Ireland v ABs: Chicago, November 2016
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="541283" data-time="1447450729">
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<p>Isnt this about growing the game, surely there is bigger growth potential in the US than those 3 combined, plus the NZRU makes some coin...this is the world we live in</p>
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<p>You're right t <em>is</em> the world we live in...sigh,,, but I hate the way it just feels a tiny bit like the Harlem Globe-Trotter All Blacks...and yes we will sell it out..</p> -
<p>Go for it NZRU, Aura, as beautiful as she is won't pay the bills</p>
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<p>Can't fault the realistic way NZRU has balanced income with gimmickry, but whatever our opinions, the bottom line has a dollar sign on it</p>
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<p>Otherwise we get more players like Piutau leaving at their prime with a hope and a "promise" they'll come back - players don't come back from up north any good. Or we have to come up with test quota schemes like the Aussies have decided to do (Giteau rule).</p>
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<p>As people have said, it's the way of the world we live in</p> -
Don't underestimate the Irish population on the east coast of America. It is massive and they could probably sell it out on their own!
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Glath" data-cid="541490" data-time="1447490309">
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<p>Why always Chicago?</p>
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<p>Mix of big enough city (and surrounding area), with ideal venue.</p>
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<p>Looking at the biggest cities in North America Los Angeles doesn't really have a suitable stadium, New York City's rectangular stadium is actually in New Jersey and quite a hike, Miami no downtown stadium an absolute hike with zero public transport, ditto Boston.</p>
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<p>Chicago being central is also a really cheap/convenient option to fly to from all over North America.</p>
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<p>San Francisco and Denver are the only two others that I've heard floated for the ABs and Chicago has pretty clear advantages over both of those.</p>
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<p>If I hazard a guess the next North American venue will be the upgraded stadium in Toronto where the Maori have played twice in the past three years.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Sambo" data-cid="541386" data-time="1447470497">
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<p>it will sell out no doubt in my mind. Anyone else other than the ab's maybe not. But abs v anyone will sellout I reckon.</p>
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<p>The Irish travel and there is a shit tonne of Irish in the US/Canada. Between curiosity factor and the supporter base of both sides I expect nothing short of a quick sell out.</p> -
<p>I'm considering it.</p>
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<p>Family in Chicago.</p>
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<p>My 50th a couple of weeks later.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="hydro11" data-cid="541287" data-time="1447452484">
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<p>Are people so sure it will sell out? Australia vs the USA didn't. Will two foreign teams really draw 60,000 in Chicago? I would say it depends how many Irish go across.</p>
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<p>Everyone in America thinks they're Irish.</p>
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<p>Seriously, the diaspora (real and/or perceived) is ridiculous.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ulsterman" data-cid="542977" data-time="1447847612">
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<p>Everyone in America thinks they're Irish.</p>
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<p>Seriously, the diaspora (real and/or perceived) is ridiculous.</p>
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<p>Payne, White, Strauss and Boss will fit right in then, eh?</p> -
<p><span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Georgia, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;font-size:16px;">“The first time I played for Ireland was a very proud moment for me. I donâ€
t think thatâ€s going to change, that feeling I get every time I put on the green jersey and represent the country.</span></p>
<p style="font-size:16px;font-family:Georgia, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;color:rgb(51,51,51);"><span style="margin:0px;font-style:inherit;font-family:inherit;text-align:center;"><span style="margin:0px;font-style:inherit;font-family:inherit;"><span style="margin:0px;font-style:inherit;font-family:inherit;"><img src="http://cdn.thejournal.ie/embeds/twitter/fa5eae293cbf63afb63d01ebdd58085c.png" alt="fa5eae293cbf63afb63d01ebdd58085c.png"></span><span style="margin:3px 0px 0px;font-style:italic;font-size:11px;font-family:sans-serif;text-align:left;color:rgb(153,153,153);">Source: <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://twitter.com/merrionstreet'>MerrionStreet.ie</a>/Twitter</span></span></span></p>
<p style="font-size:16px;font-family:Georgia, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;color:rgb(51,51,51);">“I think the only difference now is that I can really say itâ€s my country. Itâ€s great and hopefully we can go on and be successful.â€</p> -
<p>Gonna start saving now. I would love to go, think it will be great.</p>
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<p>I think the novelty of watching the Eagles get thrashed by the ABs would quickly wear off. I think the Maori game for them is a nice compromise - still playing a team in black from NZ, to get more Americans interested. </p>
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<p>Chicago the States' busiest airport, flights from everywhere else to Chicago.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Wurzel" data-cid="541277" data-time="1447446755">
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<p>Supposedly the Eagles are playing the Maori at Soldier Field the night before.</p>
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<p>Can't say I'm a fan of the ABs vs Ireland fixture. If the All Blacks are willing to play Tests in America then play the Eagles. <strong>They're essentially whoring the States for their massive population to fill the stands and fill the NZR coffers. If I were an US rugby fan I'd feel a little used and abused.</strong></p>
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<p>I know it makes financial sense for NZR but yeah, all seems a bit odd to me.</p>
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<p>I doubt it. The NFL send teams to play over in England sometimes.</p>
<p>Exposing the game to the rest of the world is something i think they understand.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Gary" data-cid="555914" data-time="1454436420">
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<p>Is this still going ahead? its not on the All Black site or the Irish site.</p>
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<p>The agreement won't be confirmed with the marketing company involved until the next few weeks - no final decision yet.</p> -
<p>confirmed - 11/05/2016 ;)</p>
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11589164'>http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11589164</a></p> -
<p>Hey Chicago, the All Blacks are coming: <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.allblacks.com/News/28761/historic-double-header-of-all-blacks-and-maori-rugby-in-chicago-in-november'>http://www.allblacks.com/News/28761/historic-double-header-of-all-blacks-and-maori-rugby-in-chicago-in-november</a></p>
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<p>given the US Rugby team beat the All Blacks <span style="font-size:8px;">7s <span style="font-size:14px;">a few times last year, I wonder if that will help raise the profile for the USA v <span style="font-size:8px;">Maori</span> All Blacks?</span></span></p>
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<p>I have zero problem with the NZRFU naming them the Maori ABs and the AB 7s.</p>
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<p>What do you want people: naming purity and all our best players overseas? Or whoring out the name to our other teams, and (maybe) enough money to keep our best players in NZ?</p>
