Bay set to get the Baypark turnstiles spinning

Super rugby crowd malaise might be causing plenty of consternation down at New Zealand Rugby's HQ, but Bay of Plenty are confident they've put together the right deal to get Baypark Stadium's turnstiles spinning again this season.
If they can dial up some decent weather, that is.
Bay of Plenty were nailed by the rain during last year's ITM Cup, with average attendance falling to around 3000 a game from 9500 the previous two years, leading to a 43 per cent drop in gate takings.
While the weather remains the biggest intangible, Bay of Plenty Rugby Union chief executive Mike Rogers believes the package they've put together for provincial punters for the five ITM Cup home games in Tauranga and Rotorua will prove enticing and buck the Super Rugby trend for crowds to stay glued to their couches.
Ticket prices for Bay's home games are the same - $20 for adults and $5 for children under 15 - but the biggest change comes in the seating configuration, with Bay Rugby this season throwing open the grandstands in what will effectively be a free-for-all on a first come, first served basis.
"We've stuck with the two ticket prices, but outside of reserved seating for corporates and sponsors all seating is general admission and people can sit anywhere, creating a scenario where some of the best seats in the house will be available," Rogers said. "Under the old model seating between the 22s was restricted but now it's all general admission - get in early and effectively pick your seat. It's pretty unique and I don't know of another stadium in New Zealand that operates like that."
In another change, the union has done away with an agency and will sell tickets to all games - pre-sale and walk-up - themselves.
Season ticket sales - $76 for five games, a play on Bay's NPC title-winning side of 1976 in what is the union's centenary year - haven't been substantial but never had been, said Rogers, with Tauranga crowds in particular notorious for making late decisions to attend a games, seemingly happy to queue at the gate to buy a ticket.
Rogers said he'd noticed a groundswell building in recent years back towards provincial rugby, which might help explain some of the poor gates at Super Rugby games although, like the weather, it was unclear right now how big an impact the Rugby World Cup and cost of games there would have on provincial crowds.
"The last couple of years our local communities have re-engaged with the ITM Cup and their provincial unions and have developed more of a grass roots connection," Rogers said. "From our perspective it hasn't happened by chance - we've been active in making sure our team and players are in the community and building connections and being a bit more real."
Bay's ITM Cup campaign kicks off on July 17 away against Counties-Manukau but Rogers believes the home games by and large offered good viewing opportunities, with four of the five home games late afternoon or early evening kickoffs. There is the added bonus this season of a big screen stationed at ground level at the southern end of Baypark Stadium offering replays.