763,000 fans attend 28 matches
Ticket sales top 1.32m
Revenue hits NZ$259m – $9.5m to reach target
More than three quarters of a million fans have attended Rugby World Cup 2011 following the completion of 28 out of 48 matches.
“This is a fantastic result and resounding evidence that the Tournament is being enthusiastically embraced by local and visiting fans,” said Martin Snedden, CEO for Tournament Organiser Rugby New Zealand 2011.
“We reached the milestone last night after nearly 27,000 fans braved a wet Wellington night to see a thrilling match between Argentina and Scotland. Rain or shine, fans up and down the country are dressing up, painting their faces and really getting into the spirit of RWC 2011.
“This weekend alone nearly a quarter of a million fans passed through the gates for matches which included the historic double header at Eden Park where 120,000 fans attended the two matches.
“We couldn’t be happier with the passion and joy fans from around the world are showing at matches.”
RNZ 2011 also announced that tickets are continuing to sell strongly. Sales to date total 1.32 million against a target of 1.35 million.
“The surge in sales since the Tournament began means we are bang on track to hit our sales and revenue targets,” said Shane Harmon, General Manager Marketing and Communications.
Revenue totals NZ$259 million, leaving $9.5 million of sales to be achieved to reach the Tournament end target of NZ$268.5 million.
“This is the last week of the pool phase of the Tournament before the knock-out matches in Auckland and Wellington. This week already we have sell out matches at North Harbour for Samoa’s critical final pool match against South Africa, Ireland’s decisive clash with Italy at Otago Stadium and Japan against Canada at McLean Park in Napier.
“However tickets are still available for the other remaining pool matches in Nelson, Palmerston North, Wellington, Auckland and Hamilton so we urge fans who have yet to experience the excitement and fun of a RWC match to move fast or they will be disappointed.”
Tickets can be purchased online at www.rugbyworldcup.com/tickets or at selected Ticketek outlets.
“Tickets are also still available for the semi-finals and quarter-finals and we are expecting sales to rise over the coming weeks as the make-up of those matches becomes clearer.”
IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset said Rugby World Cup 2011 was on track to be an exceptional event.
“New Zealanders the length and breadth of the country are proving to be wonderful hosts. The atmosphere in venues and around the host cities and towns has truly added to a festival atmosphere.”
Ends
Tickets are still available for RWC 2011 matches either online and from local Ticketek outlets. Visit http://tickets.rugbyworldcup.com/ to book tickets.
About Rugby New Zealand 2011 Ltd (RNZ 2011): RNZ 2011 was established in June 2006, following the selection of the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) as the Host Union for RWC 2011 by the IRB Council in November 2005. It is the organisation responsible for the planning and delivery of RWC 2011 in New Zealand on behalf of its shareholders, the NZRU and the New Zealand Government.
About IRB Rugby World Cup: IRB Rugby World Cup is the third largest sports event in the world. The inaugural tournament took place in 1987 and it is held every four years. In 2007 the sixth tournament was held in France and enjoyed a cumulative worldwide broadcast audience of more than four billion.
For the latest on RWC 2011 visit www.rugbyworldcup.com.
