2012 Investec Super Rugby set for Super start
Forty Super matches on New Zealand soil, 20 Super derbies, new venues, new coaches, new faces, and old faces in new jerseys – Investec Super Rugby 2012 kicks off on Friday with a monster grudge match between the Blues and Crusaders.
Monster derby showdown to kick off 2012
New initiatives to win back fans
Cheaper tickets, special offers, dedicated fan zones
With an expected crowd of 25,000, it will be the 20th time the two sides have faced each other with the Crusaders only just having the historic advantage with 10 wins to the Blues’ nine. In the other vengeance match of the opening round, the Chiefs under new Coach Dave Rennie will host the Highlanders at Waikato Stadium and they’ll be looking to settle the score after going down to the Chiefs 20 – 7 the last time the two sides met.
New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) Chief Executive Steve Tew said that while the teams have been working hard on their season campaigns, the franchises behind the teams have been developing new initiatives aimed at luring fans to their home games.
Cheaper tickets, $5 children’s tickets, new general admission categories, dedicated fan zones for teenagers and families, student and superannuitant concessions, new fan groups and other initiatives are geared at reconnecting with fans.
“We always knew that the Rugby World Cup would provide a great platform for re-invigorating interest in rugby in New Zealand, and franchises have been working hard to get the 2012 Investec Super Rugby season off to a great start.
“The signs have been encouraging so far, with franchises reporting a positive response to initiatives they have introduced to lure people back to the stadium,” Tew said.
“We have the finest rugby players in the world playing in our backyard so our message to fans is that, as we saw with the Rugby World Cup, being in the stands cheering on your team with your mates is a fantastic way to enjoy rugby.”
Special ticket offers and packages helped to boost the Blues season membership by 50 percent, the Chiefs season membership is up about 20 percent, the Highlanders have had a 10 percent increase and a month out from their first home games in their respective towns, season memberships for the Crusaders and the Hurricanes are encouraging.
New Initiatives:
BLUES:
Close to 3000 True Blue fans have snapped up a new multi-game offer – four games for $59 (kids $20) or eight games for $109 (kids $40). The Blues have also introduced $5 children’s tickets for virtually anywhere in the ground, reduced prices on covered seating and cheaper tickets for tertiary students and pensioners. The Blue Army will launch their campaign, and four ‘Best Blues fans’ will win the chance to go to the team changing room post-match and meet the team.
CHIEFS:
The Chiefs have revamped their kids zone, and have introduced $5 children’s packs which include a game ticket, snack pack, bouncy castle entry, free face painting and other giveaways as well as adult tickets starting at $12 (excluding service fees).
HURRICANES:
The Flying Squadron has been created by die-hard Hurricanes fans. Westpac Stadium’s aisle 33 will be renamed The Hangar for Squadron members. The Hurricanes team was presented with their own Squadron Tshirts before they flew out for South Africa this week (www.flyingsquadron.co.nz). The Hurricanes are offering reduced pricing on covered silver and bronze seating as well as Hurricanes/Wellington Lions season packages that effectively mean members are paying as little as $17 a game for adults and $4 a game for children.
CRUSADERS:
Ticket prices for Crusaders home games have all been cut by 10 percent – and the franchise is expecting to sell out all games at the new 17,000 capacity Christchurch Stadium currently under development. The Crusaders will run out onto the new Christchurch paddock for the first time against the Cheetahs on 24 March, but they’ll mark their Napier “home” game against the Chiefs two weeks before, by taking the Crusaders horses to McLean Park.
HIGHLANDERS:
This season the Highlanders also targeting young fans, offering 2,000 seats that come with a “take a kid to the footy” package, including child’s ticket, fan flags and free face-painting. University students (18 years plus) will be herded into the Zoo - a new dedicated area at the 22,000 capacity Forsyth Barr Stadium - where they will be treated to free entertainment in the West Stand. General admission tickets have also been reduced starting at $12.50.
Investec Super Rugby:
The Hurricanes kick off their 2012 season against the Stormers in Cape Town early on Sunday (NZT). Investec Super Rugby runs for 18 weeks including a three-week break for the in-bound Steinlager Series against Ireland in June. The three week Finals Series starts on 20 July with the Final scheduled for 4 August.
Investec Super Rugby Week One:
Crusaders v Blues Eden Park, Auckland Fri 24 Feb 7.35pm
Chiefs v Highlanders Waikato Stadium, Hamilton Sat 25 Feb 7.35pm
Stormers v Hurricanes DHL Newlands Stadium, Capetown, Sun 26 Feb (NZT) 4.05am