Jack Mesley: Super Rugby Pacific CEO on the playoffs starting this weekend
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What are the playoffs details for Super Rugby Pacific this weekend?
Super Rugby is going to enter the playoffs this weekend. Christchurch, as we've discussed, is a sellout. The ticket sold out in 20 minutes for the Crusaders v Blues at Takaha. Jack Mesley is the Super Rugby Pacific CEO in with us. Hi, Jack. Hi, Heather. How are you? I'm very well, thank you. How good was that sellout?
Oh, yeah, it's incredible, isn't it? Yeah, I mean, since Super Round, that stadium for the Crusaders is just the hottest ticket in town, which is wonderful. And, yeah, can't wait for the finals to kick off today.
Have any of the other playoffs sold out at all?
I'm not sure it's sold out just yet. But, you know, I know the Chiefs are going really well and the Hurricanes also. I was down at the Chiefs last week. They had 20,000 at their last regular season game and it was a great experience. So no doubt they'll be turning out in drives this weekend as well.
Why is Christchurch's new stadium attracting sellout crowds?
So what do we put this down to in Christchurch? Is this just the novelty of having this new stadium, do you think?
Oh, definitely a major factor for sure. I mean, I think Cantabrians have been suffering out in the cold at Crusaders games at Apollo for many years and Now they've just got such a different experience. It's a completely different experience down there being so close to the city. People can go and have a complete evening, go and have a great meal down by Riverside, walk to the game, have an unbelievable experience. But also put down to the growth that we're seeing in our crowds across the whole competition. This is the third year in a row that we're going to host some really pleasing crowd attendance growth numbers. 2004 we grew by 7.2%, 2005 by 6%. And this year we're going to post some really pleasing numbers.
Collectively in New Zealand, our New Zealand clubs are up about 20% across the board and yet partly driven by the Crusaders. But all New Zealand clubs are up significantly in 2026. So that's really pleasing to see people getting around Super Rugby as well as the new stadiums.
Were there fireworks in the stadium?
Yeah, the Crusaders tried a few fireworks at halftime last round.
But now, Jack, who thinks that setting off fireworks when there is a roof is a good idea?
Yeah.
It created some great photography as we had clouds inside the stadium. It looked like it was quite amazing. The Crusaders are trying everything, as are all of our clubs, to improve the atmosphere and we're seeing that in our results. We measure net promoter score across our event experience of every game and that's really been the driver of our attendance growth. Yeah, we might make some mistakes along the way, but I don't begrudge any of the clubs for investing in their matchday experience and creating a great atmosphere.
Yeah, it's worth giving it a hoon. Now, have we ended up, though, with the situation that we kind of want to avoid, which is that we have a predictable outcome most likely for the next round, which will be four New Zealand teams?
Well, yeah. I mean, I think the Aussie teams, they probably are a little unhappy that they didn't finish higher in the ladder. And halfway through the season, it looked as though the Brumbies would finish in the top two. And that didn't take place. So, yeah, that is a little bit disappointing. But in terms of a lay-down for these finals, I don't think that's the case. I mean, last year we saw the sixth-place Blues knock off the first-place Chiefs in the qualifying final and then the semi-final. they went within a whisker of beating the Crusaders in the semifinals. So, you know, I'm not sure it's quite as done and dusted as some people might be commenting. I think the great thing is that with this final series, you know, we had nine teams still in contention in round 15, which just created for really great jeopardy and excitement coming into this final series.
And, you know, I think it's going to be a great series. I can't wait for tonight. in Wellington. I mean, this Hurricanes team is certainly something to watch. The rugby they've been playing is just box office for sure.
Okay, very quickly, what's the deal with Moana Pacifica?
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