Final RWC 2011 tickets up for grabs
04 Jul 2011
The last of the tickets for Rugby World Cup 2011 have gone on sale, and are going quickly as New Zealand continues to ramp up preparations for hosting the major event.
The final batch of tickets to the 40 pool games around the country went on sale today (4.7.2011) and are being released on a first-come, first-served basis.
Some of the cheapest adult tickets are in the standing areas on the terraces and grass embankments of the stadiums costing NZ$31, or $15 for a child.
Low-priced tickets
Bargains are also available for other matches, with some of the lower-priced tickets going for $41 and $51.
Top grade tickets will cost more but are also still available. Tickets to the knockout games are expected to go quickly, with the cheapest priced at NZ$97 for the bronze final.
Rugby World Cup spokesman Mike Jaspers said sales have been strong, and tickets for the New Zealand - France game in Eden Park on 24 September were nearly gone.
Other popular games were the opening match, Argentina - England, Australia - Ireland, and Fiji - Samoa.
He said it had been a long time since tickets had been on sale to the general public and there had been really strong interest.
So far, just over 900,000 tickets, worth $200m, have been sold, with two months until the first game kicks off on 9 September.
RWC Roadshow
Meanwhile Rugby World Cup has gone on the road this week, with the Webb Ellis Cup central to a tour to raise awareness and fuel interest in the forthcoming tournament.
The four-week long roadshow will visit 27 towns and cities, and began in Bluff at the southern-most point of the South Island.
The cup is housed in a custom-designed truck which opens out into a 72sqm events centre featuring interactive displays and videos on Rugby World Cup history and legends. The Bledisloe Cup and other trophies are also along for the ride.
After visiting Stewart Island and Invercargill, the roadshow continues to Queenstown and up the east coast of the South Island, arriving in Christchurch on Saturday, before heading north and continuing through the North Island.
Chosen pubs
In Auckland, the NZ Herald reports that Rugby World Cup nations are starting to choose the pubs they will frequent as unofficial fan zones during the two month event.
While the French have said they’re taking over Kermadec Restaurant in Auckland’s Viaduct Harbour, the other 20 nationalities represented at the tournament are finding bars and venues.
De Fontein restaurant and bar in Mission Bay, on the Auckland waterfront, has received bookings from Japanese, and Paddington sports bar in Parnell has been approached by English and Argentinian fans.
Independent French visitors and expatriates have agreed on the Ponsonby pub as their base during the tournament saying it has character, looks European, and has nice beers.
The pub has been dubbed ‘Fanzone Frogs’ and has its own Facebook page to help co-ordinate French RWC visitors.
Russian base
New Zealand Russian Society president Sergey Permitin said the society's clubrooms and bar in Newmarket would become the Russians' World Cup base.
"There won't be as many coming from all of Russia, but the locals will support the team. There are 10,000 Russians in New Zealand. Of course it will be a full house."
Irish & Scots fans
Auckland Irish Society president Mick Hickey says all the Irish pubs in the city would be catering for the country's fans, but the society would make sure that the Irish made as big a splash as anybody.
They would gather at the society's clubrooms with a particular focus on their match against Australia at Eden Park, which is within walking distance.
A spokesman from the Scottish Clans Association said Remuera would be the Scots' adopted hometown for the cup.
Remuera Business Association manager Laura Carr said there were plans for street parades, neighbourhood-wide decorations and whisky tastings to welcome the Scots.
Kiwi hospitality
And a recent poll has shown Kiwis care more about RWC 2011 visitors having a good time in New Zealand than they do about the All Blacks winning the trophy.
Tournament boss Martin Snedden says the most important thing is for New Zealanders to maintain a positive attitude towards the event and the visitors.
He says the REAL NZ nationwide festival being held in conjunction with the Rugby World Cup will engage people as much as the rugby.
An estimated 700 festival events will be held around the country during September and October.
More information
A REAL New Zealand festival
Rugby World Cup 2011
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