Apparently, they sold out within three minutes, yet I managed to purchase two at six past nine. Perhaps Ticketek knew that it was my birthday; how nice of them.
For those of us without "special" contacts, securing entry to the most exciting annual dress-up party depends upon one's clicking speed, internet connection and, obviously, luck.
Since such haste is required to secure a seat, why are the tickets numbered? Very few sit according to their allocation, usually because it's halfway around the stadium from any of their friends.
In the pressure of the online moment (you're given only a few minutes to process your purchase) there's hardly time to worry about such things and, on the day, nobody does.
My suggestion is that the seat allocator loses his/her job, and the cost of all tickets is reduced accordingly.
Could two days of rugby really be worth so much stress, and so much money? The tickets alone are fairly substantially priced (even considering the above proposition), and the whole adventure becomes more costly when flights, costumes, public transport, food and beverages are required.
In my opinion, a rugby tournament alone would never be worth such a drastic amount of hard-earned, summer-job cash.
Last year, Matt McLean interviewed our group in the stands. He asked my friend, "What do you think of this game, so far?" She adjusted her impressive headpiece and replied, "Ah, as far as I can tell, they're playing rugby." She was making a point.
The sevens exudes an atmosphere quite unlike that at any other New Zealand sporting event, thanks to the fancy dress and the predominantly young, enthusiastic crowd, combined with games short enough to maintain interest.
What do the players think of the party-like vibe at their intense sporting event? Is it disconcerting, I wonder, to be cheered on by teletubbies, pohutukawa flowers, Rubik's cubes, cavemen, stationery items and so on? Apparently not, according to the (two) players I talked to.
On the contrary, it makes the whole event more exciting for them, too.
Win-win! Unfortunately, however, not all the teams can win the tournament. Never mind, our team always wins! New Zealand? Oh, I wish! No, I'm referring to the spectator crowd.
- Katie Kenny studies English at the University of Otago.
