Record crowds toast Super 14
12 Feb 2006
The players may still be cursing a second week in February start to the Vodacom Super 14, but the paying supporter in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa showed that no game of rugby union can come sooner, with record crowds recorded.
The biggest crowd of the day went to those in Bloemfontein, who backed the new Super 14 franchise with a 40 000 turn-out. Disappointingly, the poorest crowd on week one was the 26 000 that paid to watch the Sharks beat the Chiefs in Durban.
More than 230 000 paid ground entrance money to watch the first weekend’s matches, with an average attendance of 33 500 — another record high.
In 1996 13 000 watched the Blues beat the Hurricanes in Palmerston North and 10 years later 35 000 pitched up to watch the Hurricanes destroy the Blues in Auckland.
Another big turnaround was in home form. In 2005, four of the six home teams won, whereas at the weekend just two of the seven home teams were successful. The Blues, Force, Cheetahs, Reds and Cats all crashed at home.
Crowd attendance
Cheetahs v Bulls
Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein
40,000.
Reds v Waratahs
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
39,000.
Force v Brumbies
Subiaco Oval, Perth
38,000.
Blues v Hurricanes
Eden Park, Auckland
35,000.
Crusaders v Highlanders
Jade Stadium, Christchurch
28,000.
Cats v Stormers
Ellis Park, Johannesburg
28,000.
Sharks v Chiefs
Absa Stadium, Durban
26 687
14 Comments
12 Feb 2006, 21:16 pm
Elis Park still got more than Absa stadium despite offering crapper rugby and rain…
12 Feb 2006, 21:23 pm
I reckon after that Sharks performance things will pick up again.
Go Sharks, sort those Cheetahs out next weekend!
12 Feb 2006, 21:50 pm
26 000 is a pretty good effort after last year. The cheetahs game will bring in 40000 though.
13 Feb 2006, 04:22 am
Never again will I go to Subiaco Oval to watch a Super 14 game!!! It was definitely not value for money.
Going to games in South Africa you get a real festival type feel at the games, especially King’s Park in Durban. You get a great view from any seat, and it is a friendly attitude. You can turn up to King’s Park 2 hours and even earlier before the game and enjoy yourself.
I turned up to Subiaco Oval, no festival feel to it at all, nothing was going on beforehand (if someone passed by Subiaco they wouldn’t have had a clue that a rugby game was going to commence in less than 2 hours), terrible pricing for the **** view I got, security was rude as hell, just a **** atmosphere overall!!
I wouldn’t be surprised at all if the crowds started dropping quickly at Western Farce games.
13 Feb 2006, 07:38 am
Cant believe that many people were prepared to get ripped of at Ellis park lol.
The parking cost more than the match ticket. and they threaten you outside if you dont pay they will bugger your car up.
Cats have lost me. Ellis park has to.
Loftus is a far better place to travel to.
13 Feb 2006, 07:54 am
Groen_en_Goud
I agree 100% with what you said about Subi oval, it has to be the worst stadium to watch rugby I have even been to. The seats are tiny, the view is terrible, you have to miss half the game just to get a beer or something to eat, and there is no ‘vibe’ at all.
Before the Super14 they promised to upgrade another stadium here in Perth, but once again it was all a bunch of promises and lies from the politicians. The games at Subi have been extended ‘indefinitely’ and you’re right, a lot of people will stop going. I won’t go anymore. I usually go once a year to watch the Boks but that’s where it stops.
It’s just shocking and something needs to be done about it. Rugby needs to be played in a purpose built stadium, close to the action.
13 Feb 2006, 08:37 am
Groen, why would you want to turn up to a stadium 2 hours before kick off. Australians don’t do that. Most people choose to go to a pub and then go off to a game, rather than sit in an empty stadium for 2 hours.
13 Feb 2006, 10:32 am
Brumby IV, there is usually another game of rugby before the main game. However if you don’t want to watch the first game then there is entertainment just outside the ground. Bring your own braai and beer to the parking lots just outside the ground and socialise, tentland, sometimes concerts, etc. Concerts afterwards, parties, etc.
Most South Africans make a full day out of going to the Rugby.
You have to experience a game in South Africa to realise just how boring it is in Australia just rocking up 5 – 10 mins before the game, and then quickly evacuating a ground afterwards.
13 Feb 2006, 12:05 pm
whatever, you are in Australia, get used to it, or leave. Barbeques in parking lots are for picnic races and backyards not stadiums.
13 Feb 2006, 12:15 pm
Ooooh,I think we hit a nerve with Brumby.
13 Feb 2006, 12:22 pm
londonshark if he doesn’t like the way we do things in Australia, what is he doing here
13 Feb 2006, 12:59 pm
Maybe I was born here BrumbyIV??? Got my RSA Citizenship and passport recently and I intend on going back to Die Republiek
13 Feb 2006, 13:42 pm
Ellis may be a record , but in terms of capacity its still not good enough !
13 Feb 2006, 14:00 pm
what is the highest crowd that the Cats have got at Ellis Park?
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