisers are the solution to any crowd problems. If you did have an early game I would tie it in with 2 for 1 beers before 7:00 or something like that. Another carrot to get people in early.

 

[RedsHappy]

Quote from QC (Quade Cooper) re Suncorp's atmosphere:

(Courier-Mail, July 26)

"....For local favourite Quade Cooper, the energising feeling behind Australia's 11-2 win-loss record at the (Suncorp) ground since 2003 is simple.

"The great atmosphere almost on top of you and the crowd getting into it does lift the boys," Cooper said after the 30-13 victory."​

 

[George]

Posted this elsewhere, think it applies here and is a whinge I have been having for long time, apologies to my friends who before finding this site were my only venting outlet.

Have been wondering for a while about the lack of intensity not from the players this time, but from the crowd. Was at the Ireland game and the Irish supporters were amazing, definitely outenthused the Aus crowd. Why is it we sit, not proudly and loud in Gold, but donned in black coats with a dribble of gold over shoulders aka the scarf politely clapping? The guy who ran on the field at the end of the Ireland game got a more rousing cheer from the crowd than throughout the game, I guess it could have been the Irish once again. (Thinking he ran further than any of the Aus backline that night!!!)
And while on lack of atmosphere, why do we not utilise the Try/No Try technology? Disappointed when at the few Reds/Wallabies games I actually attend (damn distance) I have to look for the little guy to put his hand up and award the try. Would love to be able to respond like the League crowds do when the big green sign rolls around - only if in our favour of course!!

 

[rsea]

Quote from QC (Quade Cooper) re Suncorp's atmosphere:

(Courier-Mail, July 26)

"....For local favourite Quade Cooper, the energising feeling behind Australia's 11-2 win-loss record at the (Suncorp) ground since 2003 is simple.

"The great atmosphere almost on top of you and the crowd getting into it does lift the boys," Cooper said after the 30-13 victory."​

What did you expect him to say? "Naah the atmosphere sucks. The ARU should pull their finger out and find a way to rev up the crowd. I think half the fuckers were asleep"

 

[Lindommer]

Par in the Courier-Mail today suggesting that the local pubs say it's a bigger night for them post test match, over an Origin. I guess the SOO is on a Wednesday night though.

Having worked for one of the two big brewing groups in a past life I can tell you rugby crowds drink a lot more than mungo ones. Going to the rugby is a social as well as sporting occasion. Rugby crowds invariably arrive at the game late and stay late to socialise, and drink. Mugno crowds arrive early and scapa as soon as the final whistle blows.

The manager at North Sydney Oval once told me for comparable crowds (when the Bears were still playng there) the rugger lot drank four times as much beer and gave half as much trouble.

 

[Ruggo]

What did you expect him to say? "Naah the atmosphere sucks. The ARU should pull their finger out and find a way to rev up the crowd. I think half the fuckers were asleep bro"

fixed.

 

[Ruggo]

Not Suncorp but I went to Canberra Stadium for both the Reds v Brumbies and the Fiji test and the crowd at the Brumbies game shitted all over the Test. Crowd was bigger at the Brumbies game too. My brother and I said nothing crude or vulgar but were just bloody loud supporting the Reds but the locals just stared at us as if we didn't belong. They got the hang of it after a while and when things turned to shit for the Reds, they started dishing it back. Nobody was out of control but in the end you actually had the fans passionatly supporting their teams. The test was a shocker and You stand a better chance at getting a more rowdy at church on a Sunday morning.

 

[Tangawizi]

I don't think atmosphere on Saturday night was terrible. I still had a great time giving shit to the 10 Saffas sitting in front of me but the atmosphere was not as good as it could/should have been with a bit of effort from ARU and sponsors.

I did not see was any of the usual Bundy promo girl/Ford/Tooheys New promos around the place. Where is this season's version of "Drink 4 Bundys/Beers, get a new Shirt?"

Nor was there any attempt to pump up the crowd from the ARU, which is quite frankly pissweak. The winter sports market in Australia is super competitive and the ARU should be doing everything it can to capture the hearts and minds of its supporters - young and old. Maybe they are trying to be financially prudent though since it's a World Cup next year which means higher player costs and lower gate revenues.

And for those who don't go there on a weekly basis, the booze is good at Suncorp. Despite most bars in the ground only selling mid-strength beer, the Public Bar in the North-West corner sells full strength. Just have to pour your Becks/Super Dry or whatever into plastic cups and take them back to your seat. Plus it's 4 drinks per person per time. None of this 2 per person ANZ Stadium rubbish....

 

[rsea]

And for those who don't go there on a weekly basis, the booze is good at Suncorp. Despite most bars in the ground only selling mid-strength beer, the Public Bar in the North-West corner sells full strength. Just have to pour your Becks/Super Dry or whatever into plastic cups and take them back to your seat. Plus it's 4 drinks per person per time. None of this 2 per person ANZ Stadium rubbish....

I'll be remembering this come S15

 

[Rob42]

What proportion of the crowd is there on corporate tickets? I'm sure higher than a Reds game. A great way to kill atmosphere in my experience - though obviously a good fundraiser.

 

[RedsHappy]

What did you expect him to say? "Naah the atmosphere sucks. The ARU should pull their finger out and find a way to rev up the crowd. I think half the fuckers were asleep"

rsea, given the subject matter of the thread, I thought a (key) player's view re atmosphere would be useful. I think QC (Quade Cooper) told it like he sees it, I don't think he was being just so PC about it. (This also relates a bit to the thread re Suncorp: Why Is It So? that discusses the reasons Suncorp has yielded such a remarkable w-l ratio for Oz.)

 

[rsea]

rsea, given the subject matter of the thread, I thought a (key) player's view re atmosphere would be useful. I think QC (Quade Cooper) told it like he sees it, I don't think he was being just so PC about it. (This also relates a bit to the thread re Suncorp: Why Is It So? that discusses the reasons Suncorp has yielded such a remarkable w-l ratio for Oz.)

C'mon reds. You know he's just regurgitating a clichéd line we've all heard a dozen times before. What else was he going to say after all that pre game wanking on about it being the Wallabies "spiritual home"

 

[RedsHappy]

Have been wondering for a while about the lack of intensity not from the players this time, but from the crowd. Was at the Ireland game and the Irish supporters were amazing, definitely outenthused the Aus crowd. Why is it we sit, not proudly and loud in Gold, but donned in black coats with a dribble of gold over shoulders aka the scarf politely clapping? The guy who ran on the field at the end of the Ireland game got a more rousing cheer from the crowd than throughout the game

Excellent points, and similar via other posters. I can remember the 2006 Suncorp victory over the Boks vividly. I am sure the crowd intensity and vocal support (at least at Suncorp) was stronger for Oz a few years back than it recently has been. I think there are a number of reasons IMO:

- passion really does lose its edge when fans over time know that maybe next week it could - probably will - all fall back in a heap - the Wallabies' love-hate relationship with consistency and backing up over time dilutes fans' enthusiasm that they are behind 'a good cause'.

- at the Ireland game June 26 for example, literally about 20% of the people around my (premium) seats got up 15+ mins before game end and all were muttering things like 'don't know why I bother', 'not as much fun as the Reds', 'crap game', etc.

- the whole renaissance for the Reds 2010 (with major increases in crowd numbers, and I thought the crowds were generally very passionate around me when I was there, more so than for Wallabies) proved to me anyway that the 'everyday' Aus rugby fans want to pay to see: dynamic, entertaining, hi-octane, ball-in-hand rugby from a team they think can win well and keep on winning. They especially love seeing their team 'beat the best'. Hardly surprising. This is, over time, what the Wallabies have not been delivering. JO'N has noted that from a business/revenue-in point of view, this is one of his key worries for rugby in Australia, and he's 100% right.

[Btw, this is one of the many reasons I get so grumpy with posters that insist the RWC and 'subtle development and depth' and 'don't worry about w-l ratios' are all the rightly dominant themes for Wallaby land, and don't worry yourself about winning now. Whatever the merits of these arguments, we must never, ever forget the everyday rugby fan that pays the bills, watches rugby on TV, kids who turn up and decide on a code for life, etc. These are the constituencies that really need to come to love, and/or keep loving, the game, and keep growing it by coming again and playing it more. They want terrific play, exciting players, and wins. They won't wait for delayed gratification opportunities every 4 years that will be over in 4 weeks...and we still may lose! 90% of the subtle 'expert' views on this and other sites matter not a jot to 90% of the everyday fans.]

 

[David]

And for those who don't go there on a weekly basis, the booze is good at Suncorp. Despite most bars in the ground only selling mid-strength beer, the Public Bar in the North-West corner sells full strength. Just have to pour your Becks/Super Dry or whatever into plastic cups and take them back to your seat. Plus it's 4 drinks per person per time. None of this 2 per person ANZ Stadium rubbish....

What? Since when, and why haven't I taken advantage of this? I'm with rsea.

 

[Reddy!]

At the moment, you turn up, watch a test and go home. Why not have club rugby games scheduled for the day such as grade 3 to seniors, leading into the main event i.e. the test match? Make the test day a rugby experience.

They may be scared that the ground is going to be torn to shreds before the main event even starts.

 

[DPK]

They may be scared that the ground is going to be torn to shreds before the main event even starts.

Only at Etihad.

Grade teams seem to go alright, and really you'd only need to schedule one game. Shute Shield teams usually have three games preceding the 1st Grade game and they seem to do fine in terms of surface suitability.

 

[spectator]

Being 'polite' and conservative, in comparison to other rugby following nation supporters, has always been the general go with Aussie Crowds. We have nothing that comes close to the hymns and songs that other nations have and the whole "Waltzing Matilda' thing was a little contrived IMO. There's still plenty of passion in the stands, just not as coordinated as with visiting crowds, who tend to all sit together in sizeable blocs.

I love Suncorp and nearly always walk away with a smile. Plenty of good banter and some great comments thrown around in the pocket of the stadium I sit in, service and accessibilty are better than most grounds, and then off to Caxton St for more good times. Couldn't be better.

As for curtain raisers - what about one or two top shelf schoolboy games, an AIC followed by a GPS, and trucking in schoolboys to take up free seats in areas not sold?

 

[RedsHappy]

I love Suncorp and nearly always walk away with a smile. Plenty of good banter and some great comments thrown around in the pocket of the stadium I sit in, service and accessibilty are better than most grounds, and then off to Caxton St for more good times. Couldn't be better.

See Al Baxter's rating of Suncorp in his excellent blog on rugby stadia via the thread Moses just started with Al's blog link.

 

[daz]

Call me unpatriotic if you wish, but the whole Waltzing Matila/Oi Oi Oi thing really makes me want to vomit. Cringe-worthy of the highest fucking order.

I don't think Aussie's are built for anthems and singing e.g. The Poms, but for me it is all abut getting behind your team with a good scream combined with witty and sarcastic banter with the visiting supporters. A few lubricating ales helps immeasurably.

Since I am here, I like the idea of Shute Shield being scheduled as a curtain raiser. For Tests outside the heartlands such as Melb/Perth, the 2 strongest teams/most intense rivals in the local comp should be scheduled. I don't think surface would be an issue except for, yes, ol' Etihad.

Get the players in front of 20/30/40+ thousand crowds, which they would love. Wouldn't you mark that one in your calendar as a club rugby player?! Give some fringe supporters a first hand glipse of the local product and perhaps they may take a bigger interest. Bigger interest means better gates at the local comps. Suddenly a 6 year old kid can see his favourite local player weekly, in the flesh.

We all talk about what the ARU can do to promote rugby, and this is a sensible step. It doesn't have to be just about a global IRB comp that occurs in a 4 year cycle. S15 is the provincial comp and quite rightly should be the standard benchmark, as well as the most tribal and unite communities, but grassroots rugby can often offer a far better spectacle week in and week out compared to some internationals and is far more accessible to the average fan/family (bang for your buck)...Let's showcase that, even if it is only 3-4 times a year prior to a Test match.

End rant. Soapbox removed.

 

[Lee Grant]

Call me unpatriotic if you wish, but the whole Waltzing Matila/Oi Oi Oi thing really makes me want to vomit. Cringe-worthy of the highest fucking order.

Amen. There's only one time I remember being at the ground and the crowd sung Waltzing Matilda and it was stirring. It was during the Oz v NZ RWC semi-final in 2003. The crowd just started if off themselves and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. The whole bloody stadium - but it didn't come through on the TV as I remember watching the replay.

Didn't think that old dirge would ever make me feel like that. The Poms tried to drown us out with Sweet Chariot (Yes, the Poms - the Kiwis were pretty quiet that night) but we won that contest at least.

Pity about the final.

.