The crusade just got a bit cheaper

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The Crusaders aim to woo back fans with cheaper ticket prices.

Chief executive Hamish Riach said cutting prices next year was seen as a way to promote the new Deans Stand at AMI Stadium.

He rejected criticism that the Crusaders and the Canterbury Rugby Football Union (CRFU) were not doing enough to attract support after disappointing crowds during the Air New Zealand Cup playoffs in Christchurch.

About 8000 people attended Canterbury's semifinal against Hawke's Bay, and 12,000 watched Canterbury beat Wellington in the final.

"I don't accept that we are sitting back and expecting people to come back and are not trying," he said. "We are hearing the concerns around price.

"We want to have rugby as a pleasant, easy experience that is affordable, with a good team continuing to play well. We are continuing to work hard with the links to the community – perhaps harder than we have in the past."

Riach was coy about how far ticket prices would fall. He said Canterbury's home crowds this season had averaged about 11,000, and despite the poor attendances at the playoffs, they were up 10 per cent on last year.

The question for the Crusaders and Canterbury is whether the completed stadium will draw bigger crowds, while the recession has also taken its toll on fans' spending.

Riach rejected suggestions the players were losing touch with their fans, noting that trainings were open to the public once a week, as well as in school holidays, and they regularly visited clubs, schools, hospitals and charities such as the City Mission.

Some supporters have complained about over-zealous security at rugby and cricket matches.

Vbase, the company that controls the contracts with security at AMI Stadium, has agreed with the CRFU that fans want to feel welcome, not intimidated.

"We have had a range of conversations with Vbase and they do want people to feel hosted and not searched in an aggressive way," Riach said.

- © Fairfax NZ News