June 10, 2024 • 11 mins
The Hurricanes are feeling enthusiastic ahead of their late afternoon semi-final this weekend.
Their semi-final clash against the Chiefs will kick off at 4:35pm on Saturday, the day after the Blues play the Brumbies.
CEO Avan Lee joined Piney to discuss.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Wildegrave
from News Talk zedb SO.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Three games to go in the twenty twenty four Super
Rugby season. Four teams left standing as we look forward
to the semifinals. Friday Night Blues Brumbies, Eden Park five
past seven, Saturday afternoon, Hurricanes Chiefs sky Stadium four thirty five.
Hurricane CEO Avon Lee is with us on Sports Talk.
Thanks for taking the time this evening, Avan Big, we're
(00:33):
coming up. How exciting first of all, is it to
have a home semi final to look forward to?
Speaker 3 (00:38):
Hey, Poney, it's awesome. It's fantastic, you know. I guess
that's why do you play rugby or you work in
sports to have these kind of moments. So just a
different buzz around the place this morning. Yeah, massive fixture
for the team on the on the weekend, you know,
and we're just obviously hoping that people get out and
(00:58):
you know, support support the Hurricanes.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
What sort of crowd are you hoping for?
Speaker 3 (01:05):
I was just looking at it before sold. We've albaby
sold eleven thousand tickets that's just on pre sale, so
you know, to members buying more tickets et cetera, et cetera.
So I'd be surprised if it was less than twenty
five thousand. That's what we got in twenty sixteen for
the same fixture, semi final instituef so I'd be hoping
(01:26):
for that, But you never know. I think looking at
the Phoenix, you know, the Chiefs came out earlier in
the week and was talking about big crowds, and it
just kind of snowballed from there really and then you know,
a magnificent night as you know, well Piney, but you know,
we're sort of hoping for the same thing. You know,
a lot of hurricane stands out there and you know,
(01:47):
still supporting the team, but really wanting to get along
and get in the ground and be a difference to
the game.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
Of course, I had a Grand Final in twenty sixteen
as well, which from memory was a sellout. So what
twenty five thousand, for example this coming weekend, would that
be your biggest crowd since twenty sixteen.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
Yeah, I was thinking about it again. Earlier we had
I think about twenty six thousand against the Crusaders at
the back end of the round robin, maybe around twenty nineteen.
But yes, certainly for a playoff match, and I think,
you know, as a rugby fan, to go up against
the Chiefs in the semi finals is pretty awesome. You
(02:24):
can't get much better than that. So yeah, I think
people will, people will get behind it, and it's obvious
that they already are with the tickets that have been sold.
So we'll know, you know, midnight tonight, we'll know. We'll
get a fairly good stare on how it's going to
track for the rest of the week. But yeah, it's
really exciting.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
Full thirty five kickoff on Saturday. Who makes that call, Evan,
Do you get to make that call?
Speaker 3 (02:49):
No? Not this week. We did last week before the quarterfinal,
I would have said if we win, well, I did
say if we win, one semi will be Friday seven
oh five, and the other one was Saturday seven oh five.
So they put the top qualifier at four to thirty
five on Saturday, which is the time that we would
have picked. Anyway. The Warriors play after that, so they're trying.
(03:13):
You know, obviously they want people to come to Sky,
want people to come to the ground on Saturday, but
they also want them to watch the Warriors later on,
so that's I think that's the background behind why it's
four thirty five. Is the big rugby game, big league game.
How do people watch both? That's the that's the motivation
as far as I can see.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
So that's Sky's call. They make the call for a
four thirty.
Speaker 3 (03:39):
Yeah, they're a big part of it. Last week it
was our call. We got to choose whatever we wanted.
You know, people tend to watch sport at night more
than they do in the afternoon, so that's just a
big driver for Sky's subscribers and broadcasting model. So that's
been that's been the way it's been for a long time.
(04:00):
They're getting they're obviously better now with afternoon games, which
is which is really encouraging, and they also want big
crowds because it looks better on TV. So you know,
we're really happy that they're willing to have the odd
afternoon game and to have it at a semi finals.
It's just icing on the cake really.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
Obviously four thirty five works well for a segment of
you of your fan base, those with the younger children,
for example, who perhaps wouldn't come to a game at
seven o'clock. What about your clubs around the Wellington region,
Evan who play club rugby on Saturday at you know,
mid afternoon. How are they feeling about a four thirty
five kickoff?
Speaker 3 (04:37):
Yeah, I mean that's all done through our relationship with
Wellington Rugby, so they manage all that club rugby in
the region, so they are put in club rugby forward.
They've got one hundred and ninety fixtures on Saturday to
sort of play around with. But that you know, the clubs,
the clubs are keen to you know, obviously to play
(04:59):
their club rugby, but also to come to the stadium.
So it's not ideal in that regard, but you know,
especially if you didn't change the club rugby kipoff time,
that would be sort of counterproductive. But bringing it forward
to one o'clock means those people can play their games
or support their club and then get down to the
stadium if they.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
Want to and can do the players like afternoon games.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
Yeah, they love it. I think everyone loves it really,
Like it's a long day. You know, when you get
up at whatever time in the morning to wait around
till seven o'clock at night is actually it's actually a
long day and when you finish the game, you've still
got an evening, you know, get home to your kids
or your partner or what have you and have some
time with them. Whereas late game on a sad day,
(05:47):
that's your evening gone. So it's I think it's the
best of both worlds to be honest, at that sort
of four thirty five.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
Slot, do you, at the start of the year budget
for playoff games? Do you think to yourself, Okay, we've
got a good team here, well we might host a quarter,
we might host a semi. Do you sack did that
in your numbers at the start of the season.
Speaker 3 (06:08):
No, we don't. We never have and I'd be surprised
if we ever will. But it definitely has goals about
where we want to be. We just don't put any
numbers around it. And you know, getting a couple of
big crowds is obviously a real bonus. But I don't
think any any of the New Zealand teams budget for finals.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
I know that Wellington Phoenix said, you know, big crowds,
they don't get to keep the gate take unfortunately from
finals matches, but they said big regular season crowds really
made a difference as far as as I think you
do keep the revenue don't you from these playoff matches.
How big a difference does that make to your bottom line?
Speaker 3 (06:47):
Oh? Huge, to be honest, it's more expensive to play
a game in the playoffs than it is run robin
in terms of stadium cost. You will sort of pay
a fee to the opposition. But no, a semi final
was as massive a final would just be incredible really,
But you know, as before, the whole organization has focused
(07:08):
on Saturday. It's going to take a big job to
beat the Chiefs. So but yeah, the finances from a
semi final are great if you get twenty plus, it's
it's very.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
Positive emotional night on on Saturday or afternoon into the
evening on Saturday, obviously for you guys making the semi
but to be saying goodbye to the rebels, there were
some some really emotional scenes afterwards. Tough, I'm sure from
from your point of view to have to say goodbye
to to a fellow Super rugby franchise.
Speaker 3 (07:42):
Totally, totally, I think, you know, seeing the raw emotion
in the stands and with the team was a pretty
stark reminder of what they're what they're heading towards, and
you know it could be it could be any of us,
to be fair, but I've had some difficult times off
the field and it's not you know, Melbourne's a very
competitive sporting market, so you know they've always tried to
(08:05):
get that on their side. I think you know, they've
had some very good teams and very good players over time.
So yeah, it's really it's really, it is sad, I think,
and I think our team did talk about it during
the week about what could they expect from the Rebels
and that was one of the comments is I think
was Brad Shields said that you know they're going to
be incredibly motivated, their backs against the wall, they've got
(08:28):
nothing to lose. But when that final whistle went, that
was the reality obviously for them. And I think half
of those players will find a home in Australia, but
half of them will have to go afshore if they
want to keep playing, So it's really it's really difficult
for them and no one and no one enjoys it.
It's it's some of the realities of professional sport, but
(08:50):
it's difficult for everybody to stomach.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
And it'll probably it's looking very likely that it'll mean
an eleven team competition next year. Do you have a
view on what playoffs might look like? Eight from eleven
seems too many to me. I don't know what you think.
Speaker 3 (09:04):
Yeah, I think if I'm on a state, from twelve
is too many, but six makes more sense. It's all
still in the pipeline. But in the top six you'd
have the top two would have a have a buy
through to the second round, and then you'd have you'd
have semi finals. So I think that makes more sense.
And you know it's a very competitive competition. But unless
(09:27):
you're in that seventh or eighth position, I think everyone
feels the same.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
Indeed, indeed, and Jack Measley, the inaugural chief executive of
Super Rugby Pacific, either hands just or is about to
start in his role. Have you got any any idea
what his first priorities might be in that newly created position.
Speaker 3 (09:49):
Yeah. I haven't actually met Jack yet. I've exchanged messages
with him, but yeah, I think it's very much about,
very much about the fans. So you know, what is
the what does the drawl look like yes next year,
and how can we manipulate it so that it's better
for the fans with big games at the start, etc.
I think he's got a big job, but everyone that
(10:10):
I know who knows him, so he's great and I
think that's positive. And the most important thing for me
is we're going to have somebody who's twenty four hours
a day, seven days a week thinking about Super rugby
and we haven't had that before through the National Unions
or SANSA, So I think I think that's really exciting.
He's come through. You know, he's got a good grounding
(10:31):
in sport and with the Lion so you know he's
going to be a smart guy and everyone's just behind him.
But I think the Sands focused stuff planning to be honest,
like how do we market the game more effectively as
a big part of what he'll be doing. And he's
got a lot of support from the clubs so everyone's
(10:51):
very willing to get on board.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
Yeah, look forward to seeing how it all plays out. Hey, Evan,
thanks for your time this evening, and all of is
for a great week and a big, big crowd at
Sky Stadium on Saturday. That's Avonlea Hurricanes CEO with us
on Sports Tour.
Speaker 1 (11:05):
For more from Sports Talk, listen live to News Talk
zet B from seven pm weekdays or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio,
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Wildegrave
from News Talk zedb SO.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Three games to go in the twenty twenty four Super
Rugby season. Four teams left standing as we look forward
to the semifinals. Friday Night Blues Brumbies, Eden Park five
past seven, Saturday afternoon, Hurricanes Chiefs sky Stadium four thirty five.
Hurricane CEO Avon Lee is with us on Sports Talk.
Thanks for taking the time this evening, Avan Big, we're
(00:33):
coming up. How exciting first of all, is it to
have a home semi final to look forward to?
Speaker 3 (00:38):
Hey, Poney, it's awesome. It's fantastic, you know. I guess
that's why do you play rugby or you work in
sports to have these kind of moments. So just a
different buzz around the place this morning. Yeah, massive fixture
for the team on the on the weekend, you know,
and we're just obviously hoping that people get out and
(00:58):
you know, support support the Hurricanes.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
What sort of crowd are you hoping for?
Speaker 3 (01:05):
I was just looking at it before sold. We've albaby
sold eleven thousand tickets that's just on pre sale, so
you know, to members buying more tickets et cetera, et cetera.
So I'd be surprised if it was less than twenty
five thousand. That's what we got in twenty sixteen for
the same fixture, semi final instituef so I'd be hoping
(01:26):
for that, But you never know. I think looking at
the Phoenix, you know, the Chiefs came out earlier in
the week and was talking about big crowds, and it
just kind of snowballed from there really and then you know,
a magnificent night as you know, well Piney, but you know,
we're sort of hoping for the same thing. You know,
a lot of hurricane stands out there and you know,
(01:47):
still supporting the team, but really wanting to get along
and get in the ground and be a difference to
the game.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
Of course, I had a Grand Final in twenty sixteen
as well, which from memory was a sellout. So what
twenty five thousand, for example this coming weekend, would that
be your biggest crowd since twenty sixteen.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
Yeah, I was thinking about it again. Earlier we had
I think about twenty six thousand against the Crusaders at
the back end of the round robin, maybe around twenty nineteen.
But yes, certainly for a playoff match, and I think,
you know, as a rugby fan, to go up against
the Chiefs in the semi finals is pretty awesome. You
(02:24):
can't get much better than that. So yeah, I think
people will, people will get behind it, and it's obvious
that they already are with the tickets that have been sold.
So we'll know, you know, midnight tonight, we'll know. We'll
get a fairly good stare on how it's going to
track for the rest of the week. But yeah, it's
really exciting.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
Full thirty five kickoff on Saturday. Who makes that call, Evan,
Do you get to make that call?
Speaker 3 (02:49):
No? Not this week. We did last week before the quarterfinal,
I would have said if we win, well, I did
say if we win, one semi will be Friday seven
oh five, and the other one was Saturday seven oh five.
So they put the top qualifier at four to thirty
five on Saturday, which is the time that we would
have picked. Anyway. The Warriors play after that, so they're trying.
(03:13):
You know, obviously they want people to come to Sky,
want people to come to the ground on Saturday, but
they also want them to watch the Warriors later on,
so that's I think that's the background behind why it's
four thirty five. Is the big rugby game, big league game.
How do people watch both? That's the that's the motivation
as far as I can see.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
So that's Sky's call. They make the call for a
four thirty.
Speaker 3 (03:39):
Yeah, they're a big part of it. Last week it
was our call. We got to choose whatever we wanted.
You know, people tend to watch sport at night more
than they do in the afternoon, so that's just a
big driver for Sky's subscribers and broadcasting model. So that's
been that's been the way it's been for a long time.
(04:00):
They're getting they're obviously better now with afternoon games, which
is which is really encouraging, and they also want big
crowds because it looks better on TV. So you know,
we're really happy that they're willing to have the odd
afternoon game and to have it at a semi finals.
It's just icing on the cake really.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
Obviously four thirty five works well for a segment of
you of your fan base, those with the younger children,
for example, who perhaps wouldn't come to a game at
seven o'clock. What about your clubs around the Wellington region,
Evan who play club rugby on Saturday at you know,
mid afternoon. How are they feeling about a four thirty
five kickoff?
Speaker 3 (04:37):
Yeah, I mean that's all done through our relationship with
Wellington Rugby, so they manage all that club rugby in
the region, so they are put in club rugby forward.
They've got one hundred and ninety fixtures on Saturday to
sort of play around with. But that you know, the clubs,
the clubs are keen to you know, obviously to play
(04:59):
their club rugby, but also to come to the stadium.
So it's not ideal in that regard, but you know,
especially if you didn't change the club rugby kipoff time,
that would be sort of counterproductive. But bringing it forward
to one o'clock means those people can play their games
or support their club and then get down to the
stadium if they.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
Want to and can do the players like afternoon games.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
Yeah, they love it. I think everyone loves it really,
Like it's a long day. You know, when you get
up at whatever time in the morning to wait around
till seven o'clock at night is actually it's actually a
long day and when you finish the game, you've still
got an evening, you know, get home to your kids
or your partner or what have you and have some
time with them. Whereas late game on a sad day,
(05:47):
that's your evening gone. So it's I think it's the
best of both worlds to be honest, at that sort
of four thirty five.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
Slot, do you, at the start of the year budget
for playoff games? Do you think to yourself, Okay, we've
got a good team here, well we might host a quarter,
we might host a semi. Do you sack did that
in your numbers at the start of the season.
Speaker 3 (06:08):
No, we don't. We never have and I'd be surprised
if we ever will. But it definitely has goals about
where we want to be. We just don't put any
numbers around it. And you know, getting a couple of
big crowds is obviously a real bonus. But I don't
think any any of the New Zealand teams budget for finals.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
I know that Wellington Phoenix said, you know, big crowds,
they don't get to keep the gate take unfortunately from
finals matches, but they said big regular season crowds really
made a difference as far as as I think you
do keep the revenue don't you from these playoff matches.
How big a difference does that make to your bottom line?
Speaker 3 (06:47):
Oh? Huge, to be honest, it's more expensive to play
a game in the playoffs than it is run robin
in terms of stadium cost. You will sort of pay
a fee to the opposition. But no, a semi final
was as massive a final would just be incredible really,
But you know, as before, the whole organization has focused
(07:08):
on Saturday. It's going to take a big job to
beat the Chiefs. So but yeah, the finances from a
semi final are great if you get twenty plus, it's
it's very.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
Positive emotional night on on Saturday or afternoon into the
evening on Saturday, obviously for you guys making the semi
but to be saying goodbye to the rebels, there were
some some really emotional scenes afterwards. Tough, I'm sure from
from your point of view to have to say goodbye
to to a fellow Super rugby franchise.
Speaker 3 (07:42):
Totally, totally, I think, you know, seeing the raw emotion
in the stands and with the team was a pretty
stark reminder of what they're what they're heading towards, and
you know it could be it could be any of us,
to be fair, but I've had some difficult times off
the field and it's not you know, Melbourne's a very
competitive sporting market, so you know they've always tried to
(08:05):
get that on their side. I think you know, they've
had some very good teams and very good players over time.
So yeah, it's really it's really, it is sad, I think,
and I think our team did talk about it during
the week about what could they expect from the Rebels
and that was one of the comments is I think
was Brad Shields said that you know they're going to
be incredibly motivated, their backs against the wall, they've got
(08:28):
nothing to lose. But when that final whistle went, that
was the reality obviously for them. And I think half
of those players will find a home in Australia, but
half of them will have to go afshore if they
want to keep playing, So it's really it's really difficult
for them and no one and no one enjoys it.
It's it's some of the realities of professional sport, but
(08:50):
it's difficult for everybody to stomach.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
And it'll probably it's looking very likely that it'll mean
an eleven team competition next year. Do you have a
view on what playoffs might look like? Eight from eleven
seems too many to me. I don't know what you think.
Speaker 3 (09:04):
Yeah, I think if I'm on a state, from twelve
is too many, but six makes more sense. It's all
still in the pipeline. But in the top six you'd
have the top two would have a have a buy
through to the second round, and then you'd have you'd
have semi finals. So I think that makes more sense.
And you know it's a very competitive competition. But unless
(09:27):
you're in that seventh or eighth position, I think everyone
feels the same.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
Indeed, indeed, and Jack Measley, the inaugural chief executive of
Super Rugby Pacific, either hands just or is about to
start in his role. Have you got any any idea
what his first priorities might be in that newly created position.
Speaker 3 (09:49):
Yeah. I haven't actually met Jack yet. I've exchanged messages
with him, but yeah, I think it's very much about,
very much about the fans. So you know, what is
the what does the drawl look like yes next year,
and how can we manipulate it so that it's better
for the fans with big games at the start, etc.
I think he's got a big job, but everyone that
(10:10):
I know who knows him, so he's great and I
think that's positive. And the most important thing for me
is we're going to have somebody who's twenty four hours
a day, seven days a week thinking about Super rugby
and we haven't had that before through the National Unions
or SANSA, So I think I think that's really exciting.
He's come through. You know, he's got a good grounding
(10:31):
in sport and with the Lion so you know he's
going to be a smart guy and everyone's just behind him.
But I think the Sands focused stuff planning to be honest,
like how do we market the game more effectively as
a big part of what he'll be doing. And he's
got a lot of support from the clubs so everyone's
(10:51):
very willing to get on board.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
Yeah, look forward to seeing how it all plays out. Hey, Evan,
thanks for your time this evening, and all of is
for a great week and a big, big crowd at
Sky Stadium on Saturday. That's Avonlea Hurricanes CEO with us
on Sports Tour.
Speaker 1 (11:05):
For more from Sports Talk, listen live to News Talk
zet B from seven pm weekdays or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio,
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