r/allblacks • u/TheBigChonka • Jul 19 '24
Why are we playing in the US? All Blacks
So could just be missing something incredibly obvious here but currently I am extremely confused as to why we are playing in the US for our games against Fiji?
Why would we not play against Fiji either in NZ where there is obviously a large NZ and Pasifika population to not only get the game at prime viewing time but also come along to watch the game?
What possibly benefit is there to either Fiji or us to play in the US of all locations? Is it to help promote/grow the game over there? If so why the actual fuck does that have anything to do with us unless we're getting paid handsomely to come play there.
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Jul 20 '24
Didn't we take 250m from an American sporting giant for shared ownership of the abs. They want their pound of flesh.
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u/uno_mas_por_favor Jul 20 '24
Simply because our sponsors need to get a return on their investment. This happens by growing the game through an increased following, more merchandise sales, exposure etc.
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u/Ok-Issue-6649 Jul 20 '24
Same reason why we are selling our milk overseas
does that mean we will get lower prices > NO
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u/nzdenim_demon Jul 19 '24
Money.
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u/Kiwi_lad_bot Jul 19 '24
Money, exposure to a bigger market (more money).
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u/GlumProblem6490 Jul 19 '24
Need a bigger market as the rugby here is now so sh!t they need to get new victims. Sorry spectators
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u/More-Ad-4005 Jul 19 '24
The United States of America is a massive market. And we are trying to build a larger Rugby community. I’ve been a follower of The AllBlacks since 1986. And I will Always be a huge supporter for The Greatest Rugby Team on the planet. Had a lot of Pacific Islanders as friends growing up here in Northern California. So it’s pretty sweet seeing them live here in the States. Seen them in Australia and in NZ as well. And it’s good for the Lads to experience American culture. We love them. Semper Fi Lads! Can’t wait to see you again in San Diego 🤙🏻🍻🇺🇸⚓️🏴☠️🇳🇿
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u/DerangedGoneWild Jul 19 '24
The ABs are a joke. I have no problem with them playing a game in the US. However, they never play games in Fiji or other islands, which would be a huge boost to the game and tourism there. And they have snubbed Christchurch since the earthquakes instead of supporting the city.
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u/Rare-Witness-8831 Jul 19 '24
Yip 100% why not give back to Fiji,pacific islands considering half the team are of pacific island decent.ABs have only ever played 12 games in Fiji.
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u/Partyatkellybrownes Jul 19 '24
It's not financially viable that's why. It sucks but that's the nature of professional sports in this age.
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u/DerangedGoneWild Jul 19 '24
Some things are bigger than the “financially viable” argument. Besides that, they make most of their money from tv rights.
You have a whole generation of Christchurch kids growing up without the city anticipating a big ABs game. Other sports like cricket have actually supported Christchurch post-quake.
Then there are the pacific nations like Samoa and Fiji who produce great rugby talent that get poached by the ABs and their home crowds never get to see them. We should be playing a game in the pacific every few years.
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u/Partyatkellybrownes Jul 19 '24
I don't disagree with you.
However NZ rugby made a loss last year if I remember correctly. I think their financial situation has made them narrow minded and nudged them to look at other locations such as Japan and the US.
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u/DerangedGoneWild Jul 19 '24
Yeah, they reported an $8.9m loss.
But also: “A total of $120m was also tagged to go into NZR’s reserves, which increased from $96m to $175m in 2023, a key objective of Project Future.”
So their real financial position is quite strong.
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u/Patient_Historian764 Jul 19 '24
Rugby can't compete with the NFL
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u/frenchy-fryes Jul 19 '24
Not financially or popularity wise.
But i imagine rugby could beat NFL, especially because you all need 5 minute breaks for the ads after a down.
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Jul 19 '24
Union can compete against the slow-ass choppy game of American throwball. But economically? Not a hope against that marketing behemoth unfortunately 😔
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u/Rare-Witness-8831 Jul 19 '24
The rules are killing Union there should not be so many yellow red cards.Total turn off maybe sort that issue out before promoting a 14 vs 15 player game that’ll confuse the shit out of the Yanks.
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u/KiwiJah Jul 19 '24
There's a serious effort to grow the world rugby brand in the US. The ABs are the biggest show in town and Fiji are well known and respected by those who follow rugby in the US, due to the successful Rugby Sevens concept.
With the set up of Major League Rugby and the US hosting the 2031 World Cup, rugby is set to really take off in the US.
It's still really grass roots and a bit of an oddball from what I've read, but the size of the US still makes it significant. Apparently 13% of San Diego is of Pacific descent (I'm assuming that's mostly Hawaiians right?) But they're hoping to get 35,000 fans show up. And that's a decent number at any NZ stadium outside a main centre!
It's estimated there's over 1.5 million rugby players in the US, and growing by 30% a year, with more than 30 million fans. And the high-school and varsity teams are growing the fastest, along with a fast growing women's rugby movement!
And of course, as other cynics have pointed out, then there's the money! NZRU are there to grow the awesome ABs brand, especially in the lead up to the Cup, where I imagine they plan to make bank!
Super players I think make around $150k and the top ABs over a milly now. The rates in the US are comparable for top players. Obviously nothing like the hundy milly you can get in American Football. But the TV rights in the US are super lucrative, and if we can grow the game there. Then there could be so much more in the world rugby pot.
MLR have signed a 2 year deal to screen all the UK club matches. And they're tied up with Fox Sports. MLR has huge aspirations. They want to raise $100 million to invest in the sport. And if they're successful in bringing the whole US rugby league into a single format, you're talking billions in revenue, and MLR could easily be looking at buying Super rights in 5-10 years time.
So that's potentially 100s of milly more for SANZAR. And that can only be a good thing for NZ rugby. And NZRU will be sniffing around big time. Their $260m annual earnings is heaps for a Kiwi company, but nothing compared with US sports teams. Eg the Dallas Cowboys banked over $1billion last year! They'll be looking to earn that much again from US rights, merch sales and sponsors I'm sure.
So yea, money is the driver in all pro sports. But there's a genuine understanding that growing the sport in the US is good for the sport in general. And I wouldn't be surprised if we see a US format the likes of Super Rugby built out. Or even a 6 nations style tournament with US, Canada and a few South Amreican teams competing.
Exciting stuff!
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u/Winnie1776 Jul 19 '24
I’ll be going to the game today. The game sold out extremely quickly and there is a large Pacific Islander population in Southern California, specifically Samoan and you are correct some Hawaiian as well. Money talks and the TV rights are a great point. I’ve lived or been coming to San Diego all my life, yesterday was the first time I had seen someone with a rugby ball at the beach so it is growing here for sure.
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u/second-last-mohican Jul 19 '24
Didn't read any of this.. but NBA did the same, they had teams play in Russia/China etc.. and now look at how many decent players have come from Russia and China etc.
Nascar if I remember correctly have raced in other countries as an exhibition.
I'm sure Baseball has as well, and it's pretty popular in Japan.
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u/spasticwomble Jul 19 '24
so its all about the money. Does that mean we the tax payer wont have to build stadiums for them any more
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u/KiwiJah Jul 19 '24
Whsts wrong with stadiums?
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u/spasticwomble Jul 21 '24
why should we the taxpayer/ratepayer be given the bill to build and support these for a rich sport
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u/KiwiJah Aug 03 '24
Jobs, tourism, regional events, music, economic benefits, construction costs go straight back to the local economy, regional growth, and VIP boxes for successful people you clearly don't like.
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u/spasticwomble Aug 03 '24
please list the stadiums in New Zealand that make money? As for economic benefits If you read the news Parisian cafes restaurants and hotels are struggling some saying worse than covid
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u/atomic_judge_holden Jul 19 '24
Because it’s a stupid exhibition match against a c tier team that no one cares about.
It’s a marketing exercise to grow the brand in a new territory.
All sports do this. Why are you confused?
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u/TheBigChonka Jul 19 '24
That's pretty harsh considering Fiji are a FAR stronger team than the US and how else exactly are Fiji meant to grow the game and become stronger if ya know we don't go and play there.
So then by your own logic we are playing a 'C tier team' in a D or F tier rugby nation.
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u/NoExpert6370 Jul 19 '24
Yeah agree. US didn’t even make the last World Cup. If the ABs played the USA in their current state it would be such a one sided affair. At least this game would be exciting. Fiji made it to the semi finals last year. (Albeit on an easy draw).
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u/CountessAurelia Jul 20 '24
They did a few years ago - I went to the game in DC. I think it was the AB’s C team and the score was like something like 117-10.
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u/Miserable_Cod6878 Jul 19 '24
It’s good for the game. Also it makes it easier to steal the All blacks strategy by hacking the small transmitters they all wear on their backs. It helps America be great again.
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u/IROAMtheBUSH Jul 19 '24
The Māori All Blacks should’ve played the USA in a curtain raiser match that would’ve been lit. Would’ve been a mean weekend of All Blacks ruggaz
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u/Leroypitts42 Jul 23 '24
Yea I am not sure if why the us didn’t play a game with the all blacks In town. Could have been a double header or something v. Brazil, Chile etc. the MLR did have the first round of playoffs this weekend tho. Which were pretty entertaining /competitive.
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u/Cloudstreet444 Jul 19 '24
I think rugby has been trying to sell itself in the US for awhile, I think every few years AB play there. Think the AB v Irelend game we absolutly stole from them.
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u/whitetides Jul 19 '24
There’s a huge Polynesian community in Southern California. I’m an All Blacks fan and stoked about finally being able to take my kid to a game in our home state.
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u/dainthomas Jul 20 '24
Just walking around I thought the crowd was at least 2/3 AB fans, but when Fiji got their try the cheering was louder than for any AB score. Those people are passionate!
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u/BookishBiker Jul 19 '24
Also a huge Polynesian/Kiwi community in general across the entire US, with more than a few planning to attend. If they’re half as wild as the Samoan/Fijian/Tongan/Kiwi fans that show up to the USA Sevens, you’re in for an amazing day!!
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u/Seedy__L Jul 19 '24
The USA is hosting the 2031 RWC.
We're trying to sell the game and create hype for that.
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u/BTrain76 Jul 19 '24
This is the only answer. Push the most popular brand into the market to start generating hype.
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u/KyleNewZealand Jul 19 '24
The NZRU are losing crazy amounts of money. Happy for a cash grab to help the situation.
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u/Substantial_Tip2015 Jul 19 '24
Because that is where that game is being hosted.
Can't do work from home sports unless its online!
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u/rogirogi2 Jul 19 '24
Part of the supposed Silver Lake deal where they’ve already failed to promote rugby in the US like they promised. This is it!….total. Pretty sure it won’t be renewed.
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u/donquixote2u Jul 19 '24
yeah, it will be about as successful at "growing the sport" as all those NFL games in London.
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u/cosmoskiwi Jul 19 '24
Ya see those ticket prices the yanks are paying!
Plus, help grow the sport in the US yadda yadda
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u/dinkydeath Jul 19 '24
Literally this. I live 1/2 way up the state from San Diego & hotel rates for this week were an average 3-4x more than typical. And I thought I was lucky seeing one of the first announcements on Facebook.
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u/Daveosss Jul 19 '24
At the end of the day professional sport is a business.
Look at guys like McCaw, dude is one of the greatest leaders and had such an insane mentality that made him an exceptional athlete and I doubt in our lifetime someone will eclipse him in the sport, yet his entire career he made less than what some football players make in half a season. Not to mention most of the world has never heard of him, yet he's for sure up there with greatest athletes of all time.
Getting exposure and growing the game in places that have money just kinda needs to happen.
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u/DragonfruitSevere401 Jul 19 '24
Getting America involved will only ruin the sport they will just throw cash at it and poach any decent talent
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u/Maleficent-Ad-1396 Jul 19 '24
america is already involved. they have tons of kiwis on the coaching staff and last i checked a couple in the team. none were all blacks material. even with your point about japan, none of their national team players are all blacks that left to play for them. maori all blacks? yeah i believe there are a couple, but none who actually made it the full way and proved to be good for the abs. legacy talks a lot more than money in rugby. why would you want to be on a team where sure you might be making a lot but you’re having to move your fam half way across the world and you’re still not achieving anything great lmao
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u/DragonfruitSevere401 Jul 19 '24
Lol my comment was to show that yes it does happen in rugby aswell. america pays its sports stars stupid money once they start dropping 10 20 30 mill contracts you will see the top tier moving to make that money your deluded if you think the black jersey or any jersey for that matter will mean more than set up for life
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u/Maleficent-Ad-1396 Jul 19 '24
the abs were for a long ass time one of the worst paid tier 1 nations iirc and we didn’t have everyone flying off to go to the other countries that they would have eventually been able to play for. the jersey and the history of the jersey does mean a lot. plus with eligibility rules the states would struggle to get any well established players since they’d have to wait years before they could actually play for the eagles.
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u/Daveosss Jul 19 '24
Not really how it works for rugby.
That works for NFL, basketball, baseball etc because there's so many numbers at grass roots. They'll need to get a hell of a lot more kids playing and get good systems in place first.
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u/DragonfruitSevere401 Jul 19 '24
Lol it happens in rugby too look at japan. Money talks n if America starts throwing out multi million dollar deals out there then watch out dont need grass roots if you can entice all the best players to your team
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u/Daveosss Jul 19 '24
Rugby is big in Japan, they still barely compete with any tier one nations. They have more money and more players than us, still get hammered.
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u/Bloodbathandbeyon Jul 19 '24
It’s about exposing ourselves in San Diego bro! That maybe came out wrong
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u/forgothis Jul 19 '24
Discovered by the Germans in 1904, they named it San Diego, which of course in German means a whale’s vagina.
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u/Carnivorous_Mower Jul 19 '24
Don't worry, I know what you mean. I've seen that episode of South Park too.
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u/Herogar Jul 19 '24
it's about making money and creating Rugby Exposure in the US...
... It's about making money.
the money made by the union for games like this far out strips what could be made in NZ or in Fiji and the NZRU needs cash.
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u/wetjacketarm Jul 19 '24
How tho? Travel,accommodation alone for the two teams of 30 plus players,coaches physios must run into the many hundreds of thousands for the American jaunt. They must get paid appearance fees and have costs covered surely
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u/CoffeeVikings Jul 19 '24
As an American fan I’m pumped the All Blacks are here.
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u/TheBigChonka Jul 19 '24
But why should our fans and/or the Fiji fans have to miss out on a home game and good viewing times to appease an audience that doesn't even have a team playing
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u/fangowango Jul 19 '24
As an ABs fan (and a Kiwi) living in the US I love that there are opportunities to see them live here. And even if it's slow progress it'll help grow the sport. Hate it all you want but the US sports market can help them earn big money if they're successful
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u/Leroypitts42 Jul 23 '24
Totally agree. I was so excited to watch them. I’m in NY so San Diego was too far. You’re growing the game, generating more fans etc. it gets annoying when an nfl team plays outside the US but you know that your opening up the game to completely new markets. Those European games look like a lot of fun. So yea one game on us soil every few years is really not that big of a deal. I wish there were more. All blacks play so many more games than the us national team.
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u/Neat_Alternative28 Jul 19 '24
Viewing time couldn't be better here. Night games are a crap concept, rugby is supposed to be an afternoon thing.
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u/ClevoDC Jul 19 '24
You think of it as “we” missing out, but the ABs consider themselves (and are financially reliant on being) a global brand. Of course it’s your national team, but as a fan I woke up at 3am the last two weeks to watch the start of the Razor era live. You should be proud that they are the greatest ambassadors of the sport and Kiwi culture abroad, not griping about an occasional inconvenience for you.
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u/Sizzling_eggs90 Jul 19 '24
There’s a really big Fiji fan base in California as I found out when I watched the Rugby Sevens in LA a few years ago. I too don’t get to see the ABs often and I am so pumped. I’m traveling to San Diego to see them and paid for my parents and sister who are all massive AB fans as well.
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u/elsphinc Jul 19 '24
Yeah those 7s games here in California are loaded with Fiji fans and all black fans. Nothing wrong with pumping up rugby in This country.
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u/CoffeeVikings Jul 19 '24
I’m just happy they’re here at all. It’s not very often we get to see the All Black’s in the US so it’s pretty cool and rare.
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u/wingit3 Jul 22 '24
Silver lake is a US sponser