CSA respond to poor crowds

[Mamajyot]

CSA respond to poor crowds
2009-11-23 12:11
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Gerald Majola (File)

Johannesburg - Cricket South Africa have appointed IFM Sports Marketing Surveys South Africa to look at possible reasons behind poor attendances at the opening International matches against England.

Bidvest Wanderers Stadium attracted 16 600 spectators for the 1st Standard Bank International Pro20 match, while 7 934 spectators attended SuperSport Park in Centurion where South Africa won the second Pro20 in record-breaking fashion to draw the series 1-1 all with England.

Cricket South Africa CEO Gerald Majola said: "We like hearing from the fans. The last fan survey we ran provided some interesting insights, some of which we have already followed up on.

"People asked for more information so we launched our Facebook and Twitter platforms which have been extremely popular and has dramatically improved our interactions with fans.

"The Proteas deserve to play in front of capacity crowds and we will do our utmost to rally the nation to show 100% South African support to Graeme Smith and his charges."

Marc Jury, managing director of IFM, said: "Through our research across different sporting codes we have always encountered the response that the 'energy and atmosphere' of live sporting events is a critical element in drawing supporters to the ground.

"Something that is evident is the live experience has not kept pace with the ease and comfort of the 'TV product' and thus people often choose to watch from their living rooms instead of Row F.

"Too often rights holders make decisions based on gut-feel and not by listening to what their fans want.

"CSA are taking a proactive approach to ensure the likes of Smith, Pietersen, Strauss and co will be playing in front of full stadiums for the rest of the summer."

The survey includes face-to-face, as well as online research on the CSA website (www.cricket.co.za).

Researchers were at OR Tambo International Airport on Friday and at the 2nd MTN One Day International at SuperSport on Sunday gathering data. The online survey will go live shortly.

 

[Mamajyot]

My take is ticket prices too high when taking a family.

IPL was cheap and so was CHampions trophy.

Also, too many big games in jhb and centurion.

Give cape town, durban etc the t20's.

 

[Smooth Criminal]

The ticket prices are crazy. Even if you choose to get baked in the sun, you're still looking at over R150 each. And let's not forget the horrid parking situation at the Wanderers, where you have to park 2km away and walk, and still pay R50 for it. Most people would rather avoid the hassle of walking 2km to get burnt and still having to pay a fair amount for it.

 

[Mars]

The ticket prices are crazy. Even if you choose to get baked in the sun, you're still looking at over R150 each. And let's not forget the horrid parking situation at the Wanderers, where you have to park 2km away and walk, and still pay R50 for it. Most people would rather avoid the hassle of walking 2km to get burnt and still having to pay a fair amount for it.

For sure, Wanderers is a nightmare.. I avoid it completely because of the parking.

The worst thing is, as you go up the stands you look into the parking lots underneath - EMPTY

Why don't they open the parking underneath the stands?

 

[Sting]

Ticket prices - 'nuff said.

Lack of marketing hype as per the IPL20? It almost appears that the 2 teams are to "pally" with each other. Where's the friction and confrontation?

 

[The_Unbeliever]

For sure, Wanderers is a nightmare.. I avoid it completely because of the parking.

The worst thing is, as you go up the stands you look into the parking lots underneath - EMPTY

Why don't they open the parking underneath the stands?

security reasons

too easy to park a car with a bomb there and make a big mess of things.

 

[silent_shadow]

More games at Newlands

 

[Mars]

security reasons

too easy to park a car with a bomb there and make a big mess of things.

I suppose.. and searching the cars would be a nightmare.

 

[Drunkard #1]

Ticket prices too high.
Not allowed to take a decent camera in.
Traffic.
Seats too small.
Parking.
Can't buy beer from my seat.
Have to buy tokens before I can buy beer (I've got a stack of unused tokens, meaning that my beers cost R 50 each!)
Get ripped off at every turn (food, souvenirs, parking etc.)
Being treated like a criminal and a 3rd rate spectator, despite being a paying customer.

In short CSA, go **** yourselves, I'll watch the match on TV.

 

[Smooth Criminal]

Seriously, there used to be a large empty field right next to the stadium.

Why not build a multistory car park there?

Being treated like a criminal and a 3rd rate spectator, despite being a paying customer.

lol I did notice that too.

 

[DJ...]

Parking, crap beer selection ( Castle only ), ticket prices, lack of hype (I barely knew England were here), the fact that it's practically SA vs SA...

 

[killadoob]

I think the 50/50 over game is not as well supported since the t20 came around.

How packed did the t20's get? To capacity i would imagine?

 

[stefan9]

I think the 50/50 over game is not as well supported since the t20 came around.

How packed did the t20's get? To capacity i would imagine?

They weren't sold out. All the odi cricket vs aus got sold out. I presume people may be saving their money with wc 2010 just around the corner.

I was upset with ticketing for the centurion 20/20. I tried to get tickets for the pavillion seating but on computicket the system said it was totally sold out so I had to opt for the grass embankment. Then on matchday there are huge number of empty seats. I wonder whether they are selling tickets to english tour operators and then these aren't being used.

 

[Mamajyot]

They weren't sold out. All the odi cricket vs aus got sold out. I presume people may be saving their money with wc 2010 just around the corner.

I was upset with ticketing for the centurion 20/20. I tried to get tickets for the pavillion seating but on computicket the system said it was totally sold out so I had to opt for the grass embankment. Then on matchday there are huge number of empty seats. I wonder whether they are selling tickets to english tour operators and then these aren't being used.

Well said Stefan9 > Same thing with the Durban ODI on 4th Dec. All decent tickets sold out/not available but my friend confirmed you can buy these @ the stadium.

Very frustrating.


Champions Trophy got decent crowds because of the ticket prices.
It was cheap. I came from Durban for a couple of games.
Plus despite me being a durbanite, in my opinion the atmosphere and style of Centurion / SS Park is beautiful and def the 1 ground in SA.(jus my opinion).

I have been to a few of our stadiums in SA.

 

[Stephen]

They weren't sold out. All the odi cricket vs aus got sold out. I presume people may be saving their money with wc 2010 just around the corner.

I was upset with ticketing for the centurion 20/20. I tried to get tickets for the pavillion seating but on computicket the system said it was totally sold out so I had to opt for the grass embankment. Then on matchday there are huge number of empty seats. I wonder whether they are selling tickets to english tour operators and then these aren't being used.

Something is serious wrong with Computicket and cricket. I have on numerous occassions tried to buy tickets for a test match at Newlands and told its been sold out (I know Capetonians like their cricket, but not selling out a Test for all 4 days a month before level ) And when I actually went to the actual stadium box office I got tickets - Go figure

 

[Good Life]

My take is ticket prices too high when taking a family.

IPL was cheap and so was CHampions trophy.

Also, too many big games in jhb and centurion.

Give cape town, durban etc the t20's.

They should have a family package, which works out cheaper.

 

[chutzpah44]

People did not want to commit themselves to the Centurion game because of the weather. Even that morning there was a good chance of rain.

As for the Wanderers they have to get rid of the parking attendents.. They are a curse and blackmail u into paying.

I went to cricket at the Oval in London. It was a pleasure. Tube ride + 500m of walking.

 

[Quest10n]

Ticket prices too high.
Not allowed to take a decent camera in.
Traffic.
Seats too small.
Parking.
Can't buy beer from my seat.
Have to buy tokens before I can buy beer (I've got a stack of unused tokens, meaning that my beers cost R 50 each!)
Get ripped off at every turn (food, souvenirs, parking etc.)
Being treated like a criminal and a 3rd rate spectator, despite being a paying customer.

In short CSA, go **** yourselves, I'll watch the match on TV.

+1

 

[diabolus]

Heh, even during the IPL, the ticket price was like R30 , and then parking? R40 ! I mean wtf, it's more expensive than parking in a covered mall for the entire day!

Now the Eng vs SA Pro20 match was R120 on the grass , compared to the IPL Pro20 of R30-R40 ? And they wonder why no one came?

The one-days [full 50 overs] is probably the type of game with the biggest problem , it's just that much better to watch it at home where you can have a little braai and all.

If a one-day is packed, you know how much that sucks being in the stadium? You sit cramped for the entire day, it might even rain half way and people gets more drunk and more annoying..it's just too long. This is why Pro20 is more popular, 3-4 hours and you're out of there.

On 5 day games you can actually go one of the days , take an umbrella and have a nice picknick as there isn't alot of people usually [which make it a nice outing on the other end of the scale] . One day games you're kinda stuck between a rock and hard place.

As for the pavilion vs. grass, i think people buy pavilion tickets and then go sit on the grass, as that's where the atmosphere is. The security only check if you try to sit on the pavilion ..end result? Empty pavilion and cramped grass.

 

[Ecco]

A lot of my friends didnt want to go for any of the games because they still busy writing exams.

As for computicket and their booking system, yeah its bs. How can a test match have a stand sold out by 09h30 on the day the tickets open?

The parking thing, i wrote a letter about this in 2007 when hosting the T20 world cup. CSA said they were going to look into this, however not much happened. I still have to pay R50 to park on a public road