Newlyweds score first Rugby World Cup tickets
19 Mar 2009
A newly married Wellington couple has become the envy of the rugby world having just won the first two tickets to the 2011 Rugby World Cup final in New Zealand.
Brendan and Monica Bartlett, who were married just 14 days ago (5.03.09), won the tickets in a Heineken-sponsored competition that has kicked off the 900-day build up to the big event.
At the moment tickets for the final are priceless - none have yet gone on sale and prices have not been set. But based on previous Rugby World Cups, the tickets could be worth around NZ$1000 each.
Blown away
More than 1000 people turned up to Wellington’s Westpac Stadium for the chance to win tickets to the final.
The Bartletts, who admit to being big rugby fans, said they were "blown away" when they realised they had won the tickets. "It doesn’t get much better than this," said Brendan.
An ANZ Bank accountant, Brendan said there was no way he was going to sell the tickets: "There's no other place I'd rather be that day."
His wife Monica, a former New Zealand touch rugby representative, was also relishing their win: "I just love my rugby." She said not even a crowbar would prise the ticket from her hand.
Centre of attention
The Bartletts had just returned from their honeymoon at Waihi Beach in the North Island. Still recovering from their big day in the wedding spotlight, they found themselves the centre of attention again in front of a large group of media and rugby fans at the stadium.
Brendan said he was still trying to calm down and that colleagues were shooting him envious looks. He said he was hoping to get as many tickets as he could to games close to home in Wellington, Taranaki and Hawke’s Bay.
Payment plans
Rugby World Cup 2011 chief executive Martin Snedden says he expects ticket prices to be the same as they were at the 2007 World Cup final in France, which means some seats would be going for more than NZ$1000.
To placate cash-strapped rugby fans, Mr Snedden said they would be looking to offer "payment plans" so people could pay by instalment.
Public tickets are due to go on sale early next year. In the meantime Heineken New Zealand says it will be providing more opportunities for fans to score tickets in the remaining 905 days before the final. Managing director Brian Blake said the company was keen to get New Zealanders into the stadium for the final.
More information:
2011 Rugby World Cup returns to New Zealand
Four million Kiwis prepare to roar
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