The All Blacks' record-breaking win over Australia in Saturday night's Bledisloe Cup rugby test had an immediate impact on the gate for the team's next match against Argentina in Napier at the end of next week.
About 490 tickets sold on Monday, many as punters went to the Hawke's Bayunion offices at McLean Park, which doubles as an agency for sellers TicketDirect.
"In the big cities, everyone does it online," said Hawke's Bay Rugby Union marketing manager Jay Campbell. "Hawke's Bay people seem to be a little different."
Sales for the Saturday night September 6 game, which opened to the public on June 23, had rocketed past 20,000.
By mid-afternoon just 1973 of the all-seated capacity of about 22,750 seats remained. Seats in the park's four permanent stands, costing $110-$120, had mainly sold out within a few days, although Mr Campbell said a small number were still available in the Graeme Lowe Stand, some "in pairs".
Most of those remaining are in the 9000-seat temporary uncovered stand nearing completion on the park's eastern-end embankment, and costing $70 each.
About 20 remained of an allotment of sight-restricted uncovered seats in front of the Harris Stand, between the 22-metre lines, ranging from $42.50 for the ground-level front row to $67.50 for the second to sixth row. The Test Target, June 23: 22,750 To sell, August 26: 1973 Tickets from ticketdirect.co.nz or 0800 224 224, or in person at HB Rugby Union Office, McLean Park.
