Park closure leaves crusaders homeless

[Shaggy]

I know there's been some speculation on whats going to happen with the crusaders home games, and the RWC ... here's the latest from the NZ Herald ... it looks like Nelson's Trafalgar park is the favourite for the home games

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=10708570

The Sydney Morning Herald goes further and says that the game against the Waratahs will be in Nelson

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/u...move-tahs-match-to-nelson-20110224-1b78s.html

 

[LittleGuy]

I know you and I discussed this in some PM's Shaggy and I brought up this possibility, and as you said the games will be well supported in Trafalgar Park. The RWC is still seven months away with some of the games scheduled to be held in Christchurch as far as eight months away hopefully repairs can be made to get at least some of the games held there.

This happened to the New Orleans franchises in the NFL and NBA in 2005. The Saints played their games at a local college stadium in Baton Rouge and the Hornets played games in Oklahoma City whose support was so strong they held games there in 2006/07 and even got their own franchise a couple of years after that. I know of some other games here in North America that have been moved but they were usually more one off deals involving temporary stadium or weather issues.

 

[Shaggy]

It seems Nelson is getting the next two home games, and that the Crusaders will train in North Canterbury, and that the home game situation will be reviewed in a month, according to the NZ Herald website

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=10708707

This means the Waratahs and Brumbies matches are both being played at Trafalgar park

 

[smartcooky]

It was the logical choice; the only other ITM Cup side in the Crusaders franchise, and the biggest city outside of Christchurch in the franchise area.

The Last Crusaders regular season match in Nelson was against the Cats in 2005. It drew a crowd of 16,000+ when the standard ground capacity was only 8,000 + temporary seating. It was massively oversubscribed. Now the ground holds 16,000 and will take an extra 4080 with temporary seating (though I doubt they can get it in time for the first match)

There was a pre-season match in Motueka in 2009 v the Hurricanes. That drew 10,600 to Mot's tiny Rugby Park

With the Waratahs being the opponents next week, and the Brumbies the following week, I expect a sell-out for both matches.

 

[William18]

It was the logical choice; the only other ITM Cup side in the Crusaders franchise, and the biggest city outside of Christchurch in the franchise area.

The Last Crusaders regular season match in Nelson was against the Cats in 2005. It drew a crowd of 16,000+ when the standard ground capacity was only 8,000 + temporary seating. It was massively oversubscribed. Now the ground holds 16,000 and will take an extra 4080 with temporary seating (though I doubt they can get it in time for the first match)

There was a pre-season match in Motueka in 2009 v the Hurricanes. That drew 10,600 to Mot's tiny Rugby Park

With the Waratahs being the opponents next week, and the Brumbies the following week, I expect a sell-out for both matches.

Yeah, I agree with what you mean about the sell outs. Nelson gets excellent attendances to all sporting competitions. You even got the best crowd of the season so far for an ASB Premiership game and seemed to get good crowds to your HRV Cup matches.