AMI Stadium bans vuvuzelas

BY DUNCAN JOHNSTONE

Last updated 12:53 09/07/2010

BRINGING THE NOISE: Michael De Jong ordered 200 vuvuzela horns from Johannesburg in June. He plans to sell them on the streets.

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The management of Christchurtch's AMI Stadium has banned vuvuzelas from the ground.

Their move follows a similar ban at Eden Park for this weekend's Tri-Nations test between the All Blacks and Springboks.

Vbase, who run the revamped Christchurch stadium, said the ban was effective immediately.

The decision has been taken in response to feedback from fans and after consulting with the Canterbury Rugby Union and other sporting codes.

The plastic blowing horns produce a loud, distinctive monotone note and have been the subject of considerable worldwide criticism because of the horns' constant use at the Fifa World Cup in South Africa.

Bryan Pearson, chief executive of Vbase, the manager of AMI Stadium, says the company has added vuvuzelas to the items prohibited at the stadium.

"We also prohibit the use of air horns or sound amplifiers, including musical instruments and whistles, from all events at AMI Stadium," he says, "except where they form part of the official entertainment".

"We've had considerable feedback from fans making it clear those items have a major detrimental impact on their enjoyment of events. We are committed to every guest having a great experience at AMI Stadium, so banning things which impact on that makes sense."

Vbase also considered health and safety risks including potential damage to hearing and the possibility of disgruntled fans taking issue with the horn blowers, as well as television viewers' feedback that the noise disrupts their viewing pleasure.

Hamish Riach, Chief Executive of Canterbury Rugby Union, fully supports the ban.

"We have had significant negative feedback about the vuvuzelas," he says. "We are very keen for them to be absent from rugby games."

The decision is consistent with that taken by other sporting venues around the world, including Wimbledon, Melbourne Cricket Ground and Eden Park.

Christchurch hosts an All Blacks test against the Wallabies on August 7.

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JGM #10 10:59 pm Jul 10 2010

Awesome. Now if we can get rid of the blasting music! Bring back the chants!

Spartacus #9 03:19 pm Jul 10 2010

people go to rugby to watch the game, and rugby requires attention unlike football so far enough.

Billy #8 03:09 pm Jul 10 2010

I too completely understand the ban. I went to 5 matches in South Africa's World Cup (and have attended Foootball World Cups in France and Germany), and have been to Rugby World Cup matches in NZ, UK and France.

Being at a rugby match is like being in a library - and vuvuzela's don't belong in libraries. Rugby crowd's are like a morgue and have no atmosphere (with the possible exception of Twickenham) and it would disrupt the quiet nature of the crowd.

I loved the vuvuzela at the football, it added to the occassion although to be honest, the decibal level was less than what I was used to on the Kop at Anfield.

So good on AMI, and lets hope it spreads throughout the other rubgy stadiums - we wouldn't want to spoil the quiet now, would we.

Tyrrell #7 12:44 pm Jul 10 2010

Rugby fans for the most part sit in morbid silence so I'm wondering what it is we won't hear that will be drowned out by vuvuzelas?

KennyG #6 11:58 am Jul 10 2010

#2 Brian,

Are you serious? Slipped the ole nanny state in there to eh.

The idea is to make some noise and support your team so at least you are right about that. Your fault for buying one of the stupid things, how inconsiderate to others you must be.

Perhaps you don't realise how annoying it is to have people blow these all around you for an entire game, you can't even hear the person next to you.

Good move, should ban them from all sporting events.

dd #5 11:45 am Jul 10 2010

kill joys

Dave & Bev #4 09:29 am Jul 10 2010

Well done vbase. In complete agreement with the ban.

Brian Haybittle #3 09:47 pm Jul 09 2010

Can't believe Canterbury Rugby Union used to sell these horns at their stores at AMI Stadium to create some atmosphere. Now we can't take them! Bet they wont take them back and refund our money. I thought the idea of going to a game was to make some noise and support the local team.

It was bad enough having our governments making it a nanny state. Now all the rugby unions are following suit!?!

What are ya?

Mark Fleming #2 03:43 pm Jul 09 2010

Incorrect reporting - Christchurch hosts an All Blacks test against the Wallabies on 7 Aug (not 31 July)

Jim #1 01:08 pm Jul 09 2010

good to see someone has some brains

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