1 00:00:06,707 --> 00:00:10,387 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine 2 00:00:10,747 --> 00:00:12,947 Speaker 1: from Newstalk Z'B, so. 3 00:00:12,907 --> 00:00:16,467 Speaker 2: Actually get you to Hurricane CEO Avan Lee just to 4 00:00:16,467 --> 00:00:18,787 Speaker 2: get a gauge on where we are ticket sale wise 5 00:00:18,827 --> 00:00:21,227 Speaker 2: and other messaging. Evan, thanks for taking the time. What 6 00:00:21,347 --> 00:00:24,027 Speaker 2: sort of crowd are we tracking towards this afternoon? 7 00:00:25,147 --> 00:00:27,947 Speaker 3: I think it's like twenty seven twenty eight pine, Like 8 00:00:28,307 --> 00:00:31,507 Speaker 3: it's actually lovely day outside, so I think more people 9 00:00:31,547 --> 00:00:36,347 Speaker 3: will we'll get tickets today. But yeah, it's awesome. Like 10 00:00:36,587 --> 00:00:37,947 Speaker 3: you know, like I said during the week, I think 11 00:00:37,947 --> 00:00:40,427 Speaker 3: twenty five plus would have been good, would have been 12 00:00:40,427 --> 00:00:43,387 Speaker 3: great to get to thirty, but there's no that's not 13 00:00:43,427 --> 00:00:46,107 Speaker 3: to say we won't. We can get up to five 14 00:00:46,187 --> 00:00:50,627 Speaker 3: thousand on a walk up on game day, so given 15 00:00:50,667 --> 00:00:52,467 Speaker 3: the weather's nice, I think that could you know, we 16 00:00:52,467 --> 00:00:55,467 Speaker 3: could get near that, so it could nudge towards thirty. 17 00:00:55,507 --> 00:00:57,427 Speaker 3: But if I had to put a number on it, 18 00:00:57,427 --> 00:00:59,147 Speaker 3: I'd say twenty seven to twenty eight, all right. 19 00:00:59,067 --> 00:01:01,547 Speaker 2: That's still going to be rocking at kickoff time. Yeah 20 00:01:01,907 --> 00:01:05,307 Speaker 2: for those Yeah, for those heading along this afternoon. Any 21 00:01:05,667 --> 00:01:07,987 Speaker 2: key messages of those attending the game. 22 00:01:09,187 --> 00:01:11,347 Speaker 3: I think the biggest one is just to get there early. 23 00:01:13,027 --> 00:01:16,787 Speaker 3: Gates open two hours before. But I think if you're 24 00:01:16,827 --> 00:01:19,187 Speaker 3: if you're not at the stadium an hour before, you're 25 00:01:19,187 --> 00:01:23,147 Speaker 3: going to have a massive queue. So Wellingtonians tend to 26 00:01:23,307 --> 00:01:26,267 Speaker 3: roll up late. So I would get in early, get it, 27 00:01:26,707 --> 00:01:30,347 Speaker 3: get your transport into the city, and then get into 28 00:01:30,387 --> 00:01:33,987 Speaker 3: the ground and enjoy the atmosphere and the pre match entertainment. 29 00:01:35,107 --> 00:01:37,867 Speaker 3: That's the main one, mate. I think, just yeah, get 30 00:01:37,907 --> 00:01:38,427 Speaker 3: along early. 31 00:01:39,267 --> 00:01:41,867 Speaker 2: Can you enjoy tonight or this afternoon? Rather from a 32 00:01:41,947 --> 00:01:44,987 Speaker 2: rugby sense or as CEO of the Hurricanes, is there 33 00:01:44,987 --> 00:01:46,947 Speaker 2: a bit too much on your plate for you to 34 00:01:46,987 --> 00:01:48,627 Speaker 2: actually enjoy a game of rugby? 35 00:01:49,507 --> 00:01:54,107 Speaker 3: Oh, I'll enjoy it if we win. I think, yeah, 36 00:01:54,107 --> 00:01:55,547 Speaker 3: you get you sort of wake up in the morning, 37 00:01:55,587 --> 00:01:58,707 Speaker 3: you get a bit nerves like everybody. But no, I 38 00:01:58,707 --> 00:02:00,947 Speaker 3: mean I'll enjoy it. Like it's a big challenge for 39 00:02:01,067 --> 00:02:04,067 Speaker 3: us against the Chiefs, but you know, just really proud 40 00:02:04,067 --> 00:02:07,467 Speaker 3: of the staff and players who've who've got us here tonight, 41 00:02:07,547 --> 00:02:10,747 Speaker 3: and I just want them to go and go and 42 00:02:10,787 --> 00:02:14,067 Speaker 3: do their job, you know. So yeah, confident in a 43 00:02:14,867 --> 00:02:17,907 Speaker 3: in a realistic way because I don't know, but it 44 00:02:17,907 --> 00:02:20,667 Speaker 3: feels like it's a fifty to fifty, so you know, 45 00:02:20,747 --> 00:02:24,667 Speaker 3: having that having that crowd support is going to be amazing. 46 00:02:25,067 --> 00:02:27,707 Speaker 2: Obviously, the players have been preparing all week. What does 47 00:02:27,747 --> 00:02:29,827 Speaker 2: your week look like as the as the CEO of 48 00:02:29,867 --> 00:02:33,987 Speaker 2: the organization? How much of your focus has gone on 49 00:02:34,067 --> 00:02:36,467 Speaker 2: to today across this week? 50 00:02:37,347 --> 00:02:41,307 Speaker 3: Not a huge amount, to be honest, we had a 51 00:02:41,387 --> 00:02:43,947 Speaker 3: I've got some great people in the Hurricanes who look 52 00:02:43,987 --> 00:02:47,067 Speaker 3: after their particular areas, but just in the background, I 53 00:02:47,067 --> 00:02:52,227 Speaker 3: guess providing advice around marketing and ticketing and sponsors and 54 00:02:52,267 --> 00:02:54,187 Speaker 3: all that sort of thing because I've been around far 55 00:02:54,227 --> 00:02:57,707 Speaker 3: too long. But yeah, no, it's like at a board 56 00:02:57,747 --> 00:03:01,067 Speaker 3: meeting yesterday. So it's just a normal, normal week in 57 00:03:01,067 --> 00:03:03,507 Speaker 3: a lot of ways. But you know, there's a different 58 00:03:03,547 --> 00:03:06,947 Speaker 3: feeling at work. And I would say and go to 59 00:03:08,587 --> 00:03:14,907 Speaker 3: meetings during the week, team meetings, strategy sessions because it's 60 00:03:15,307 --> 00:03:17,827 Speaker 3: such a big game and you just want to be 61 00:03:17,867 --> 00:03:19,707 Speaker 3: part of it. So I'll definitely make more of an 62 00:03:19,707 --> 00:03:23,267 Speaker 3: effort in that respect. But yeah, there's plenty of people 63 00:03:23,507 --> 00:03:25,987 Speaker 3: know what they're doing in that area, so I kind 64 00:03:25,987 --> 00:03:26,627 Speaker 3: of leave into it. 65 00:03:27,027 --> 00:03:29,267 Speaker 2: Have you let yourself think about the possibility of a 66 00:03:29,267 --> 00:03:31,227 Speaker 2: Grand Final or do you not want to jinx it? 67 00:03:32,187 --> 00:03:34,067 Speaker 3: No, I don't want to jinx it, but you've got 68 00:03:34,067 --> 00:03:36,787 Speaker 3: to plan for it because you know it comes around 69 00:03:36,827 --> 00:03:39,747 Speaker 3: pretty quickly, so you've got to start doing some work 70 00:03:39,787 --> 00:03:42,387 Speaker 3: on it. But you know, you don't get ahead of yourself, obviously. 71 00:03:42,467 --> 00:03:45,227 Speaker 3: But you know, if we did, if we didn't win today, 72 00:03:45,427 --> 00:03:47,587 Speaker 3: it's not a lot of time to get everything sorted 73 00:03:47,627 --> 00:03:51,627 Speaker 3: and get tickets on sale and all that kind of thing. 74 00:03:51,667 --> 00:03:56,027 Speaker 3: But naturally your mind goes that way sometimes. But you know, 75 00:03:56,067 --> 00:03:57,347 Speaker 3: we've got a huge challenge today. 76 00:03:57,747 --> 00:03:59,547 Speaker 2: Had Paul Tito on the show earlier, I would have 77 00:03:59,547 --> 00:04:00,987 Speaker 2: thought he would want to go. I would have thought 78 00:04:00,987 --> 00:04:04,227 Speaker 2: he wanted the Hurricanes to win, being a former alumni himself, 79 00:04:04,227 --> 00:04:05,747 Speaker 2: but he said, no, we want the home finals. So 80 00:04:05,787 --> 00:04:08,027 Speaker 2: you haven't got Pa ttail on your side this afternoon. 81 00:04:08,227 --> 00:04:10,827 Speaker 3: No, I get there. I don't really talk to him 82 00:04:10,827 --> 00:04:18,427 Speaker 3: anymore since he's a good feller, But yeah, you can't. 83 00:04:18,467 --> 00:04:19,387 Speaker 3: You can't blame him for. 84 00:04:19,307 --> 00:04:22,827 Speaker 2: That, absolutely not. Hey, all the best for a great afternoon, 85 00:04:22,827 --> 00:04:26,507 Speaker 2: a great occasion. Haven't the players talk about earning themselves 86 00:04:26,867 --> 00:04:29,347 Speaker 2: another Monday? Somebody's going to do this afternoon. Look forward 87 00:04:29,347 --> 00:04:30,427 Speaker 2: to catching up a bit later on. 88 00:04:31,067 --> 00:04:32,667 Speaker 3: Yeah, awesome, cheers, Funny. 89 00:04:32,587 --> 00:04:35,507 Speaker 2: Thanks Evan avanlea CEO of the Hurricanes stee Go. If 90 00:04:35,507 --> 00:04:38,307 Speaker 2: you're in Wellington and heading along, get there early. Gates 91 00:04:38,347 --> 00:04:41,867 Speaker 2: open around half past two, that might be a touch early, 92 00:04:42,107 --> 00:04:45,027 Speaker 2: but anything after about three point thirty and you're going 93 00:04:45,107 --> 00:04:47,387 Speaker 2: to be finding yourself in a queue of some sort, 94 00:04:47,427 --> 00:04:49,907 Speaker 2: whether it's to get in or to get food and 95 00:04:49,907 --> 00:04:52,667 Speaker 2: beverage that sort of stuff. So yeah, get along early, Wellingtonians. 96 00:04:52,707 --> 00:04:54,947 Speaker 2: As Evan said, and I know this from experience to 97 00:04:54,947 --> 00:04:56,587 Speaker 2: turn up late to things. I think they can just 98 00:04:56,667 --> 00:04:59,427 Speaker 2: rock up ten minutes before and get an okay. So yeah, 99 00:04:59,507 --> 00:05:01,987 Speaker 2: high twenties by the sounds of it, maybe nudging thirty 100 00:05:02,027 --> 00:05:03,627 Speaker 2: thousand with a decent walk up. But it's a nice 101 00:05:03,667 --> 00:05:06,067 Speaker 2: day on Wellington. However, rain is forecast for a bit 102 00:05:06,147 --> 00:05:09,627 Speaker 2: l hopefully it holds off till after kickoff. Tony says 103 00:05:09,667 --> 00:05:12,467 Speaker 2: on text Jackson count White for four thirty's roll around. 104 00:05:12,467 --> 00:05:14,707 Speaker 2: We've got the wood on the Chiefs and that's a 105 00:05:14,747 --> 00:05:16,067 Speaker 2: big psychological barrier. 106 00:05:17,067 --> 00:05:20,267 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine. Listen live 107 00:05:20,347 --> 00:05:23,667 Speaker 1: to News Talks it B weekends from midday, or follow 108 00:05:23,707 --> 00:05:25,307 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio.