Hard News: Winning the RWC: it's complicated
309 Responses
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merc,
Hopefully those who spend feel at least a little on notice.
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We already had the sheds . We already had the waterfront area. We already had plenty of businesses hoping to get punters, and that means we already had booze and food. Big screens would be fine in the sheds. The reality for the waterfront zone out zone is that many businesses lost business.The sheds should have been for bands and screens.Now that is something I would have been happy to support. Wynyard Quarter was happening anyway. Aotea Square, rebuild was happening anyway, screens there could have made the city area inclusive. I would have been happy to support bus links between the city and the park. Bet that would have cost less. Jus' sayin'
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merc, in reply to
I totally agree.
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Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to
Bet Queen St businesses would have agreed too. Would have been nice to see an array of visitors and locals using our city, instead of feeling like they must go down to the water to watch telly. So many small businesses have lost out and lots of casual jobs (something our unemployed youth are good for) missed. Instead of experiencing our hospo, it has been plastic cups with overinflated prices for shitty beer. Feels a bit like I have been rude to my guests really. :)
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merc,
Yes, so many chances for Govt and Council to be inclusive, so much of an us and them feel, and the volunteers, what is that about, bless them for volunteering, but a little pay would go a long way. These events feel very like we the residents, the business owners and yes even the guests are secondary to profit and petty personal political agendas.
On the other thread I linked to Buck mentioning the horrible fact that losing teams were not even invited to stay on for a few days.
This is not our way, really it is not, all the uptight, it's not necessary. -
Simon Grigg, in reply to
Instead of experiencing our hospo, it has been plastic cups with overinflated prices for shitty beer.
See, I don't think it's all been like that at all.
I was walking down Ponsonby Rd last week, looking for a friend who had yet to arrive. A couple came up to me and offered to help - assuming I was foreign - and I was thrilled. That sort of thing doesn't happen most elsewhere in the planet - in much of the world you would assume that it was a scam, but in New Zealand it was just the sort of common decency that we take for granted. I think any visitor would've felt the same.
The Cloud may be everything awful that I think it is - don't get me started - but on my two visits there I found the crowd to be overwhelmingly (as in 90+%) New Zealanders getting screwed by whoever was pocketing the overcharges.
I think anyone from abroad who ventured into 'burbs beyond the cash grab of "party central" would've discovered quickly that we are a pretty warm, welcoming and convivial bunch mostly.
And more than a few clearly did if you talk to retailers and hospo folk in Ponsonby/Parnell/Mission Bay etc. The bigger problem was that there simply do not seem to have been the sorts of numbers promised to make that worthwhile for the businesses that hoped for more (the 95k figure includes the 60k who would normally come to NZ over a similar period I'm told, so the increase was 35k) and that for a variety of reasons normal trading was stifled by the cup.
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Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to
I was walking down Ponsonby Rd last week,
I know Ponsonby has been busy but it mostly always is and peeps are friendly and helpful for sure.As is the other affluent Easty burbs you mention. My point was a lot less money could have been spent and we still would have used a zoneout zone. But everything did exist except for the cloud. I don’t mind looking at the cloud . I like looking at buildings etc, it is what I like to do, but I just don’t get the need to compete with the local businesses especially if it is mostly going to the Brewery twice.(already from businesses waiting to sell)
Ne’er mind, it’s past tense almost. However I do feel for the many on struggle st. S’pose I can’t be helping myself there with my ability to buy/go/eat/drink as I please, can I ?.
Hell, it took a fuckup on opening night just to ensure the South got to be included out where people don’t go if they don’t have to. I feel it really could have been more inclusive of all the Aucklanders and for less. Who needs the Prince of Monaco? Oh that’s right. John Key does. Muppet. -
Sacha, in reply to
We already had the sheds.
Not so. We only got them because of the RWC.
We already had plenty of businesses hoping to get punters, and that means we already had booze and food.
True. I feel for the local businesses.
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Sacha, in reply to
it took a fuckup on opening night just to ensure the South got to be included
No, the region's other fanzones were always part of the plan. Deciding not to open them for the first night was silly.
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Sacha, in reply to
losing teams were not even invited to stay on for a few days.
This is not our way, really it is notSeemed rude to me too. Wonder who made that decision?
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Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to
Not so. We only got them because of the RWC.
But they existed already luv . Minus cloud,minus Tupawaka, minus John key.... then I would pay with a great big smile on my face ,like this :)))))
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Sacha, in reply to
Queens Wharf and its sheds were off limits to the public. The central party zone was originally planned for newly-renovated Aotea Square until McCully, Key and co decreed that the waterfront had to be the place.
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Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to
I thought the Council planned it but it was canned, then brought back but I would have to hunt for that and I can't be doing that now. I am making Lasagne.
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merc, in reply to
IRB decision according to Buck.
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Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to
The central party zone was originally planned for newly-renovated Aotea Square
Well that would have been cheaper right there eh? (trying to sound like I am from Fargo )
Don't get me wrong, I don't mind our infrastructure being maintained, enhanced etc. But from the start, it seemed it was Key et al like a bull in a china shop who had decided they know best and we know that's not true. Now I nearly burnt my sauce Sacha ;) -
Sacha, in reply to
Fargo
mind that woodchipper..
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Consul elation prize?
Who needs the Prince of Monaco?
Prince Albert, piercings and rugby aside, is probably here
to check out fellow Monégasque Owen Glenn's possible
new purchase - the Warriors... :- )
(well if Watson really is gonna hang on to his 75.5%, it wouldn't surprise me if the trust administered by Mark Hotchin's lawyer might wanna cash up on his 24.5%,* if they're allowed to sell it that is)*that Warriors fan page seems a tad out of date...
farrago.....trying to sound like I am from Fargo
I was gonna say you were sounding chipper, but Sacha beat me!
I'm not gonna get cut up about it... -
Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to
I’m not gonna get cut up about it…
That'd be kinda funny looking.
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merc,
The really strange thing is the disconnect between the call from the pollies for patriotism and funds, and the stark fact that these events are private capital seeking private profits - on their own terms.
I'd never personally venture into that type of agreement because it would be very hard to justify the cost with the return. -
Rich of Observationz, in reply to
losing teams were not even invited to stay on for a few days
Surely they got three to six month visas like everyone else who visits NZ? The [European tournament sponsored by redacted multinational] cup doesn't start till November.
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The best things about RWC is the way the schools and preschools got the little people involved and opened their minds to a wider world of people and fun.
The ABs will have to move “it” up more than a notch or two to win and one can't underestimate the role of the referee in the match, which may well be decided by penalties.
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Our government could have got together with the Aussies, Brits and South Africans and agreed not to be kicked around by Big Sport. Then the IRB would have had a choice of either pulling their (substantial) necks in
Wait, in 2003 NZ lost co-hosting rights to Australia because we couldn't guarantee clean stadiums. The Aussies would probably happily take the event if we flaked on it. South Africa would be all over it, as would the UK unions.
losing teams were not even invited to stay on for a few days.
This is not our way, really it is notIt's not our way, but neither is the cost. A team of 40 people - players and support crew, each costing $250/day for food and a place to stay, is $10K per day. The 12 teams that got knocked out cost $120K/day. Inviting them all to stick around for a week costs a million dollars. It would be irresponsible when planning the tournament to have done that.
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Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to
It would be irresponsible when planning the tournament to have done that.
Well, I would rather some of our hospo ($10 mil +) go on actually being hospitable to the guests in the tournament rather that Prince Albert and his wife who frankly could afford to pay for their own accommodation and food if they actually wanted to watch the game. Up until now I didn't know they were ardent fans.
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Ian Dalziel, in reply to
house guests...
It’s not our way, but neither is the cost.
What ever happened to billeting?
Shame, it seems the IRB has squandered all grassroots level input, when I was a boy (he quavered) travelling teams were billeted amongst the populace - I'm sure many folk would be happy to take on a foreign rugby player for a week, or is that below the modern professional these days?
Coulda been an option.... -
Sacha, in reply to
I didn't know they were ardent fans
Maybe Owen Glenn got them into it?
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