Crowd numbers throughout New Zealand have reached an all-time low as people opt to watch games from home. Test matches involving the All Blacks struggle to sell out any more. Usually the visit of France attracts a full house, but not this year - and the Junior All Blacks played in front of only 5,000 against an Australia A side full of big names.

It is difficult to put your finger on what causes the dwindling crowds - especially at Carisbrook, where the Junior All Blacks game was played. The problem lies in the money.

The main factor, particularly in Dunedin, is the ease with which a fan can watch the match on television at home or in the pub. Professionalism and the viewing audience overseas wanting to see matches at breakfast time dictates that games at Carisbrook have to be played mostly at night time. This has dire consequences for rugby in general.

'It seems ironic that SKY, the very entertainment source which puts money into the sport we love, is killing the crowds and the gate takings'


Dewy and cold conditions hovering around zero ruin matches as a spectacle. The skill levels of players is tested and found wanting and there are generally fewer tries. People don't want to pay to stand or sit and watch rugby at an out-of-date ground in freezing conditions. The atmosphere is far from electric at Carisbrook and there usually isn't a big screen for replays, statistics or entertainment. Hopefully a new stadium will help the problem.

SKY television with their broadcasting rights, analysis, replays and the ability to sit somewhere warm and comfortable with mates for a fraction of the price of attending a game makes it a far more attractive option. This is ironic considering SKY pays approximately $664m to players, unions and administrators for professional rugby, yet because people stay at home or pubs to watch the game on SKY, there is less money going to those same rugby coffers in ticket sales and merchandise. It is a unique situation.

The crowds generally only show up to watch the best players in action and the famous reconditioning programme problem probably didn't help this. Neither does the constant rotation of players. People don't want to pay what they used to and instead of seeing Carl Hayman and Richie McCaw run out onto Carisbrook, they see second stringers Chris King and Johnny Leo'o. That is one reason no one is showing up to the games. Another reason, especially at Carisbrook, is the performance of the home side.

Carisbrook was once known as The House of Pain or The House of Taine, but never as The House of Gain - an easy win for the opposition. The glory days of Otago rugby ran out in 2003 and the crowds have dwindled ever since. People don't want to show up to get that hollow feeling of seeing their side lose. It is tough for the Highlanders to attract quality players any more as the lure of the University isn't a drawing force it once was in attracting Taine Randell, Josh Kronfeld and co in the 90s.

Times will get tougher in the Super 14 next season without Hayman, Anton Oliver, Clarke Dermody, Filipo Levi, Josh Blackie and Kane Thompson. The crowds will be pathetic!

Another reason for shrinking crowds is culture. There are fewer die-hard rugby fans in New Zealand society. The urbanisation of Kiwi culture means that people want to leave town for the weekends and are too busy doing other activities to attend the rugby. I call it the "softening" of New Zealand society. Super rugby has encouraged theatre-goers to attend games, but they only attend when the weather is warm and their team is winning. They will not attend if there are parties, movies to see or other cool activities to be had.

There are fewer people like me who have undeniable passion and yearning to see their team win. We could learn plenty from English football supporters, who are passionate and vocal.

Finally, ticket prices are probably a slight problem, but no more than in the past. There are so many games on now that people don't have the money to attend every home game as it would cost too much. Tickets are cheap in New Zealand compared with England. This was evident when the Lions toured in 2005 and fans purchased tickets off scalpers, but didn't mind paying exhorbitant (by New Zealand standard prices) prices as they are used to it at home. London has such high demand for tickets that at Twickenham, prices for Test tickets start at £60 - high by New Zealand standards.

It seems incredibly ironic that SKY, the very entertainment source which puts money into the sport we love, is killing the crowds and the gate takings for unions throughout the country. Sure, there are other factors, but they only play a secondary role in this problem.

Facilities need to be made more comfortable for spectators and quality rugby played. Otherwise the game will be neglecting the fans.