Talking Footy

More than 20,000 expected for NZ clash
By Ashley Browne2:38pm AEST Thursday, April 18, 2013

The Sydney Swans and St Kilda will meet in Wellington on Anzac Day

THE AFL is expecting a crowd of more than 20,000 for next week's historic Anzac Day clash in New Zealand between St Kilda and the Sydney Swans.

Ticket sales for the clash at Westpac Stadium in Wellington ticked over 16,000 on Thursday morning, a figure AFL deputy chief executive Gillon McLachlan said was "encouraging".

"Obviously we want a good crowd so there's a good atmosphere to exhibit our code well," he said on Thursday.

According to McLachlan, there are all sorts of objectives for the AFL in playing the game in the New Zealand capital.

"Long term, there will be a whole series of things such as being a beachhead to grow the participation numbers in New Zealand and that flows into talent and commercial opportunities," McLachlan said.

"Hopefully it's a great game with a good crowd, which makes it a showcase event and hopefully it says something about our game and our brand that we are playing internationally for premiership points."

Both teams leave Australia on Tuesday to prepare for the game, which starts at 7.50pm local time (5.50AEST) On Thursday. It will be televised live on Fox Footy, immediately after the Collingwood-Essendon clash.

http://www.AFL.com.au/news/2013-04-18/m ... r-nz-clash

Beaussie wrote:

Wow, very encouraging ticket sales for the AFL in NZ. Wish I could be there.

More than 20,000 expected for NZ clash
By Ashley Browne2:38pm AEST Thursday, April 18, 2013

The Sydney Swans and St Kilda will meet in Wellington on Anzac Day

THE AFL is expecting a crowd of more than 20,000 for next week's historic Anzac Day clash in New Zealand between St Kilda and the Sydney Swans.

Ticket sales for the clash at Westpac Stadium in Wellington ticked over 16,000 on Thursday morning, a figure AFL deputy chief executive Gillon McLachlan said was "encouraging".

"Obviously we want a good crowd so there's a good atmosphere to exhibit our code well," he said on Thursday.

According to McLachlan, there are all sorts of objectives for the AFL in playing the game in the New Zealand capital.

"Long term, there will be a whole series of things such as being a beachhead to grow the participation numbers in New Zealand and that flows into talent and commercial opportunities," McLachlan said.

"Hopefully it's a great game with a good crowd, which makes it a showcase event and hopefully it says something about our game and our brand that we are playing internationally for premiership points."

Both teams leave Australia on Tuesday to prepare for the game, which starts at 7.50pm local time (5.50AEST) On Thursday. It will be televised live on Fox Footy, immediately after the Collingwood-Essendon clash.

http://www.AFL.com.au/news/2013-04-18/m ... r-nz-clash

Phelpsy wrote:

True , a good move by them too. Just as the AFL will probably do or are doing in NZ. Little market wise there so that's how you grow the game.

Drac wrote:

a crowd of over 20k would amuse me greatly.

Swans4ever wrote:

Didn't Melb storm give a free ticket to every member who brought someone along a couple of Mondays ago - I agree with Raiderdave same ol with THAT NRL mob! Raiderdave you Wanker

Stewie wrote:

Phelpsy wrote:

True , a good move by them too. Just as the AFL will probably do or are doing in NZ. Little market wise there so that's how you grow the game.

I don't think I would call what the Storm did a good move. They just won the premiership, they shouldn't have to do freebies like that. The fact that they do just to get a good crowd (nRL standard) shows that the support for them in Melbourne is minuscule.

Stewie wrote:

Phelpsy wrote:

True , a good move by them too. Just as the AFL will probably do or are doing in NZ. Little market wise there so that's how you grow the game.

they shouldn't have to do freebies like that. The fact that they do just to get a good crowd (nRL standard) shows that the support for them in Melbourne is minuscule.

Beaussie wrote:

Stewie wrote:

Phelpsy wrote:

True , a good move by them too. Just as the AFL will probably do or are doing in NZ. Little market wise there so that's how you grow the game.

I don't think I would call what the Storm did a good move. They just won the premiership, they shouldn't have to do freebies like that. The fact that they do just to get a good crowd (nRL standard) shows that the support for them in Melbourne is minuscule.

The AFL will have a bigger crowd in NZ than the NRL premiers at home on a public holiday in sports mad Melbourne. :

Raiderdave wrote:

Stewie wrote:

Phelpsy wrote:

True , a good move by them too. Just as the AFL will probably do or are doing in NZ. Little market wise there so that's how you grow the game.

they shouldn't have to do freebies like that. The fact that they do just to get a good crowd (nRL standard) shows that the support for them in Melbourne is minuscule.

& yet the Vicky Kicky Premiers being in town .... isn't enough to stop a dump truck full of freebies needed to get the ground to half full
shows the support for the Victorian game in NZ is

well

non exsitent