New fan council takes aim at ban on umbrellas

BAN LIFTED: Sports fans can stay dry watching at McLean Park now that a ban on umbrellas has been lifted. PHOTO/FILE

Soon sport fans can stay dry while supporting the home side, with fans driving the lift of the umbrella ban at McLean Park.

The updated umbrella policy is one of the first changes the Hawke's Bay Rugby Union's (HBRU) fan council hopes to achieve. The council was formed in February to encourage more people to watch games, and improve the fan experience.

Union commercial and marketing manager Jay Campbell said so far he thought the council had been hugely successful.

"It's great to be able to get buy-in from key members of the council who are huge rugby fans. Everything we've been doing has been decided by them. It's being driven by fans, for fans."

Discussions are being held around an updated umbrella policy with the venue's security provider and Napier City Council, which would lift the ban of them from McLean Park.

"The fans council stated it was an issue for them, and we've spoken to other key stake holders. Everyone is working together to ensure the fan experience is a good one."

The 25-person fan council had been communicating with Napier City Council on other changes, including setting designated smoking areas further away from the public thoroughfare and creating more reader-friendly entry rules and regulations which would be displayed around entry points, with an up-to-date version expected to be added to the HBRU's website.

These were the first of many changes the council hoped to make, Mr Campbell said, although others would take more time to implement.

"This isn't just about Hawke's Bay rugby, this is about what the fans want."

The fan council's catering ideas had been also well received by caterers Heaven's Bakery and Gala Catering, who were on board to "make some great improvements".

Heaven's would be implementing an online pre-purchase system, and offering a variety of healthy options, and Gala were currently looking into pricing for individual combos and family packs.

These were the first of many changes the council hoped to make, Mr Campbell said, although others would take more time to implement.

In September Hawke's Bay Today reported a Hamilton man sat-out a Ranfurly Shield match between Hawke's Bay and Bay of Plenty in a bar after being denied admission because of his umbrella. The newspaper received an onslaught of text messages regarding the ban.