Rotorua fans' last chance to hold the Magic

Rotorua is on the verge of being ditched as a host venue for netball's ANZ Championship as new indoor stadiums in Tauranga and Hamilton near completion. Sports editor Kelly Exelby reports.
Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic chief executive Sheryl Dawson is almost ticking off the days until Tauranga's new $41 million indoor stadium is finished in September after several seasons of watching money walk out the door through poorly patronised transtasman netball games in Rotorua.
Magic have issued an ultimatum to Rotorua fans - start coming along or we're not coming back - after dwindling attendance for ANZ Championship games in the Sulphur City has hit the franchise's bottom line.
Dawson said from Perth yesterday that the franchise had been disappointed by ticket sales at Rotorua for the past two years. "The only exception is the match played against the Thunderbirds last year."
Rotorua fans are being given one last chance to turn up, for the game against the Canterbury Tactix on April 14 or miss out on hosting games next year.
"With the choice of two new venues, one in Tauranga and the other at Claudelands [in Hamilton] opening later this year and the option of Taupo as a venue this year, the opportunities to host ANZ Championship games in the Bay of Plenty and the Waikato regions are widening for the franchise.
"It's a shame as netball is such a strong sport in the Bay of Plenty and in Rotorua in particular," Dawson said. "It appears Rotorua fans aren't prepared to show their support by being at games to watch world-class players in action."
At the last game in Rotorua, the stadium, which has a capacity of about 3500, was barely a third full and ticket sales for the next match are going slowly as well. The franchise is offering a special deal on ticket prices in an attempt to lure fans for the Tactix match.
Magic marketing manager Chris Buckley said dwindling support in Rotorua for top-level netball wasn't new.
In 2009, when Rotorua hosted the Northern Mystics and Tactix, both games at the Energy Events Centre sold out.
Last year, when Rotorua was given four transtasman games, only the last round-robin clash with the (eventual champions) Adelaide Thunderbirds sold out, with the game against Southern Steel 46 per cent full, Queensland Firebirds 73per cent of capacity and Central Pulse 42 per cent.
Games this season against the Steel (46 per cent) and Tactix (37 per cent) had failed to fire. "Admittedly, the Tactix game was a last minute, cobbled-together situation after the earthquake, but a crowd like that is disappointing considering the way the country rallied behind Christchurch.
"We don't want to be seen to be putting the knife into Rotorua but when we have the choice we'll have next year, what are we going to do when we're struggling right now to break even on games in Rotorua?"
Tauranga's substandard QEII Youth centre will host the Magic against the Swifts on April 11, with all 1400 tickets snapped up two weeks ago.
Apart from a small amount of merchandising, sponsorship and ticketing were Magic's sole sources of income.
Tauranga's new 13,000sqm, nine-court Baypark Arena, with an estimated capacity of 3000-3500, would be a boon for New Zealand's leading netball franchise.
"I'm excited," Dawson said, "and can't wait for the doors to open. We'll have more flexibility, not only in where we take games but also in the playing times."
Buckley didn't believe prices (generally $20-$25 for general admission) or the fact games were live on Sky television had a major bearing on Rotorua's lack of support, although Dawson agreed that the tough financial climate meant people were more cautious with their money.
"People are more choosy about where they spend their discretionary dollar and we understand that, but we still need to look at where best we can draw the biggest crowds, and at the moment that looks like being Hamilton and Tauranga."
Magic were hamstrung to an extent by being one of only two New Zealand franchises to use multiple venues, affecting their ability to sell season passes.