Just heard on radio sport from the deputy mayor of Wellington that only 1300 tickets sold so far.
I've been out of the country for almost 5 years now, so I'm out of touch a little these days, and I've heard over the years that the event is slowly dying due to the cracking down on fun & cost, but it's surely dead now if the demand is that low?
Wellington have it for another 3 years to turn things around, but it looks like things are getting worse.
No one there at that time of year? Uni isn't back so there's a heap of people who like getting dressed up, boozy and having fun.
@JayCee said in wellington 7s:
Just heard on radio sport from the deputy mayor of Wellington that only 1300 tickets sold so far.
I've been out of the country for almost 5 years now, so I'm out of touch a little these days, and I've heard over the years that the event is slowly dying due to the cracking down on fun & cost, but it's surely dead now if the demand is that low?
Wellington have it for another 3 years to turn things around, but it looks like things are getting worse.
Probably a few reasons it's dying. It got a bad rep due to the drunken debauchery which put people off, particularly families. So they tried to crack down on that which put the drunkards off going. Plus the novelty factor wore off so people that have already been a handful of times don't bother anymore, which is related to the fact that Wellington probably doesn't have a large enough population to support the event long-term. The success of the 9s in Auckland has also meant that a lot of people up north are no longer taking the trip down.
No easy fix to any of that. I've said in the past that copying what Aus have done with the BBL and really targeting families and kids is probably their best bet, but the advertising for it this year has been around it being a big party and to "bring the noise".
Who knows...
Wellington Council don't want it so do everything behind the scenes to make sure it isn't successful, while in the press making all the right noises about making the event work
7s has had its day. The 'All Blacks' performance at the Olympics won't help the cause either.
Great fun in the mid 2000s though. I managed to score free tickets every time through work/mates.
@Wurzel said in wellington 7s:
Wellington Council don't want it so do everything behind the scenes to make sure it isn't successful, while in the press making all the right noises about making the event work
Are you sure that the council don't want it? I thought they helped fund it
@Hooroo said in wellington 7s:
@Wurzel said in wellington 7s:
Wellington Council don't want it so do everything behind the scenes to make sure it isn't successful, while in the press making all the right noises about making the event work
Are you sure that the council don't want it? I thought they helped fund it
Of course we want it. The Wellington Council has reduced its financial contribution which is appropriate because the 7's aren't a money maker any more. Last year, the WCC ran a whole week of build up to the 7's. No one cared about it though.
The great thing about the 7's was that it was an organic event. It started with the opening of the stadium. People weren't told to dress up - they started dressing up on their own account. The event grew naturally. You just aren't going to get 34,500 rugby fans and families to watch a 7's tournament. You don't get that many people to go to a regular rugby game - people won't pay more to watch a lower quality product.
The event isn't unpopular because of the Council. It's because the event doesn't meet the wants of consumers.
@Kiwidom said in wellington 7s:
@JayCee I still can't fathom the idea of giving it to Wellington for another 2-3 years, based on the bad press it has received in recent years. They should have shared it around a few venues. For example Dunedin could have been an ideal place with the big scarfie population down there.
Dunedin is completely out. No students down there at that time of year, $179 for a family ticket for one day, $87 for an adult (students can't afford it) and Dunedin doesn't have the hotel space (hence no Lions test).
Only place that could host it would be Auckland, if they lose the 9's. Christchurch too if they built a new stadium.
@No-Quarter said in wellington 7s:
@JayCee said in wellington 7s:
Just heard on radio sport from the deputy mayor of Wellington that only 1300 tickets sold so far.
I've been out of the country for almost 5 years now, so I'm out of touch a little these days, and I've heard over the years that the event is slowly dying due to the cracking down on fun & cost, but it's surely dead now if the demand is that low?
Wellington have it for another 3 years to turn things around, but it looks like things are getting worse.
Probably a few reasons it's dying. It got a bad rep due to the drunken debauchery which put people off, particularly families. So they tried to crack down on that which put the drunkards off going. Plus the novelty factor wore off so people that have already been a handful of times don't bother anymore, which is related to the fact that Wellington probably doesn't have a large enough population to support the event long-term. The success of the 9s in Auckland has also meant that a lot of people up north are no longer taking the trip down.
No easy fix to any of that. I've said in the past that copying what Aus have done with the BBL and really targeting families and kids is probably their best bet, but the advertising for it this year has been around it being a big party and to "bring the noise".
Who knows...
BBL is $40 for a family of 4, one day at the sevens is $179 and the beach is free. Kids eat free at the sevens but you have to buy food for yourself. Having $40 tickets for the 7's is probably uneconomic given that you have to house 16 teams and support staff.
@JayCee said in wellington 7s:
Just heard on radio sport from the deputy mayor of Wellington that only 1300 tickets sold so far.
I've been out of the country for almost 5 years now, so I'm out of touch a little these days, and I've heard over the years that the event is slowly dying due to the cracking down on fun & cost, but it's surely dead now if the demand is that low?
Wellington have it for another 3 years to turn things around, but it looks like things are getting worse.
I was told yesterday that that number is higher than it was last year at the same time. So relatively speaking, more tickets have been sold than last year; that trend just needs to continue until the weekend itself.
The family zone was pretty full last year, so they got that right and probably should make that zone bigger.
Must say I find the marketing of the Wellington 7s (28-29 Jan) pretty bad compared to the Auckland 9s (4-5 Feb), Sydney 7s (4-5 Feb) or Brisbane 10s (11-12 Feb), which are all being held in a time span of 3 weeks. I haven't seen one single ad on tv for the Welly 7s and see ads for the Auckland 9s several times every day. Social media, same story. I'm getting sick of the Brisbane 10s tweets on my timeline; don't think I've seen more than 2-3 tweets from Welly 7s the last 3 months. They say the Welly marketing is focusing on specific parts of the community, but it's obviously not reaching everyone as mates of mine who are keen to take their kids, didn't know when it was and hadn't seen any advertising. Maybe it's because they don't live in CBD, but the organisation is definitely not reaching enough people.
@hydro11 said in wellington 7s:
BBL is $40 for a family of 4, one day at the sevens is $179 and the beach is free. Kids eat free at the sevens but you have to buy food for yourself. Having $40 tickets for the 7's is probably uneconomic given that you have to house 16 teams and support staff.
Sydney 7s tickets are $35 for a single day, or $60 for a two day pass (from memory).
One of the reasons that last year was so successful and this year will be just as good.
@barbarian said in wellington 7s:
@hydro11 said in wellington 7s:
BBL is $40 for a family of 4, one day at the sevens is $179 and the beach is free. Kids eat free at the sevens but you have to buy food for yourself. Having $40 tickets for the 7's is probably uneconomic given that you have to house 16 teams and support staff.
Sydney 7s tickets are $35 for a single day, or $60 for a two day pass (from memory).
One of the reasons that last year was so successful and this year will be just as good.
Makes a huge difference. Wellington 7's used to actually be more expensive as well and they sold it out.
The reason the 7s has fallen flat is that the novelty value that attracted swathes of people with no interest in rugby has gone. So you are trying to sell tickets to rugby diehards now.
I remember back in Uni (early 2000s), people in my class who wouldn't know the difference between a rugby and a soccer ball scrambling to get tickets.
It was a fad, the fad has passed, desperately trying to make it a fad again is doomed to fail.
Best bet: make it cheap, target families.
@Billy-Tell said in wellington 7s:
The reason the 7s has fallen flat is that the novelty value that attracted swathes of people with no interest in rugby has gone. So you are trying to sell tickets to rugby diehards now.
I remember back in Uni (early 2000s), people in my class who wouldn't know the difference between a rugby and a soccer ball scrambling to get tickets.
It was a fad, the fad has passed, desperately trying to make it a fad again is doomed to fail.
Best bet: make it cheap, target families.
That's what they have done and crowds have fallen. The police decided it can't be a party - it wasn't that people got tired of it at all. Plenty of parties nationally and internationally sustain themselves. The Wellington races, Toast Martinborough and Saturday night on Courtenay Place are all events which have seen aggressive police presence and in many cases has led to people staying away. It's not a coincidence.
@RaGe_X said in wellington 7s:
Playing devils advocate..
Surely the teams form this season isnt helping the cause?
It was probably at its most successful in the early 2000s when we lost in Wellington but won everywhere else. I went in 2001, I though sevens was pretty ordinary before that , two days of it was pretty tedious and I never went back.
We went last year, and will probably go again this year. Great to be able to watch rugby (our main reason for going) and enjoy the entertainment without annoying drunks around you. We brought home-made food because of the insane cost of buying it at the stadium. Although it would be great if NZ was in top-form, I also enjoy a tournament if other teams play good rugby. Fiji and Kenya are always fun to watch.
damn, for some reason I cant link the sound file through this browser...
but from about 0808-0820 is an interesting chat about the 7s'
