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Events and Attractions

All Blacks' Visit To Soldier Field Shatters U.S. Rugby Attendance Record

The sellout crowd of 61,500 at Saturday's New Zealand-U.S. rugby game at Soldier Field was the "largest to witness" the sport in U.S. history, "far eclipsing" the previous record of 20,181 for an Ireland-U.S. game in '13, according to Jack McCarthy of the CHICAGO TRIBUNE. Saturday's game "celebrated both community and an emerging sport that returns to the Olympics" in '16 after being absent for more than 90 years. Fans "displayed homes and affiliations ranging from New Zealand to Canada to dozens of widely scattered domestic club, college and high school programs" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 11/2). In Chicago, Brian Sandalow wrote New Zealand's lopsided 74-6 victory over the U.S. "didn’t detract" from the fans' experience. While the game "was a rout," it was "still a rare chance for rugby fans to see the world-famous" New Zealand All Blacks. The game was a sellout, but that "alone won’t lift rugby from a niche sport to the mainstream." For both teams, the "hope is that the game would be a springboard," and that with "time and investment, rugby could be America’s next big sport" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 11/2). ESPN SCRUM wrote New Zealand was "always going to win and handsomely at that but it was a match where the importance of the occasion transcended the score." The game "was about showcasing rugby to America and those who were lucky enough to secure tickets for the game revelled in the occasion" (ESPNSCRUM.com, 11/1).

THEY'RE COMING TO AMERICA? ESPN SCRUM's Tom Hamilton wrote the fact that the All Blacks "decided to play in Chicago is testament to the astounding work Nigel Melville has done as CEO of USA Rugby since he took on the job seven years ago." USA Rugby under Melville has "seen an increase in the number of players plying their trade in the world's top leagues and a huge growth in youth rugby." New Zealand coach Steve Hansen said, "A major part of this game is making a statement about the game of rugby and to help this country get more people playing." Hamilton: "You feel Saturday's game could be the launchpad for the sport in the country. But America must capitalise on this spike in interest" (ESPNSCRUM.com, 10/31). The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Matthew Futterman wrote rugby fans hope Saturday's game "shows the world’s other top rugby sides that the U.S. market is finally ready to embrace every version of the sport." USA Rugby board member Will Chang said, "Rugby in the U.S. is where soccer was 15 years ago." But Futterman wrote, "That may be overstating the matter." Sports Fitness Industry Association data shows that there are "roughly one million rugby players of any age in the U.S., compared with about 13 million soccer players." Rugby in the U.S., "especially at the elite and college level, has always existed as a liberating landing area for talented athletes who either reached their ceiling in sports more endemic to American culture or got sick of them" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 11/1).

REMAKING THE MIDWAY: In Chicago, Mark Potash noted the playing surface at Soldier Field was scheduled to be "re-sodded" following the rugby game, in time for the Bears' next home game against the Vikings on Nov. 16. This "will be the third re-sodding of Soldier Field’s playing surface since August." SMG's ‎Dir of Sponsorship & Media at Soldier Field Luca Serra said that the re-sodding will cost "$250,000 for an entire replacement" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 11/1).

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