WHOO, boy, do Aucklanders like to talk themselves up.
I know we were all a bit short of lead material leading up to this weekend, but I was starting to get a bit tired of the constant "record numbers" in Auckland for the NRL Nines and the Rapture hip-hop concert. I was feeling a bit smug over the anxiety and hand-wringing of Mt Eden residents worried about "coping" with the large numbers of fans heading to the stadium. There was also the issue of Auckland's public transport, with the memories of the fiasco of the 2011 Rugby World Cup still fresh in people's minds. Not a worry for a smug Wellingtonian, with trains that run right to Westpac stadium.
Now, far be it from me to begrudge Auckland a decent day of sport in the sun, but some alarm bells are starting to ring for me. I've already heard the comment (from one person in the office who tragically does not know the difference between rugby league and rugby union) that there seemed to be very little difference between the Wellington Sevens and the NRL Nines at Eden Park. And, apart from there being all the difference in the world between league and union, she had a point. The costumes came out, the stadium was packed, and it was two days of fun. The future looks bright for Nines, being a Commonwealth Games sport this year.
Auckland's easy Nines success comes after the Wellington Sevens had a slightly tarnished air to it this year. The stadium's hospitality came under scrutiny for serving intoxicated fans. A lot of people were turfed out, and there were empty seats. It rained heavily. When tickets went on sale last year, around 5000 remained unsold - unheard of in previous years, when tickets sold out online in around three minutes or so. The Sevens is still colossal, no question, and it's an international series that still has plenty of life. But the vigorous, heavy-contact rugby league has a habit of grabbing attention. Auckland only has to do something really well just once, and people will be enthused. A league magnet might not seem a big deal in Wairarapa, but it would be in Wellington. Is it Auckland's turn to shine for a costume-fest two-day sports event?
