Games attendances low at Auckland

Press, 26 January 1981, Page 6

Games attendances low at Auckland

PA Auckiam The New Zealand Game are already two days old but already there has beei disappointment in attend ances. .a /•. ■ » . Mr A. Harding, chairmar of the Table: Tennis; Associ ation, believed New Zealand ers had turned their backs on the,:“’table tennis tourna rnent of the century in this country.” - . . But the’rfdwds have also been "low3“ ; -at? the Mount Smart Stadium, its two-day athletics meeting’ graced by s e v e r a 1 world-renowned competitors. Various reasons have been advanced. In the case of athletics, the cost of $5 each for adults and $1 for each child could mean a total cost of $26 for a family, of five to attend the meeting over two days. Some considered this is too much. The uncertainty of John Walker’s appearance has not helped, for over the years Walker.in his finest form

dihas drawn the crowds by s|their thousands at similar 1, meetings. ni ‘‘We are very disppointed -Jin the • attendances here,” ;said Mr Harding; at the li team's table tennis* venue at -jthe Auckland Table Tennis' s| “I think it is general with: -[attendances at other games' ;’venues.” • ■ ■ <• -i i Mr Harding advanced sev-: reral reasons for the ■ small t' crowds at the six-nation i tournament which features r! world class- Chinese and: [ Japanese players. i One was the cities holding • games sports still had theiri • traditional attractions — the | Ellerslie races in Auckland j for instance. i ‘‘But I think one of the; main reasons . why we’ have not got the Support is that; the games,' have come ’rightj; on ton o.f\ the’vacation.” he|l said. Most people ‘ had only | got their pay packet] ■ after the holidays last week, ic * “Another reason I think is is

That the tickets went on sale ■;a little too late. At that period people were involved with Christmas shopping, visiting friends, and planning their holidays. ‘T was very disappointed ‘with the opening-day attendees.” The table tennis stadium 'can seat 1500, but until Saturday evening when the Chineses and Japanese men appeared for their rival match, i the crowds were very disappointing. Even with this glamour !attraction, • although two i stands were full a third one I was occupied by only 20 people. The disappointment has I ibeen profound for officials,! I who believe this is the first j time that' Chinese and! Japanese 'earns have met. in an international event in the 1 Southern Hemisphere. ■ ; Admission charges have • varied for the table tennis,] depending on the time of the! sessions. I