News

Empty seats for Bledisloe opener

Friday 25th July 2008

Lacking in numbers: Wallabies supporters

As many as 4,000 tickets remain unsold for Saturday's long-awaited Bledisloe Cup Test at ANZ Stadium, and the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) is seeking answers.

ARU officials still hope a crowd of close to 80,000 will attend the Test in the 83,000-capacity Olympic stadium, but are disappointed Wallabies coach Robbie Deans' first Bledisloe match in charge has not yet sold out.

ARU chief executive John O'Neill said an internet questionnaire to fans would hopefully supply answers.

"The Perth Test against the Springboks (last Saturday) attracted the biggest crowd of any code to have played at Subiaco Oval this year," O'Neill said in a statement.

"The third match of the Bledisloe Cup series in Brisbane (on September 13) is also selling very strongly.

"At the same time, the Bledisloe Cup match at ANZ Stadium this Saturday night is not sold out.

"That is disappointing. Even though we will have around 80,000 people there - which is a big crowd by any measure in world sport - we want to find out why there are tickets remaining two days before the Test."

False reports that the match had in fact sold out were also frustrating O'Neill.

Lack of interest from New Zealand is considered one reason behind the slower sales, with O'Neill suggesting the historic fourth Bledisloe Cup Test in Hong Kong on November 1 was partly to blame.

The All Blacks have not felt inclined to do their bit for ticket sales this week, opting to remain in Wellington before flying to Sydney on Thursday night.

An ANZ Stadium spokesperson said recent suggestions in the media that the rugby community disliked the venue were not behind the survey.

"The survey was organised well before those comments were made," the spokesperson said.

"We completely understand and do research all the time and know that people really love coming here.

"We're right in the heart of where the population lives.

"We see there's enormous rugby communities and playing around this stadium.

"We're encouraging the survey, we're very open to public feedback."

O'Neill said the feedback would help with the mooted restructure of the Tri-Nations and Super 14 tournaments.

"We want to know now, at an operational level, what is and isn't working with our fans," he said.