Highlanders chief executive Richard Reid is hoping for a good crowd for Friday night's match against the Stormers, but says Dunedin crowds so far this season have been reasonably disappointing.
"I've given up predicting how many we will get along. There are too many variables," Reid said.
"But I would like to think with the team still being in with a fighting chance for the semis that the people would get along and acknowledge that."
Reid said Dunedin crowds had been disappointing for a variety of reasons.
"I admit the team hasn't done that wonderfully well for a number of years and that may have turned some people off. But this year's team has been playing well and been winning games, so that was what people were asking for."
He was not going to compare the crowd number on Friday night with the crowd of 9400 which turned up at Palmerston North to watch the Highlanders take on the Bulls in a "home" game played out of the district.
He said the game in Palmerston North was a one-off game, so was different from matches at Carisbrook.
With the Super 14 due to change in 2011, the Dunedin public needed to show some support for the franchise.
"It would be good for the Dunedin public to get behind the game the way they get behind a test match. "I've talked to the players and they do get a real lift when there is a big crowd there. When they came out to play against the Crusaders and they saw the big terrace crowd they really grew."
The crowd for the Crusaders game was undoubtedly boosted by having Shihad playing after the match.
He was satisfied with the crowds in Invercargill, where the Highlanders had played the Chiefs and Reds.
The smallest crowds were often when South African sides were the opposition, but Reid was puzzled why that happened.
"If you look around the world, people support their home team regardless of who they are playing.
Sure more people might come along if someone like Manchester United is playing, but they still come along if West Bromwich Albion is playing."
The weather forecast for Friday was mainly fine, with no rain.
