The large crowd does present a few learnings. It certainly surprised me.
I've always thought that people are looking for meaning in sporting fixtures. Whether that's two top teams fighting for a finals spot (eg Swans vs Pies) or a clash of traditional rivals etc etc. The narrative is important to draw people in.
One of my issues with Super Rugby in recent seasons has been the lack of meaning or narrative. In any game it's hard to decipher who the teams are, where they are from, how they stand on the ladder, what the game means on the grander scheme of things.
And yet here is a game with no meaning at all. It's a trial game, with no trophy or competition points up for grabs. It wasn't even a meaningful selection trial, as today's squad indicates. And they get 10k.
I think it's hard to underestimate the value of free tickets here. It screams convenience- no online portals, no organisation, no waiting in queues, and of course no cash required. Just turn up on time and you're in.
Groups of two or three become groups of five or six. Mates, wives, kids tag along. We saw it with the Sydney 7s in the first year where tickets were just $20. They filled the stadium twice in two days.
Leichhardt Oval isn't that easy to get to, either. It's impossible to park, and not super easy to reach by public transport. It does have a great hill though, and is the perfect size for a game of is type.
Bravo to Cheika and RA for doing this. It worked on the field, and it was a smash hit off the field too. Let's hope it pays dividends in two weeks time, too.
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