BoxRec

After the fall out from last Saturdays Bad Blood card how does your experience vary when comparing small hall shows against arena shows?

I have (ashamedly) never been to a small hall show so I have only experienced bigger shows.

I was just wondering if you get the same type of crowd and same type of problems.

MrJasonM wrote:After the fall out from last Saturdays Bad Blood card how does your experience vary when comparing small hall shows against arena shows?

I have (ashamedly) never been to a small hall show so I have only experienced bigger shows.

I was just wondering if you get the same type of crowd and same type of problems.

It really depends on the show, but in general you don't get many problems at small hall shows.

I think both attract a mix of people supporting certain boxers and general boxing fans.

Your general boxing fans tend to be alright and well behaved at both.

The difference between small hall and arena is those supporting certain boxers at small hall tend to friends/family of the boxer so less likely to act like a dick (although not always the case), at arena shows those supporting a certain boxer could just be because hes from the same town/ follows same football club etc and theyve jumped on the bandwagon = more dicks.

Of course a lot of it could simply be put down to numbers too if you've got say 500-1000 at a small hall show or 5000-20000 at an arena show just based on pure maths its more likely to get trouble at the larger show.

I personally enjoy both types of show and while I'm not suggesting I'm some super fan who does loads of shows I do try to share it out between the two. I'd hate for peoples experiences lately to put people off going to boxing it gernally is fine even if you see a bit of trouble your usually fine if not involved yourself.

Small hall shows are good if you are going to support a certain boxer, I wouldn't travel far for one and if I don't really know the fighters it doesn't appeal to me. Normally Chris Jenkins and Craig Kennedy are the ones I go to watch.

Good chance to meet boxing people at small hall shows. £50 usually gets you front row seats too.

I much prefer small hall but not too small, some of the leisure centre shows are a bit crap.

Small hall for me. Better priced ale, toilet not swimming in piss, decent view from the majority of seats, fans generally not coked up & normally has a free car park.

DazDiCanio wrote:Good chance to meet boxing people at small hall shows. £50 usually gets you front row seats too.

I much prefer small hall but not too small, some of the leisure centre shows are a bit crap.

I tend to stick to a certain criteria with small hall ones.

Always local ones as have an interest in all of the local scene
plus I want atleast 1 well matched fight. I understand most small halls are going to be prospect v journeyman on the undercard and thats fair enough I like to see the progress of the local lads coming through. But I don't waste my money if its all that (which some in the midlands have been lately and sometimes with only 4-5 fights) but as long as its got atleast 1 headline fight with two winning fighters coming to win (usually for a midlands strap or masters) I'll go.

Best fight I've seen live this year was Callum Cooper v Marcus Ffrench for the Midlands Light Welterweight Title at the Holte Suite, Villa Park. I'd been to Froch v Groves 2 just the week before it did feel very different from one week to the next but as I say best fight was on the small hall card.

I've been to some leisure centre shows up north which were very good. Even cheap seat get you a very good view.

I think I'll avoid big stadium/arena shows going forward as all experiences with them have been bad. It's the same thing really; seat stealing, not enough security , people pissing everywhere, lots of fights....was the same at Haye vs Chisora at Upton Park.

Always local ones as have an interest in all of the local scene
plus I want atleast 1 well matched fight. I understand most small halls are going to be prospect v journeyman on the undercard and thats fair enough I like to see the progress of the local lads coming through. But I don't waste my money if its all that (which some in the midlands have been lately and sometimes with only 4-5 fights) but as long as its got atleast 1 headline fight with two winning fighters coming to win (usually for a midlands strap or masters) I'll go.

I am the same to be honest if I can predict every fight will be either 60-54 or 40-36 to the home fighter or its full of Latvians that I know will fall over once the first punch lands then I will save my hard earned till a competitive bill comes along.

pyenest77 wrote:Always local ones as have an interest in all of the local scene
plus I want atleast 1 well matched fight. I understand most small halls are going to be prospect v journeyman on the undercard and thats fair enough I like to see the progress of the local lads coming through. But I don't waste my money if its all that (which some in the midlands have been lately and sometimes with only 4-5 fights) but as long as its got atleast 1 headline fight with two winning fighters coming to win (usually for a midlands strap or masters) I'll go.

I am the same to be honest if I can predict every fight will be either 60-54 or 40-36 to the home fighter or its full of Latvians that I know will fall over once the first punch lands then I will save my hard earned till a competitive bill comes along.

I agree mate and do the same some of the shows in the midlands of late hav started with 8/9 fights with a poor matched headline fight then drop outs injuries or poor tickets sales reduce it to 4 / 5 fights with out a good 50-50 top of the bill which is wat u want to see.

maley1984 wrote:

pyenest77 wrote:Always local ones as have an interest in all of the local scene
plus I want atleast 1 well matched fight. I understand most small halls are going to be prospect v journeyman on the undercard and thats fair enough I like to see the progress of the local lads coming through. But I don't waste my money if its all that (which some in the midlands have been lately and sometimes with only 4-5 fights) but as long as its got atleast 1 headline fight with two winning fighters coming to win (usually for a midlands strap or masters) I'll go.

I am the same to be honest if I can predict every fight will be either 60-54 or 40-36 to the home fighter or its full of Latvians that I know will fall over once the first punch lands then I will save my hard earned till a competitive bill comes along.

I agree mate and do the same some of the shows in the midlands of late hav started with 8/9 fights with a poor matched headline fight then drop outs injuries or poor tickets sales reduce it to 4 / 5 fights with out a good 50-50 top of the bill which is wat u want to see.

Yeah I think we are no doubt thinking of the same few bills Maley, like you say some of them have been down to injuries so I don't want to be too critical but some have been really poor. 4 or so 4 rounders and then an 8 round non competitive (but 8 rounds because its for a BRONZE Masters) main event.

Terry Dooley wrote:I don't recall ever seeing fighting outside the ring at small hall shows. Maybe one or two attacks, but nothing on a large scale.

Just to know whether I can agree or not, what is the definition of small hall we are using here? Are we talking the total attendance or the type of card. i.e most events that take place at York Hall I'd imagine due to card would count as small hall, but what about when they stage prizefighter?

mfc_se15 wrote:

Terry Dooley wrote:I don't recall ever seeing fighting outside the ring at small hall shows. Maybe one or two attacks, but nothing on a large scale.

Just to know whether I can agree or not, what is the definition of small hall we are using here? Are we talking the total attendance or the type of card. i.e most events that take place at York Hall I'd imagine due to card would count as small hall, but what about when they stage prizefighter?

Yeah prizefighters a bit different to be fair out there on its own. I've been to a Prizefighter at the Wolverhampton Civic Hall and there was a fair bit of trouble in the bars and that. Its in small halls but attracts more of an arena type crowd plus 8 different boxers with plenty of fans each as its usually one of their biggest nights.

ste1983 wrote:

maley1984 wrote:

pyenest77 wrote:Always local ones as have an interest in all of the local scene
plus I want atleast 1 well matched fight. I understand most small halls are going to be prospect v journeyman on the undercard and thats fair enough I like to see the progress of the local lads coming through. But I don't waste my money if its all that (which some in the midlands have been lately and sometimes with only 4-5 fights) but as long as its got atleast 1 headline fight with two winning fighters coming to win (usually for a midlands strap or masters) I'll go.

I am the same to be honest if I can predict every fight will be either 60-54 or 40-36 to the home fighter or its full of Latvians that I know will fall over once the first punch lands then I will save my hard earned till a competitive bill comes along.

I agree mate and do the same some of the shows in the midlands of late hav started with 8/9 fights with a poor matched headline fight then drop outs injuries or poor tickets sales reduce it to 4 / 5 fights with out a good 50-50 top of the bill which is wat u want to see.

Yeah I think we are no doubt thinking of the same few bills Maley, like you say some of them have been down to injuries so I don't want to be too critical but some have been really poor. 4 or so 4 rounders and then an 8 round non competitive (but 8 rounds because its for a BRONZE Masters) main event.

spot on mate. Will b interesting to see wat fights get made locally in the new year.

Terry Dooley wrote:I don't recall ever seeing fighting outside the ring at small hall shows. Maybe one or two attacks, but nothing on a large scale.

Have you never been to Doncaster?