Rugby League
Nottingham's rugby team is having a bit of a problem getting fans to show up to their matches. No worries now, however, as they have found the solution to their problem of an abundance of empty seats. In their game on Sunday against Exeter, they enlisted the assistance of Airheads, a local company specializing in artificially created crowds for movies and TV shows.
There were 1000 inflatable "fans" in the stands for the game, in an attempt to give it more "atmosphere", and make it more appealing to other fans.
The Airheads director is Lee Harris, and he thinks that the inflatable fans will bring a boost to the club, which is currently suffering from pretty severe financial issues.
"As a local firm we are really keen to support Nottingham Rugby in their quest to raise the profile of the club. We are hoping an extra 1,000 'people' in the crowd against Exeter, will encourage supporters of both rugby and sport to come and get behind their successful local team.
I'm not sure that 1000 silent fans will really help the atmosphere, but good luck with that. I think a better idea would be inflatable officials, since that might even improve the quality of some games.
"You're not singing any more" [BBC]
3/23/09 | Brendanc8504
I dont understand why everyone is so upset. This blow up doll idea will work just fine for the Jaguars as well.
3/23/09 | TurkogluForMVP | 50 respect
By the way, the JAGUARS are the ones who lobbied to have a new stadium in 1995 that has 20,000 seats more than the previous stadium on that site. Its clearly an issue of their OWN making, because the Jaguars were experiencing local TV blackouts even during playoff years.
The Steelers, on the other hand, built a larger stadium (Heinz Field), than their previous stadium (Three Rivers), but not so big that it turned out to be overreaching. I guess that makes them smart and NOT greedy.
And again, you missed the point about the Steelers. In 1972 when the Steelers started a streak of a record 281 straight sell-outs, they had won NO Super Bowls, were seen as a huge disappointment as a franchise, and their season record the 3 previous seasons were 1-13, 5-9 and 6-8. So don't act like the Steelers had sell-outs because they were having fantastic success. The sellouts began immediately upon modest success. The Steelers did not win their first SuperBowl until after 21 straight sellouts over the previous 3 seasons.
Your attempt at ripping the Steelers to distract from the fact that the Jaguars franchise is not well supported by the fan base is a weak attempt and is not supported by the facts. The fact still remains, that during playoff seasons, the Jaguars could not sell out home games, which resulted in local blackouts. They could have used these blow up dolls to fill their stadium instead of covering them up with tarps.
I used the Steelers as an example so you would maybe understand that what you are arguing is pathetic
And NO the JAGUARS were NOT the ones who lobbied. The investors of the stadium did it to attract an NFL team. So the Jags didnt do anything to sway the capacity because they werent around when the renovations took place. The stadium in Jax isnt just for the Jags its for bowl games and cocktail parties only the worlds largest and can host things like the superbowl. Its a stadium of Jacksonville not the Jaguars. In 1995 the Jags were just introduced so what the hell are you talking about "because the Jaguars were experiencing local tv blackouts even during playoff years?" Besides have you seen the old stadium? Jax needed a new one since it was about 50-60 something years old.
Wait are you suggesting the Steelers werent jealous that the pirates got their own park and the steelers had to deal with the hand-me-down stadium in three rivers? So they didnt get a new stadium because the pirates were finally on their own? The Steeler ownership just didnt want to pan out alot of money with their "scam B" I'm sure youre aware of that term. They added 6000 more seats. Having problems with too many people wanting tickets is unlikely since it was only a 6000 seat increase so it must be because of the Pirates getting their own park.
Clearly you missed my point in stating that the steelers were there for 39 years prior to your "record" setting sellouts. The numbers you displayed were from 2001-2008. Which the steelers had superbowls. Give Jacksonville more than a teenager lifespan and a chance to get some success before you call them out for anything.
Give the jags Heintz field and sellouts will come. But because Jax has to get ready for such events like a superbowl, UF vs UGA, Gator Bowl, ACC champ until this year, and more Jax has to have a bigger stadium . My point in calling out the stupidity of your comment was because it was ignorant of the true numbers in NFL games. They still reach a middle amount of attendence and to try to make fun of them is so ignorant of facts and actual numbers. Give the Jags 25 more years and maybe something different will happen.
Now just something different here... Three River had a capacity of 59000 right? well in 1970 the highest attendance that year was 50,214. 27 years later having trouble filling the smaller stadium. You gave the Jags 14 years to have sellouts every game. Thats what im pointing out. I could have used another team but I dont think that would affect you at all cause we all know how steeler fans are.
3/22/09 | TurkogluForMVP | 50 respect
Here's the link to the document to look for yourself. It's on page 7.
Face it the Jaguars, have a terrible fan base that doesn't buy tickets. The Steelers outnumber Jags fans when they grace the Florida landscape. And that's true for about 75% of NFL franchises.
Thats a terrible comparison though. Steelers have won 6 superbowls and date back to 1933
The jags are 14 years old in a city that doesnt have any other pro sports. No huge college football team. So I really dont know why you are getting on the Jags case about this because it is clear that the Jags are doing better than about 11 other teams. Sellout or not the Jaguars have more people in their stadium than the Steelers do. The pathetic team record is still 2000 shy of the Jags average in 2008. Its alot easier to go to games when that franchise has won 6 superbowls and has been there for 76 years. Your argument is moot.
Im not a Jag fan by any means. I'm a Dolphins. I got season tickets last year because im in jacksonville and i might as well experience season tickets to an NFL team. You act like Im a fan for them. Im not.
3/21/09 | TurkogluForMVP | 50 respect
68,000 something i think
3/21/09 |
MarkTheShark
|
590 respect
The only important number for me is the 101.1% for the Patriots, meaning they average MORE than a sellout. Once again, the Patriots prove to be one of the premier organizations in the NFL in this decade, by any and every standard.
What's the capacity of Gillette Stadium?
3/21/09 | TurkogluForMVP | 50 respect
The only important number for me is the 101.1% for the Patriots, meaning they average MORE than a sellout. Once again, the Patriots prove to be one of the premier organizations in the NFL in this decade, by any and every standard.
I never said otherwise. Their superbowls put them at the next level to elite franchise. No doubt about that. It's according to ESPN which isnt some stupid nobody website. No one ever said the pats werent. They are also top in Video Camera usage and hoodie sales. ;)
3/21/09 |
Pat
|
4515 respect
Honestly, I could give a crap about either team. They are both hovering around 97% capacity, according to your link.
The only important number for me is the 101.1% for the Patriots, meaning they average MORE than a sellout. Once again, the Patriots prove to be one of the premier organizations in the NFL in this decade, by any and every standard.
3/21/09 | TurkogluForMVP | 50 respect
Oh and one more thing... they can cover those seats because even when they do... they still have the same amount of seats available as the Steelers do. Only one Teams avg can fill up Jax's stadium... that team: Washington Redskins. with a 91,000 seating capacity
3/21/09 | TurkogluForMVP | 50 respect
Jacksonville has been covering thousands of its seats for years. So maybe they "sell out" the 67,000 available seats, but the stadium holds 78,000. For the Florida-Georgia games, they add bleachers to increase the capacity to 85,000.
In a league like the NFL where most teams have waiting lists for season tickets, a competitive team like Jacksonville covering its seats IS like the Marlins drawing so few fans.
ps - I will note that in 2008, they seemed to sell 65,000 seats. Not sure if that was considered a sell-out, since even for the Steelers game there were only 65,000. I assume then that they covered up 2,000 more seats this season after 2 games were blacked out the year before in a playoff year.
Ok well here it goes.
1) Its a small market team that is only 14? years old. It's had little to no success. Marlins however have had 2 WS. My point is you cant sit there and say Jags need it as opposed to Marlins or Royals. Jags are also in a rut it seems with the front office making bad choice after bad choice. Jack Del Rio is not a fan favorite nor was Matt Jones. People dont want to see their team lose.
2) Pro Football is not the culture in Jacksonville yet. UF vs UGA is different because people travel for that. They dont travel for Jag games because they have had little success. I was at every game last season and it was not even close to the level of the marlins. Its not the same at all. Playoff year doesnt mean you automatically get a football culture in a city. Especially when that franchise is so young.
3)
sports.espn.go.com/nfl/attendance
Take a look at that. In there it states the following:
Jacksonville- 65,167 avg attendance per home game
Pittsburgh - 62,890 avg attendance per home game
Pittsburgh has a 65,000 capacity right? Well they cant fill that up every game so OMG get 2-3 thousand blow up dolls cause now Steelers really need it. Jags have more people come to the games than Steelers do. More seats, less people that have adopted the culture than Pitts. Yet you try to make fun of the Jags for not filling the seats? When they have the possibility of having 20,000 more people?! You are full of crap. Heintz field couldnt even come up with 20,000 more people to fill their seats. Ya'll are ripping a team for having a bigger stadium? Or are you ripping a team for attendance when its numbers are clearly higher than your favorite team the Steelers? According to ESPN a whopping 18,000 more people came to Jaguar games than Steeler games last year. And Pitt won the SB! Sure pathetic huh Pat?
3/21/09 |
Pat
|
4515 respect
Jacksonville has been covering thousands of its seats for years. So maybe they "sell out" the 67,000 available seats, but the stadium holds 78,000. For the Florida-Georgia games, they add bleachers to increase the capacity to 85,000.
In a league like the NFL where most teams have waiting lists for season tickets, a competitive team like Jacksonville covering its seats IS like the Marlins drawing so few fans.
ps - I will note that in 2008, they seemed to sell 65,000 seats. Not sure if that was considered a sell-out, since even for the Steelers game there were only 65,000. I assume then that they covered up 2,000 more seats this season after 2 games were blacked out the year before in a playoff year.
Solid points. Isn't it a given that if they thought they could sell the seats, they wouldn't cover them up? So even a "sellout" isn't a sellout at a place like that unless they let the stadium fill to capacity. Since they know they can't get that, they don't even bother to try. Pathetic, imo.
3/21/09 | Brendanc8504
was speaking in regards to the blow up dolls..................now you can laugh
3/21/09 | Brendanc8504
haha. god help everyone is a knife fight breaks out
3/21/09 | TurkogluForMVP | 50 respect
Jacksonville is the team that really needs this. Playoff teams and they can't get home sell-outs. What are they, the Atlanta Braves?
Jax has most of its available stadium full every game. maybe not a sell out but not as bad as the Marlins
3/17/09 |
Dream_Machine
|
11548 respect
Faith And Having An MD Are Two Different Things! I Still Believe... Though... In God That Is.
3/17/09 | Brendanc8504
yeah, but the say there is something funny about the drugs he uses to put you under.
3/17/09 |
Dream_Machine
|
11548 respect
Wow, Amazing Grace A Doctor?
3/17/09 | Brendanc8504
right, but by then i would have eaten, and had something in my belly to soak up the massive amounts of alcohol i am sure to consume.
haha
3/17/09 |
MarkTheShark
|
590 respect
No problem...that green beer would've done it to ya anyway
3/17/09 | Brendanc8504
thanks for making me lose my appetite right before going out for a heavy night of drinking
3/17/09 |
MarkTheShark
|
590 respect
i did not need to read that!!!! if the convo is going to continue like this, tell me im out!!!!!! dont u have a wife or gf or something, god!
AG's right, you have a dirty mind..lol.. ok maybe AG's never right...but it just seems her mouth is always open..surgery maybe??? just sayin
3/17/09 | eLa_MAe_O | 1627 respect
EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i did not need to read that!!!! if the convo is going to continue like this, tell me im out!!!!!! dont u have a wife or gf or something, god!
3/17/09 |
MarkTheShark
|
590 respect
ooo Bay bee...Is your jaw hurting?
3/17/09 | Brendanc8504
your the expert......lead the way
3/17/09 |
MarkTheShark
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590 respect
Can we please get the conversation back on blow-up dolls?!
3/17/09 | Brendanc8504
i try
3/17/09 | eLa_MAe_O | 1627 respect
hahaha ur so funny.
3/17/09 | Brendanc8504
that was very amazinggrace of you
3/17/09 | eLa_MAe_O | 1627 respect
o, sorry. i assumed
3/17/09 | Brendanc8504
who said i dont believe. i just dont need some guy who thinks he IS GOD to try and throw this info at me
3/17/09 | eLa_MAe_O | 1627 respect
just cuz someone doesnt believe doesnt make them satan. o and im fairly sure theres something in the bible along the lines of be kind to ones nabor. im pretty sure calling them satan isnt being kind. oo and something else along the lines of treat all fairly, wich again goes into the satan thing.
3/17/09 |
Pat
|
4515 respect
Jesus says WTF?
3/17/09 | Brendanc8504
continue to sink your own ship son
3/17/09 | eLa_MAe_O | 1627 respect
dudes, do not start this convo again, i will die from laughing. and if ur joking u gotta put something that lets me know ur joking, like a wink
or a smiley
3/17/09 | Brendanc8504
I'm just joking with you !
oh god here we go again
3/17/09 | eLa_MAe_O | 1627 respect
u miss the point of the name. its something along the lines of im just pretended to be sweet, or u think im something im not. either way, there both bad for ur health.
3/16/09 |
MarkTheShark
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590 respect
Where is this place?...at least I'll have a date for after the game......hey bayybee...
3/16/09 |
Dream_Machine
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11548 respect
Now That is Seriously SHOCKING News!
3/16/09 | njstixx
It's sad...but BRILLIANT!
I mean a company actually thought of this! I'm going back to the drawing board with my band-aids for different nationalities....all shades of colors, various browns for African Americans etc....all ethic backgrounds can choose their own color and no one will even know they have a band-aid on!
3/16/09 | Brendanc8504
but inflatable fans would just depress me, as a player. and as another fan, it would creep me out!! majorly!! i think this idea is FAIL!!!
The one thing the players can be happy about, is even though the team might not be that good, they will always have a date after the game.
"Look at Johnson! He hasn't played a minute all year, but hes dating that girl in the front row!"
3/16/09 | eLa_MAe_O | 1627 respect
u guys r all perverted!!!!
but inflatable fans would just depress me, as a player. and as another fan, it would creep me out!! majorly!! i think this idea is FAIL!!!
3/16/09 | Brendanc8504
haha i did laugh at that
3/16/09 |
Pat
|
4515 respect
Holy crap... AG just made a funny!
3/16/09 | Brendanc8504
haha she looks more like she is screaming "RAPE!"
3/16/09 | TurkogluForMVP | 50 respect
bravo sir bravo.
3/16/09 | guylake | 317 respect
We have probably seen the best comment of the day right here. Good stuff, Pat.
3/16/09 |
WhoDat12
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2231 respect
Matt Millen sold them all of the inflatables at half price.
3/16/09 |
Pat
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4515 respect
I don't get it... it looks like they're all cheering, but there's no noise coming out...
3/16/09 | Brendanc8504
honestly that's sad. LOL
my question in.....do the players realize that they are not real people? I don't know about you but it wouldn't make me feel better or "bring a boost" to my club. If anything that might be the knockout blow. Can you imagine how freaky that would be to walk onto the field? I wouldn't even be able to participate I would be laughing to hard........wait, maybe that works as a home field advantage!
3/16/09 | jmcarlos
This would be great for the Kansas City Royals, the Florida Marlins, and the Nationals. You can throw in the WNBA while you're at it.
3/16/09 | keppieboy | 158 respect
Maybe the Pirates should look into this.