Promotion of Kiwis test gets reality check

[kiwileaguefan]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/4255470/Promotion-of-Kiwis-test-gets-reality-check

New Zealand Rugby League boss Jim Doyle hit back at criticism of its promotion of Saturday's Four Nations test, insisting it is realistic, not financially reckless.

Doyle refuted claims by league diehard Gerry Morris, who runs a public relations company and sent a strongly worded email yesterday slamming the buildup.

He claimed last night's parliamentary reception for the Kiwis and England teams was "rent-a- crowd" and snubbed members of the Wellington league community, and said very few league people knew of last night's NZRL awards function in the city.

Doyle, chief executive for the past year, took umbrage at all of Morris' claims. He said the NZRL were conservative, saying a crowd of 15,000-18,000 would be a good result. Around 12,000 tickets had already been sold for the stadium.

"I've looked at all of the test matches in Wellington in recent years and there were significant expectations that it would be sold out. They spent accordingly, and it's never been sold out and they've lost significant amounts of money," Doyle said.

The promotion of the tournament was shared between the NZRL and Australia's NRL. New Zealand, Australia and England share the costs and profits of the tournament, while the fourth nation, Papua New Guinea, receives an appearance fee.

The Eden Park test against Australia on November 6 had already sold 20,000 tickets. Doyle had pencilled in a 25,000-plus crowd and said the NZRL would make a tidy profit from the series. Past administrators had ruled with their hearts, not their heads, he said.

The awards night was scaled back from a black tie dinner to save money and still included grassroots league people invited by Wellington Rugby League.

The Kiwis had undertaken several community events this week, Doyle said. "We've been on buses, trains, newspapers, TV, radio – to me, people in Wellington and the surrounding areas know the game's on."

Just two things i want to say about this article. First, the promotion for this test match has been the best i have ever seen for a test match here in NZ. They had Manu on the radio yesterday, plus massive posters in the Wellington Paper each day from last week.

Secondly, the dinner that the guy is crying about, we knew about it 2 months ago as any member (coach or managers etc etc) involved in Junior Rugby League in the area were invited free to the dinner.

They had sold at least 12,000 tickets as of yesterday morning, so i think they will be on track for an 18,000 crowd.

 

[miguel de cervantes]

Why don't PNG get a share of the profits????

 

[Hindyscrack]

I assume that PNG dont get a share of the profits as they take no financial risk underwriting any of the four nations tournaments?

Can anyone confirm the 4 nations tournament is owned by the ARL, NZRL and RFL?

Would be great to see it owned and administered by the RLIF, we would be a big step in getting the organisation proffesionally run.

 

[deluded pom?]

Why don't PNG get a share of the profits????

Does the 4N actually make much money? If I were PNG I'd take the guaranteed appearance fee too.

 

[kuwaiti kev]

This is definately the most promotion I can remember going into a league match. Usually you wouldn't even know it was on unless you were a die hard fan.
Still struggling to make the top sports story on the news though, apparently it's more important people know that $BW's mum texted him the news he made the All Blacks and that Daniel Braid won't be displacing Richie McCaw anytime soon as All Black No.7.

 

[ANTiLAG]

This is definately the most promotion I can remember going into a league match. Usually you wouldn't even know it was on unless you were a die hard fan.
Still struggling to make the top sports story on the news though, apparently it's more important people know that $BW's mum texted him the news he made the All Blacks and that Daniel Braid won't be displacing Richie McCaw anytime soon as All Black No.7.

Well I can understand SBW's mum making headlines but Daniel who?

 

[ozenzud]

I agree Kiwi. The promotion here in Wellington for this match is the best ever.

I was at the Parliamentary reception last night. Heard John Key talk about SBW and how interested we were in his progress to union.......and how Samoa were in the 4 nations........but other than that the evening was excellent and was full of local league people enjoying getting close to the kiwis and England team.

I reckon that if we spent one extra cent on promotion it would not increase the crowd. The crowd will be what it will be.

That Pommy pack is big! I never appreciated how big till you stand near these blokes. Errol Crabtree, Sam Burgess are huge and even Gareth Ellis is a reasonable size

 

[Fast Eddie]

16,000 is the crowd Wellington got to the last England-Kiwis match so anything above that is good. I reckon it'll get pretty close to 20,000.

 

[Perth Red]

yes the 4nations (and tri nations before it) makes a healthy profit. I wonder what PNG's appearance fee is?

 

[ozbash]

Doyle refuted claims by league diehard Gerry Morris, who runs a public relations company and sent a strongly worded email yesterday slamming the buildup.

sour grapes maybe ?

the NZRL have been traditionally useless at promoting a series of any type. This one certainly surprises me, they have become very positive..

 

[roughyedspud]

yes the 4nations (and tri nations before it) makes a healthy profit.

the tri nations only made money in 2004,05...in 06,held down under, it lost money

last years 4nations made a profit too

 

[RedVee]

My guess is that the host/promoter takes the bulk of the profits. NZ are hosting/promoting most of the games so I guess they get most of those profits with profit sharing (risk sharing?) agreements with the other nations.

 

[roughyedspud]

what really should happen is all the money should go to the RLIF and all the teams taking part should get travel/accommodation paid for...and then prize money..


but then again that makes to much sense

 

[nadera78]

what really should happen is all the money should go to the RLIF and all the teams taking part should get travel/accommodation paid for...and then prize money..


but then again that makes to much sense

Stop it spud, just stop it.

 

[yakstorm]

Pre-sales for Wellington were at the 17,000 mark yesterday, so the match should crack the 20K mark with sales today plus a walk up.

Promotion by the NZRL has been a lot smarter this time around. They've been able to achieve greater visibility yet by spending less money than what they did for matches like the 2007 Centenary Test.

 

[Jeffles]

The crowd was above what Doyle said would be a good result. Great work by the NZRL. The new administration are going great guns.

 

[kiwileaguefan]

Pre-sales for Wellington were at the 17,000 mark yesterday, so the match should crack the 20K mark with sales today plus a walk up.

Promotion by the NZRL has been a lot smarter this time around. They've been able to achieve greater visibility yet by spending less money than what they did for matches like the 2007 Centenary Test.

Lets put things into perspective here, 20,681 is a bigger crowd than what England vs Kiwis got last year in the UK. That was 19,390.

Great crowd! But even after two sensational crowds in two weeks, i am reluctant to praise NZRL until after the Auckland and Rotorua tests.

 

[Manu Vatuvei]

I hate league at the Caketin. No matter how big the crowd is it always looks and sounds empty.

 

[ozenzud]

20600 is an above average crowd for league in Wellington. I think what worked well was that local league people would have felt part of the build up. Getting all the kids playing at half time, mascots leading the players on and the honour guards from Hawera was great for them all feeling part of it.

Walking around the city you got to meet players, coaches and officials who all seemed to be out and about, rather than hiding away.

Good crowds are important to local league because profits mean money for grassroots. Which is really badly needed.

 

[jamesgould]

I hate league at the Caketin. No matter how big the crowd is it always looks and sounds empty.

I was at the game and it seemed nothing like that being there ... the crowd seemed massive and I thought it may have even been a bit more. Atmosphere was fantastic and a big Kiwis chant went up several times which really boomed around the stadium.

It was actually one of the most atmospheric and enjoyable games of league I've ever been to!

Well done Wellington and well done NZRL!!!