Rounds 8 & 13 (catching up)

[saulan]

Not sure how much I care for a broader SA perspective TBH- just glad the Stormers are getting by.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m definitely glad the Stormers of doing the best from SA, but I wanted the top 4 SA teams added to this competition to immediately show signs of competitiveness and to prove we add a lot by being a part of the tournament. The way things are headed with (likely) 3 out of 4 teams in the quarter finals in the first year definitely proves that, along with adding a large TV audience and an excuse to visit scenic SA to follow your team (and hoping they aren’t playing both the Lions and Bulls in terms of missing the coast).

I’d also say by adding to the average crowd attendance, but I’m not sure where we are at with the 50% attendance limitation still... even then, Bulls had 20k two weeks ago and I feel the Stormers had decentish attendance for the Bulls game... surely we are upping the average attendance, even if it looks poor with the limit and the massive stadium sizes.

What are the average attendances for the other regions? Ireland, Wales, Scotland and Italy? (Combined or individually?)

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Don’t get me wrong, I’m definitely glad the Stormers of doing the best from SA, but I wanted the top 4 SA teams added to this competition to immediately show signs of competitiveness and to prove we add a lot by being a part of the tournament. The way things are headed with (likely) 3 out of 4 teams in the quarter finals in the first year definitely proves that, along with adding a large TV audience and an excuse to visit scenic SA to follow your team (and hoping they aren’t playing both the Lions and Bulls in terms of missing the coast).

I’d also say by adding to the average crowd attendance, but I’m not sure where we are at with the 50% attendance limitation still... even then, Bulls had 20k two weeks ago and I feel the Stormers had decentish attendance for the Bulls game... surely we are upping the average attendance, even if it looks poor with the limit and the massive stadium sizes.

What are the average attendances for the other regions? Ireland, Wales, Scotland and Italy? (Combined or individually?)

On crowds, very crudely:

Welsh all average around 5,000 to 7,000 (Cardiff and Ospreys would get more if they were performing better)
Scots both around 6,000 it 7,000 (filling small stadia)
Zebre around 1,500, Benetton around 3,000
Connacht around 8,000 filling a small stadia
Other Irish around 11,000 to 15,000 average

So yes, SA could increase overall averages if the recent improvement continues. URC crowds were going up year on year until Covid hit. If the Welsh and Italian unions can find solutions to their problems (in my opinion getting cheap but quality players from the likes of Argentina and Georgia) then their crowds should improve.

 

[saulan]

On crowds, very crudely:

Welsh all average around 5,000 to 7,000 (Cardiff and Ospreys would get more if they were performing better)
Scots both around 6,000 it 7,000 (filling small stadia)
Zebre around 1,500, Benetton around 3,000
Connacht around 8,000 filling a small stadia
Other Irish around 11,000 to 15,000 average

So yes, SA could increase overall averages if the recent improvement continues. URC crowds were going up year on year until Covid hit. If the Welsh and Italian unions can find solutions to their problems (in my opinion getting cheap but quality players from the likes of Argentina and Georgia) then their crowds should improve.

Okay, we should be able to boost this. Looking at the 2019 season, when many had already stopped caring about attending games, your weak matches (e.g. SA team vs weak foreign team like the sunwolves) would get 7-9k, while a derby or a big foreign team (Crusaders) would get 22-27k.

Was kinda shocked to see such low figures tbh (for SA). Shows how much the changes in format decimated attendance interest for South Africans ‘16/‘17 matches between Stormers/Bulls/Sharks used to bring in 30-40k. Now they need to rebuild the goodwill. On the flip side, I think schools and uni rugby support has exploded. I can watch my old high school’s 1st xv matches online live every weekend with commentary. While most Unis will have varsity cup matches on SuperSport every other week. Just need to fix the top.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

I don't think we can underestimate the impact of the lock-downs on attendance. With 1/2 capacity now we should see things pick up but it'll take time to get back to "expected" figures if we ever get there.

From a general standpoint it is good that SA can add extra competitiveness to the tournament. Time will show how much because its difficult to say precisely where we stand what with most of the touring sides having not had their internationals. On the flip side I think we could in future tour Europe more successfully as well so perhaps this is a fair enough reflection of what to expect going forwards.

Going forward I think the Stormers in particular (also the Lions though..) will have to invest in greater depth in quality.

 

[unrated]

I don't think we can underestimate the impact of the lock-downs on attendance. With 1/2 capacity now we should see things pick up but it'll take time to get back to "expected" figures if we ever get there.

From a general standpoint it is good that SA can add extra competitiveness to the tournament. Time will show how much because its difficult to say precisely where we stand what with most of the touring sides having not had their internationals. On the flip side I think we could in future tour Europe more successfully as well so perhaps this is a fair enough reflection of what to expect going forwards.

Going forward I think the Stormers in particular (also the Lions though..) will have to invest in greater depth in quality.

I think we will see that the teams who make the Champions cup will go on a spending spree to enlarge their squads to deal with all the extra gametime. And then they have more money to play with. i think Stormers will make it so, I can see them picking up their spending patterns, maybe lure guys like Willie and PSdT back to Cape Town