Sideline Sid Sports correspondant & historian www.sunlive.co.nz

Sideline Sid didn't know where he was on Sunday afternoon and evening, continually switching beaten the Black Caps deciding game against Pakistan, the Rugby Sevens from the cake tin and the Australian Open - all available as the action happened, for the payment of a small mortgage each month to Sky Television.

The Black Caps game opened the viewing and was going along great, until the rain intervened and Mr Duckworth and Mr Lewis were called upon to decide the fate of the match.

Pakistan set New Zealand a big target of 291 and the match was evenly poised in the Kiwi's turn at bat, until the heavens opened.

After what seemed a long break in play, the match resumed with the Black Caps needing some 27 runs less than their opponents.

While there has been huge debate about the Duckworth/Lewis method of deciding rain affected matches ever since it was first devised, no one has been able to come up with a better alternative.

It was only luck which saw the writer switch over to catch the miracle touchdown that took the New Zealand Sevens teams to victory over South Africa in the Wellington Sevens title decider.

The hooter went with the kiwi side deep in their own territory, with the try line some eighty yards in the distance.

A series of attacks and superb backing up took the New Zealand side up the field to a come from behind victory, like few others.

However, the big talking point on Monday was the spartan crowd in attendance.

Where once tickets were the hottest item in town, the 2016 Wellington Sevens had well and truly lost its sparkle.

There are lessons for all event organizers to be learnt, in that unless you have innovation and change, other events will take over as the flavor of the month.

One has to wonder about the long-term future of the New Zealand leg of the IRB Sevens in Wellington.

A number of stadium events in the country are paying the price of significant entry and outrageous prices for food and drink.

Major event organizers, who believe that the golden days will last forever, should cast an eye at the racing industry.

In the 1950's and 1960's horse racing attracted crowds in there thousands, with many clubs throughout the country building grandstands and other facilities to cater for their seemingly ever increasing patrons.

Today many of the grandstands, especially in rural regions, stand empty with today's race goers staying at home to watch Trackside and bet through their TAB online accounts.

Racing hasn't died, but the successful clubs (including Racing Tauranga) have had to work hard to attract the best horses and entertain the patrons while on track.

Go the Black Caps against the enemy from across the ditch.