OPINION: More than 30,000 fans poured into Melbourne's AAMI Park over the weekend for Super Rugby's inaugural 'Super Round'.
What they were treated to hardly set the world on fire. There are elements that could make this a truly great weekend, but changes need to be made.
In a way, organisers' hands were tied. This was not their preferred weekend nor their preferred location, and the ongoing uncertainty over whether COVID-19 would allow open borders made things tricky.
But this weekend needs to be about more than just rugby. Spotlight the rugby, yes, but in Melbourne, when the 80 minutes was up, there was nothing else.
No live music, no activations for punters to take part in, no food trucks.
Super Rugby bosses have long harped on about the need to make the matchday experience about more than just watching rugby, if they want people to come.
Super Round was a poor example of doing that.
Competition officials want the initiative to be at the start of the season to avoid clashes with the NRL and AFL in Australia, and when the weather is still good.
That makes total sense.
Alternate the venues. Imagine recreating the Wellington sevens style atmosphere for Super Round.
The AAMI Park crowds actually weren't too bad, given the circumstances. Friday night was by far the worst, but they picked up over the weekend.
The whole concept will likely take a couple of years to catch on with fans, but when it does, it could turn into a special tradition.
Give punters a festival atmosphere, with six games of rugby over a summer weekend, and Super Round may just live up to its billing.
Ollie Ritchie is Newshub's rugby reporter. Join us for live updates of next weekend's Super Rugby Pacific games.
