Champions day crowd.

[Bloke]

12 hours ago, TAB For Ever said:

The crowd was awesome ...in all aspects !

Probably could have fitted an extra 1000 in the public area but overall it was perfect for all those who preferred it to watch the races live as opposed to the screens inside which some prefer.....I travelled a bit of territory to check most areas out PLUS made a lot of walks back to the ticket sellers to collect my winnings ! I should fall in line and use my phone !

AS to BGP.....a very successful day and once again their weekly picks were excellent with 50% winners ......outstanding.And that spread out over 3x meetings including Coast harness[Friday]. Throw in the fact that Des Coppins has banged on about Trav for weeks and it wasn't hard to keep ahead of them.

Track gets better every meeting , winners from everywhere and the usual trainers and jockeys to the fore !

Outstanding racing and day out at Ellerslie !

It was a good day's racing but if the crowd was, so "O for Awesome" why was there large empty seating in the two main stands?

For a city of 1.5M, the crowd was 10k max, so it is still a poor crowd given all the effort that has gone into the day. Until ATR learns how to market to and attract a cross section of the community to the races, I can see it getting no better.

ATR used to have a magnificent Cup Day, but it was screwed and now they are trying to re-invent the wheel.

TAB are you involved with The ATR? If you are then good on you for looking to improve the industry.

[Murray Fish]

7 hours ago, Bloke said:

the crowd was 10k max,

I believe that the 'new' crowd full sigh is put up at that 10,000.

[Chief Stipe]

3 minutes ago, Murray Fish said:

I believe that the 'new' crowd full sigh is put up at that 10,000.

Average ticket price?

[mikeynz]

24 minutes ago, Murray Fish said:

I believe that the 'new' crowd full sigh is put up at that 10,000.

They were talking that for Wingatui last week, does anyone know what the figure was ?

[Huey]

10 hours ago, Murray Fish said:

I believe that the 'new' crowd full sigh is put up at that 10,000.

If it was 10k rest assured they will be letting you know.

[Chief Stipe]

58 minutes ago, Huey said:

If it was 10k rest assured they will be letting you know.

It would be close to that.  

[Murray Fish]

Can someone explain why there seems to be so many empty seats in the Members stand?

[Murray Fish]

[Trojan]

24 minutes ago, Murray Fish said:

For some reason they don't use that tier - section.  It isn't as easy to access from the better hospitality areas as other parts of the stand even on the same tier.  If you look at each end you see they are packed.

Also a lot of people don't bother going outside to watch a race preferring to hold onto their tables.

Easy to hide 10,000 people at Ellerslie.  Have you counted how many were in that snapshot?

Edited 10 hours ago by Trojan

[TAB For Ever]

6 minutes ago, Murray Fish said:

Can someone explain why there seems to be so many empty seats in the Members stand?

That level is not open....I would need to check but I assume it cos it not upgraded /renovated with the other levels a few years ago ,AND maybe leased to outside firms as office workspace. The few there have some how accessed it thru those areas or found a path down from the very nice and spectacular viewing Members area on higher level. I heard it was chokka on Saturday

The most popular  viewing area is the first level which has rooms on two levels running on to it...it was chokka during races .All the rooms leading into it are very comfortable rooms with nice facilities , betting ,bars and toilets. Some are for 'private' functions .

I watched many of the races from that area......as well as 3 x from Public stand which in my opinion is great viewing tho a lot can happen in that last 150m of the race.

The club needs a 'huge' screen to assist here ...IMO the 3 x smaller screens should be better ,ditto the sound system down along the straight.

To cope with the bigger numbers there are marquees on the hill past the post for larger groups like the TAB and the slot owners on Saturday.

I usually check out all the facilities on big race days...out of interest ...but on Saturday it was harder to get around...comfortably in excess of 10,000 which is a good crowd these days and rarely reached.Another room I didnt visit was the old Tote facility a great room by the saddling stalls and area where horses can be viewed pre-race.

In the public stand , virtually every seat was taken during Cup. BGP are on the higher level.

I can confidently say it was the biggest crowd...easily...since covid. Members car park was FULL one hour before first race.The place looked great ,the gardens etc and a lot of extra little features for the observant....shoeshine , free Caps ,coloured jelly beans ,An informative racebook , a civilised crowd !

If Wingatui  crowd matched the above the previous week I will eat my hat and run around the Wingatui block....Factory ,Wingatui and Gladstone Roads in my 'g - string'.

Negative comments are welcome re this post , but please remember....its just one persons opinion and pessimism is for liteweights !

[mikeynz]

Irrespective of what TAB says regarding my comments Ellerslie couldn't do any more to promote the meeting and the fields were excellent, but reality 10000 while still a good crowd, if it was, is still in the context of the population of Auckland rather modest and puts into perspective where horse racing fits in the community,  a bit hard to get a line on the turnover with the world pool but the Derby was way more supported than the slot race.

[Trojan]

11 minutes ago, TAB For Ever said:

Another room I didnt visit was the old Tote facility a great room by the saddling stalls and area where horses can be viewed pre-race.

Sssshhh!!  That place is a hidden gem.  Right in amongst the horses and stable talent.  Plus no loud music and you can talk without telling!  You can wander out look at the horses in the pre-parade ring and still have 10 or more minutes to get a bet on.

[Chief Stipe]

11 minutes ago, mikeynz said:

but reality 10000 while still a good crowd, if it was, is still in the context of the population of Auckland rather modest

This turnout relative to population is a red herring.  Let's face it when the races are on at Wingatui and the Highlanders aren't playing there is only one gig on in town.

On Saturday aside from all the outstanding permanent attractions there are a million entertainment options for people to spend their discretionary dollar on.  It's called competition and you can throw a zillion dollars at marketing an event and at some stage the marginal cost leads to negative return.

If they got 10,000 people oncourse thats more than your average Blues game!!

The other thing to consider is the hospitality ticket pricing at Ellerslie.  What would you expect to pay for 6 hours of entertainment?

[Bloke]

Unfortunately, Ellerslie has a history of embellishing, so I am unsure as to what to believe. For the last 20 years their market has been the posers and those who want to get pissed and pay a fortune for the privilege. Prior to that they had a fantastic New Year's Day meeting for The Auckland Cup and got large crowds which reflected a cross section of the community

Racing cannot survive if you are only targeting one segment of the market. If you want to a see decent crowd perhaps TAB, you should travel down to Tauherenikau for either their January 2 or Waitangi Day meetings. I can assure you that you will learn heaps.

They don't need TBGP, massive TV advertising and TAB promotions to get their crowds. However, imagine if those resources were put into the two Tauherenikau meetings.

[Chief Stipe]

18 minutes ago, Bloke said:

Racing cannot survive if you are only targeting one segment of the market. If you want to a see decent crowd perhaps TAB, you should travel down to Tauherenikau for either their January 2 or Waitangi Day meetings. I can assure you that you will learn heaps

What would you learn?  That those attending are on holiday (many from Auckland)?  

[Chief Stipe]

20 minutes ago, Bloke said:

Prior to that they had a fantastic New Year's Day meeting for The Auckland Cup and got large crowds which reflected a cross section of the community

Just like Wellington but neither could continue with the additional liquor licensing rules/regulations that have just added expense to such days.

Most people leave Auckland for New Year's Day.  It is estimated that more than 200,000 a week over the Christmas period leave for other destinations.

[TAB For Ever]

1 hour ago, Bloke said:

Unfortunately, Ellerslie has a history of embellishing, so I am unsure as to what to believe. For the last 20 years their market has been the posers and those who want to get pissed and pay a fortune for the privilege. Prior to that they had a fantastic New Year's Day meeting for The Auckland Cup and got large crowds which reflected a cross section of the community

Racing cannot survive if you are only targeting one segment of the market. If you want to a see decent crowd perhaps TAB, you should travel down to Tauherenikau for either their January 2 or Waitangi Day meetings. I can assure you that you will learn heaps.

They don't need TBGP, massive TV advertising and TAB promotions to get their crowds. However, imagine if those resources were put into the two Tauherenikau meetings.

What would I learn ?

I already know that club is one of the best organised Country Clubs and they run a couple of good iconic picnic meetings a year ,on Public holidays when people in the big catchment area of Wellington and the CD have nothing else to do . Fantastic , they do advertise Coco the clown and plenty of entertainment for the kids etc. Less than an hour drive from Wellington and must be within 90 mins of many towns with a racing interest. To me its like the Sahara desert , I know where it is but never been there nor do I desire to go there. I understand it did have a bad rap for years [ the town] with above average 'bad' stuff but now has become more trendy.

I've done plenty of country meetings in the hot sun ...my favourite would be Omakau ..... done plenty but now I much prefer more comfort , less temporary stuff .long queues and mobile loos ......and slow horses  ,and often very small fields ! Jan 2 often dire !

I attend race horse meetings for the horses....won some Country cups and grass track stuff at harness...but much prefer decent races. That Jan 2 meeting has 4 -6 Harness races ,and I won some there so the cross-code meeting appeals a little.But give me Cup week [incl average Ashburton trots] and the comfort of Ellerslie. Facilities don't quite match Flemington but ATC is trying, is pretty good and Saturday IMO was a great raceday , enjoyed by many !

I get the feeling you love those Tauherenilkau  [sp] meetings and you miss the vibes of pre 2014 Ellerslie and don't like CWeaver but this is 2025 and CWeaver must have left about 2013. Build a bridge ! 

[Huey]

I for one am very happy for them if they got 10k crowd, either way it doesn't matter it was a very good days racing, with some great finishes and well done to all involved.

My only caveat is the NZB Kiwi is the height of cringe in racing, from golden eggs, a poor field , big Daves dive for the limelight to chiefs favourite dancing troupe and thoroughly undeserving of all the hype and $$$'s involved not to mention it makes the Karaka Millions look inviting.

[Chief Stipe]

2 minutes ago, Huey said:

big Daves dive for the limelight

You really do have a complex about Te Akau.  Have you actually spent time talking to David Ellis?

Why wouldn't he want to lead in the horse he purchased, syndicated which won the slot he purchased?

[Huey]

1 hour ago, Chief Stipe said:

You really do have a complex about Te Akau.  Have you actually spent time talking to David Ellis?

Why wouldn't he want to lead in the horse he purchased, syndicated which won the slot he purchased?

You really do have a fanboy complex for TA don't you?

[Murray Fish]

1 hour ago, Chief Stipe said:

Why wouldn't he want to lead in the horse he purchased,

100th G1  would be a decent reason to Lead the Colt back in!

 

[mikeynz]

5 hours ago, Chief Stipe said:

Just like Wellington but neither could continue with the additional liquor licensing rules/regulations that have just added expense to such days.

Most people leave Auckland for New Year's Day.  It is estimated that more than 200,000 a week over the Christmas period leave for other destinations.

But if 200000 leave Auckland that still leaves a lot still there, they probably enjoy it with less traffic, the question still remains do the general public in Auckland like horse racing, you say the blues get average crowds, true as it is mostly but they still fill Eden Park for test or the Super finals, what would a average Saturday crowd be at Ellerslie ? Or Alexandra Park on a good night.

[Chief Stipe]

2 hours ago, Huey said:

You really do have a fanboy complex for TA don't you?

I'm a fan but I wouldn't call it an obsessive complex such as your baseless negativity towards them is.

[Chief Stipe]

31 minutes ago, mikeynz said:

But if 200000 leave Auckland that still leaves a lot still there

200,000 per week.

31 minutes ago, mikeynz said:

he question still remains do the general public in Auckland like horse racing,

That's as pointless a question as asking if those who live in Kumara like horse racing.  100% of those in Kumara probably like going to the races once a year joining the 9000 that turned up from all parts of NZ.

[Huey]

31 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said:

I'm a fan but I wouldn't call it an obsessive complex such as your baseless negativity towards them is.

You're a fan but you can't indulge yourself by looking in the mirror at your baseless positivity towards everything they do.