The deals are done, The old farts network ARE good for something

[Te Kaha]

What a game... What a night... What a hangover.....

Got to chat to a few of the "important' people including an ex All Black captain and flanker with some level or responsibility in Rugby, before the game, at the big dinner, not Prince Willy tho(the wife did, and she wont bloody shut up about it)...

The good news tho is the world cup.... It seems that barring a major turnaround the world cup is New Zealands.. Japan were never in the running and SA are not going to be able to afford to run it with the Soccer WC as well.... The argument being that a "botique" world cup will only be able to be run once more before the money demands make it impossible for NZ to hold it... The money generated from the Aussie and France World Cups means next time wont be as important...

Now I have to get the NZFRU to re-hire the wife so we can get some good tickets again....

 

[Copa]

The Japanese seem pretty keen though. A bigger potential market, etc etc

Does NZ have the stadium capacity? How many of the large stadiums are rectangular and not multipurpose oval stadiums?

Seiji Hirao was in the Japan Times the other day saying:

The Rugby World Cup is the request of an era. We have to do this.

The level and popularity of rugby in Japan has been falling, and if we wait it could be too late. This is like a bomb -- a tool to accelerate movement -- and it is our big target.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/getarticle.pl5?fl20050605x1.htm

 

[Iafeta]

30-40,000 stadiums Copa.

The thing is, while its important to have big stadia, just think of the prices per ticket as demand goes through the roof. You could still make an asbolute killing out of it. There's no doubt whatsoever merchandise per capita would be enormous in New Zealand.

 

[Copa]

30-40,000 stadiums Copa.

The thing is, while its important to have big stadia, just think of the prices per ticket as demand goes through the roof. You could still make an asbolute killing out of it. There's no doubt whatsoever merchandise per capita would be enormous in New Zealand.

It cost half a house to see the BIG games in Oz.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

The other thing to consider is while the big games will draw smaller crowds due to the smallers stadia, it will be made up for by the fact that unlike pretty much anywhere else NZ will pack EVERY venue to the rafters, meaning that even small pool games will draw close to 20K when they are played in provincial towns (most of whose statia could have Ericcson style temporary stands installed for the event).
Hopefully Auckland pulls finger and gets a decent stadium built for the final though, something around 60K capacity would do the trick, maybe in the Manukau area so it's also easier for people from the South to head up for games. It would probably need to have Telstra-style retractable stands to cater for one-dayers as well, which isn't particularly detrimental in a stadium of that size (the Cake Tin is fine without them)

 

[Te Kaha]

The other thing to consider is while the big games will draw smaller crowds due to the smallers stadia, it will be made up for by the fact that unlike pretty much anywhere else NZ will pack EVERY venue to the rafters, meaning that even small pool games will draw close to 20K when they are played in provincial towns (most of whose statia could have Ericcson style temporary stands installed for the event).
Hopefully Auckland pulls finger and gets a decent stadium built for the final though, something around 60K capacity would do the trick, maybe in the Manukau area so it's also easier for people from the South to head up for games. It would probably need to have Telstra-style retractable stands to cater for one-dayers as well, which isn't particularly detrimental in a stadium of that size (the Cake Tin is fine without them)

Part of the bid is conditional on Eden Park having an upgrade to 60K. The govt and the probable new govt have already givn tacit approval to partially fund it.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

Part of the bid is conditional on Eden Park having an upgrade to 60K. The govt and the probable new govt have already givn tacit approval to partially fund it.

Not an ideal solution, (mainly due to the ongoing isesues with neighbours in regards to light/noise plollution and lack of parking) but it would suffice. Are they talking about just adding more stands or a partial/complete remodelling of the stadium? I've never really been a big fan of Eden park as a venue for watching Rugby, although it's not bad when there's agood crowd packed into it.

 

[Timbo]

If they're going to build a new 60,000 seater Rugby ground in Auckland, I hope they remodle Eden Park to make it a more suitable cricket ground.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

If they're going to build a new 60,000 seater Rugby ground in Auckland, I hope they remodle Eden Park to make it a more suitable cricket ground.

Agree 100% Eden Park tries to both both and succeeds wholly as neither. At least remodel it to something like the Caketin which actually works.

 

[Timbo]

Although the caketin has failed really. Basin is still the preffered cricket ground (and rightly so) so the caketing is really just a poorly shaped rugby venue.

 

[Polynesian Warrior]

A 80,000 seater stadium where the old railway station was in Auckland would be a better option .

 

[ThrashViking]

Oh yup, because we all know that'll sell out every week.
Theres a 12,000 indoor stadium being built there, a much better option than a 80,000 seat stadium that will get used a couple times a year.