New Zealand Updates- What's on IN Wellington ( saints)

[dragit]

I reckon that if it looks like being a small crowd, the AFL will start giving away a lot tickets to locals, they'll be pretty keen to make a good impression over there and for it to look like a success.

[SainterK]

"Exclusive pre-sale"? I can't imagine this game's going to sell out.

What's the capacity? I reckon there will be a lot of interest…

36,000

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westpac_Stadium

If they get half that many it'll be a success.

Curiousity would get me there I reckon...

Ex-pats, Saints fans travelling over, interested locals.

Supposed to be a fair AFL following because of some work the Hawks have done?

[Megsie]

Fully ticketed game. So lets be positive!

[Macdog82]

Hi guys,

Know its a long shot, but is anyone flying out of Melbourne on the Wednesday 24th into Auckland and then making the trip down to Wellington on the Thursday

[saintbrat]

.New Zealand tickets on sale
By Luke,Holmesby 10:27am AEDT Wednesday, January 16, 2013


ST KILDA members can access tickets to the first ever home and away game to be played outside Australia.

The Saints will take on the Sydney Swans at Westpac Stadium in Wellington, New Zealand on Anzac Day, April 25.

Saints members can purchase premium seating on the wing or gold seating near the goals. This offer is exclusive to Saints members until Friday, January 18.

Members can also purchase a non-member ticket for friends or family, with prices starting at $4 for junior members and up to $19.50 for adults. All prices are in Australian dollars and include any ticketing fee.

All details and a booking form can be found at http://www.saints.com.au/NZ/ticketing-information

Fans can also have the opportunity to book corporate suites, attend a gala cocktail or attend the official pre-match lunch. Details can be found at http://www.sainters.net/corporate/nz_corp.php


http://www.saints.com.au/news/2013-01-16/nz-tickets

[GrumpyOne]

Does anyone think the club has missed a marketing opportunity by not offering a fly-stay-game package?

[plugger66]

Does anyone think the club has missed a marketing opportunity by not offering a fly-stay-game package?

Doubt they would be allowed too. It is done by AFL travel or whatever they care called and also not sure the club would have enough people to manage that anyway.

[clarky449]

http://www.anygameanywhere.com.au/team/st-kilda-fc

Got a little package going, but not much at all.

[Con Gorozidis]

I am a little disappointed the Saints are not doing this given our NZ games?

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-01-09/a ... now-a-hawk

[saintbrat]

I am a little disappointed the Saints are not doing this given our NZ games?

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-01-09/a ... now-a-hawk

they may do more of that after making the connection- will be over there next week for Community camp and also linked with AIS whose squad members are also there.
prior to going back again in April

[Megsie]

Got our tics this morning. M/ship dept very busy selling them from 9am.
Reckon seats will sell well. Was only members today until next wed.
Can't wait. Tics to arrive in Feb. Go saints!

[ozrulestrace]

Does anyone think the club has missed a marketing opportunity by not offering a fly-stay-game package?

Yes.

[No1_Saint]

Hi guys,

Know its a long shot, but is anyone flying out of Melbourne on the Wednesday 24th into Auckland and then making the trip down to Wellington on the Thursday

I am flying into Auckland earlier in the Friday before and flying down either the day before or match day...yet to book flights. I just got my game tickets today.

[saintbrat]

for realdeal
latest seen is that there are still direct flights from melbourne- the cheap evening flighta of the night before appears full0 with only

try looking on Webjet .com or similiar

some have reported 3 night packages at reasonable prices but it appears that Direect flights are over $800 each way on the days . all depends on how long you wish to stay etc.
airlines flying to NZ are Air NZ Qantas and Virgin- Virgin and AirNZ share

but a look at a couple of flight sites shows that the CHEAPEST flights are now with 1 stop- either through Sydney or through Auckland from around $240 ( Qantas 6 am $240 via Auckland) 4 hour flight becomes 9 hours. with a 4 hour stop over in Auckland

whilst the DIRECT flights going out of Melbourne 9 am- or 6 pm are now at least $580 up to $1,000 +

Return Flights are much the same DIRECT Flight times out of Wellington Direct are 6 am or 3 pm- but those at similiar or alternate times but via 1 stop are the cheapest. again around $240 each way.

this is given a 3 day stay-- looking further out from the game would get you some cheaper flights
but then you have accomodation


good luck.

[realdeal]

Thanks for that saintbrat.. About 7-8 of us were intending on flying over for 3 or 4 nights. But With those prices and inconveniences I think that may shrink to 2 or 3 unfortunately. It's nearly cheaper going to L.A. And definitely cheaper going to Thailand for a week. I thought the club would organize with airlines some more direct flights or something to get as many people as possible to the inaugural game With accom etc it cost $2000 for 3 odd nights! Cheers though

[saintbrat]

Thanks for that saintbrat.. About 7-8 of us were intending on flying over for 3 or 4 nights. But With those prices and inconveniences I think that may shrink to 2 or 3 unfortunately. It's nearly cheaper going to L.A. And definitely cheaper going to Thailand for a week. I thought the club would organize with airlines some more direct flights or something to get as many people as possible to the inaugural game With accom etc it cost $2000 for 3 odd nights! Cheers though

many have already taken advantage of Qantas, Virgin and Air NZ deals- hence the 'preferred' times are gone for cheap flights-
but the $240 ish prices are very equitable- but you do go via Sydney or Auckland- a few hours in Auckland on the Wednesday may add to the trip and then on the return.

[saintbrat]

Joey and Beaus travel guide


and missed this one from a couple of weeks ago
Saad on the Waka trip

[saintbrat]

those already in the the island across the ditch can prepare for our game witha few preview games.
http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-03-07/n ... ew-heights

[saintbrat]

\Fitzpatrick said attendances had dropped due to the AFL playing more matches at smaller, boutique stadiums.

"Although attendances at AFL matches were down in 2012 when compared to the record levels of 2011, that outcome was consistent with our expectations linked to the fact that expansion clubs Gold Coast Suns and the GWS Giants were participating in 20 per cent of the total number of games,” he said.

"That principle is why we were pleased to support an initiative of the St Kilda FC to play an historic first premiership season game outside Australia in 2013 when the Club takes on reigning premiers the Sydney Swans in Wellington, New Zealand on Anzac Day.”

http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/afl ... 6599646463

[GoSaintersGo]

Bratty,
Do you have any knowledge on how many tickets have been sold through the Club and in NZ.
I have just returned from Wellington and found whilst there that there appeared to be very little interest/ knowledge of the Anzac Day game amongst the Kiwis. My daughter and son in law will be going so at least two will be there.

[70s sainter]

Thanks for that saintbrat.. About 7-8 of us were intending on flying over for 3 or 4 nights. But With those prices and inconveniences I think that may shrink to 2 or 3 unfortunately. It's nearly cheaper going to L.A. And definitely cheaper going to Thailand for a week. I thought the club would organize with airlines some more direct flights or something to get as many people as possible to the inaugural game With accom etc it cost $2000 for 3 odd nights! Cheers though

We had a group that was planning to go as well but typically Nettlefold and crew chose a spot that hardly any direct flights go to, or the flights that do go, have now gone way up for those dates . Agree that by the the time you get flights, accomm etc for a few days you re looking at one grand at least which is hard to justify for one footy game.
There seems to be a lack of planning of how fans would actually get there . But the club will of course continue to talk it up and promise a "full house" .Maybe they expect all of us to hop onto a magic cloud and just drift across to wellington.
I predict about 500 saints fans making it over and about 10,000 expats and locals on the day .
Ironically its cheaper for Sydney fans as well.

I hope for the clubs sake they didnt work the deal out on commission for crowd numbers.

Nettlefold couldnt organise a f@#k in a brothel.

[saintspremiers]

Thanks for that saintbrat.. About 7-8 of us were intending on flying over for 3 or 4 nights. But With those prices and inconveniences I think that may shrink to 2 or 3 unfortunately. It's nearly cheaper going to L.A. And definitely cheaper going to Thailand for a week. I thought the club would organize with airlines some more direct flights or something to get as many people as possible to the inaugural game With accom etc it cost $2000 for 3 odd nights! Cheers though

We had a group that was planning to go as well but typically Nettlefold and crew chose a spot that hardly any direct flights go to, or the flights that do go, have now gone way up for those dates . Agree that by the the time you get flights, accomm etc for a few days you re looking at one grand at least which is hard to justify for one footy game.
There seems to be a lack of planning of how fans would actually get there . But the club will of course continue to talk it up and promise a "full house" .Maybe they expect all of us to hop onto a magic cloud and just drift across to wellington.
I predict about 500 saints fans making it over and about 10,000 expats and locals on the day .
Ironically its cheaper for Sydney fans as well.

I hope for the clubs sake they didnt work the deal out on commission for crowd numbers.

Nettlefold couldnt organise a f@#k in a brothel.

All true.

I'm not going but there that Welly is a beautiful spot and has the right size/shaped ground.

The sheep fokkers couldn't care less about footy - it's purely about how much money we get from the deal gauranteed.

We are a poor club with a shyte stadium deal with bugger all members - we have no choice but prositute ourselves somewhere.

So Nettlefold has organised an f@#k in a brothel, albiet a Kiwi version!

[St Michele]

I don;t know I managed to get fares from Perth for less than $1000 each via Melbourne for two people and have 6 locals joining us for the game there has been a bit of talk in the media and if you do a search on the Wellington tourism page it comes up. I think this is a great idea forging the link between New Zealkand and Australia for ANZAC day and am really looking forward to it.

[saintbrat]

Thanks for that saintbrat.. About 7-8 of us were intending on flying over for 3 or 4 nights. But With those prices and inconveniences I think that may shrink to 2 or 3 unfortunately. It's nearly cheaper going to L.A. And definitely cheaper going to Thailand for a week. I thought the club would organize with airlines some more direct flights or something to get as many people as possible to the inaugural game With accom etc it cost $2000 for 3 odd nights! Cheers though

I was looking to go to perth in July and that looks like costing me as much or more than my 3 nights in Wellington.

I still feel the Wednesday night flight to Wellington will be full of Saints and returns on the saturday are probably tough to find at reasonable price

Nice of Wellington Council to be one of our sponsors...

[battye]

Thanks for that saintbrat.. About 7-8 of us were intending on flying over for 3 or 4 nights. But With those prices and inconveniences I think that may shrink to 2 or 3 unfortunately. It's nearly cheaper going to L.A. And definitely cheaper going to Thailand for a week. I thought the club would organize with airlines some more direct flights or something to get as many people as possible to the inaugural game With accom etc it cost $2000 for 3 odd nights! Cheers though

We had a group that was planning to go as well but typically Nettlefold and crew chose a spot that hardly any direct flights go to, or the flights that do go, have now gone way up for those dates . Agree that by the the time you get flights, accomm etc for a few days you re looking at one grand at least which is hard to justify for one footy game.
There seems to be a lack of planning of how fans would actually get there . But the club will of course continue to talk it up and promise a "full house" .Maybe they expect all of us to hop onto a magic cloud and just drift across to wellington.
I predict about 500 saints fans making it over and about 10,000 expats and locals on the day .
Ironically its cheaper for Sydney fans as well.

I hope for the clubs sake they didnt work the deal out on commission for crowd numbers.

Nettlefold couldnt organise a f@#k in a brothel.

I think 10,000 is optimistic. Would not surprise me in the least if we got under 5,000.

The most ridiculous part of this is that Sydney are our opposition. Hmm, if there was one team in Australia who had the name recognition which might persuade NZ'ers to get behind them who would it be? Sydney? On top of that, they are the reigning premiers. So there's a good chance we'll get belted, and Sydney will attract the attention and support of whatever locals turn up.

Would have been better off playing Western Bulldogs or Richmond or someone who has equal or lesser name recognition as St Kilda and we actually have a chance of beating. That's how we build up support in NZ. Not by playing the most famous city in the land who just happen to be huge favourites.