Editorial: Show franchises we're the full deal

Rotorua people always feel hard done by when the draws come out for the likes of rugby's Super 15 or NPC competitions or netball's transtasman ANZ Championship. We always seem to miss out on hosting home games and if we're lucky enough to get any games scheduled in our city, they're often the ones against so-called "lesser" teams. Sometimes we may get only a pre-season match.

It's a shame considering the venues we have. The pitch at our stadium is considered by rugby players to be one of the best in the country and our Energy Events Centre is a great venue ... if it's full.

And therein lies the crux of the matter. In today's professional sporting world, the franchises that run our region's teams are businesses which must operate as such. They need to make money to stay in business.

They have bills to pay, they need to cover costs associated with the competitions they're in, they need to pay their players, coaches and other staff. Persistently low crowd numbers at a venue are likely to eventually result in fewer games there - the franchises will take their business where they get the best crowds.

On Monday, Rotorua will host its only ANZ Championship match for this season - Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic playing Canterbury Tactix. Indications so far, according to our region's netball franchise, are that there will be a good crowd to the match with about 1200 of the 2500 tickets already sold. Rotorua people are renowned for deciding at the last minute and turning up on the night.

Sadly, our Magic team sits at the bottom of the points table; yet to have a win. It's a situation they and their fans are unfamiliar with. Going into the 2012 season, Magic were the only team to have so far made the top four every year.

It's possible they still can but they need to start winning and that's where they hope the fans will come in. A great turnout in Rotorua on Monday would do much more than help Magic regain winning form - it would also ensure the city stays on the radar when it comes to allocating next season's home games.

If we want games here, we need to turn up.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

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