OPINION: Moving the New Zealand leg of the Sevens from Wellington to Hamilton as a last-gasp attempt to save the tournament might work for a year, but is not a long-term solution.
Here's why:
New Zealand rugby is a victim of its own success.
Super Rugby is proof that outside of the big games the only side New Zealand fans will flock to see is the All Blacks.
Fans have become tired of the 10-month season, preferring to save their hard-earned cash to watch the world champions play once or twice a year.
The only exceptions to this are quality New Zealand derbies such as the Hurricanes and Crusaders two weeks ago – Test match in quality and intensity.
Sevens doesn't hold enough, if any, interest amongst casual fans – hell I'm a sports journalist and I could barely name five of the New Zealand players.
It's not a cool, or fun, tournament to attend
No doubt the Wellington Sevens was a roaring success for close to 15 years – but from 2014 crowds started to thin.
From strictly limiting the availability of alcohol, to the implementation of family zones and rock concerts, the event lost its way.
A change in destination might work for one year but even then I'm not convinced.
It's just not that cool to go attend anymore – it was a dead duck in 2017 and I just can't see how a slight move north will have much of an impact on ticket sales.
We aren't that good anymore
The All Blacks Sevens side bombed out at the Olympics – we lost to Japan! A fourth place finish in the world series doesn't help matters and New Zealand hasn't won a tournament in 15 months.
Kiwis support winning teams, we hate losing.
The novelty factor is not enough of a pull for hardcore rugby fans who will be drowning their sorrows in beers (If they are still being served) when New Zealand gets knocked out in the quarter-finals.
The TV broadcast tops match day experience
The hip phrase these days when it comes to sports events is "match day experience" and, quite frankly, aside from the Breakers we suck at it.
Food is too expensive, loud music entertains some but infuriates most, and wannabe cops in security uniforms who think they own the joint play fun-police, kicking you out of a ground if you even attempt to do anything but sit on your arse and watch the game.
You get none of that sitting at home planted on the couch, where you can also switch channels and check out Bachelor re-runs in the breaks.
It costs a grand total of $10 for two bags of chips, Onion soup, a can of reduced cream and a bottle of Coke – with that I'm set.
Ten dollars at the Sevens will get you a warm Coke and two-hour old chips that taste like four-hour old chips.
Let's be honest – Wellington was a success because it was a booze up
The slogan was basically ' come to our party at Westpac Stadium and watch a game of rugby break out'.
I went in 2007 and 2008 and it was awesome – I didn't get intoxicated to the point of an embarrassing appearance on Police Ten-7 but had a tonne of fun with great company. Yes, I saw some disturbing things as I travelled through the concourse, but they were decisions that those individuals made so it didn't bother me in the slightest.
I totally understand the need to scale back some of the atrocities that were occurring year-on-year, but the alcohol restrictions turned the event into a complete buzz-kill.
That is the mystique that this tournament will take with it to Hamilton, where I might add police enforce pretty strict public alcohol consumption laws.
In closing, I do think that you will see an increase in interest for Hamilton's first year - and that will likely put a smile on the face of Steve Tew and his merry men and women - but this tournament has a limited life; three years tops.
Grow the game and take it to Samoa or Fiji – they won't screw it up.
Brad Lewis is a Newshub Sport digital producer.
