$2600 a game to see Cup in style

Warren Barclay in one of the new unfurnished boxes in the new south stand. Photo / Paul Estcourt

The best corporate boxes at Mt Eden for this year's Rugby World Cup will cost almost half a million dollars - a sum that probably will be beyond the reach of regular rugby fans.

Seven of the stadium's 48 corporate boxes are on offer for $471,900.

That price will get you a private corporate box for you and 19 mates for each of the nine games at Eden Park throughout the tournament.

It works out at $52,433 a game for the tournament which kicks off when the All Blacks play Tonga on September 9 and ends six weeks later with the final on October 23.

You'll have a waiter and bartender and you can eat and drink all you like.

Menus have not been decided but will be high-end fine dining with a theme, possibly linked to the business or group hiring the box.

That's a price of about $2622 per person per game.

Warren Barclay, managing director of corporate hospitality event management company Experience Group, which is selling packages for the tournament, said a single contracting entity must make the purchase up front - and take responsibility for anything that happens.

Which means you'd be in a world of strife if someone had a bit much to drink and caused problems.

Conditions of the purchase mean the entity that hires the box must be the end user and nothing can be on-sold at a profit.

Mr Barclay said it was unlikely anyone would want to take the responsibility for such a large group of people just to get cheaper seats.

"You're in the gun. You're accepting responsibility for a whole lot of individuals, whatever they do and you will be held responsible contractually."

While Mr Barclay could not reveal which businesses had already hired corporate boxes, he said they were mostly large international corporations.

Most would use the corporate boxes as a chance to network with guests in the intimate environment of the box, which is like a small apartment complete with fridge, kitchen and television.

A balcony outside has 20 seats and unimpeded views of the field.

Other packages include tables of 10 in several venues.

Viewers can opt for the Platinum lounge at the park or the Eden Park Pavilion, a $10 million facility off Sandringham Rd which begins being built in May.

Others can opt for pre-match entertainment off-site with transport to the game and A-category seats.

All corporate packages include fine dining, entertainment and guest speakers - all still to be named.

Cup packages
Sky BoxCorporate suite which seats 20 people for all nine games at Eden Park, from the opening game on Friday, September 9, until the October 23 final. Includes bar and wait staff, drinks and high-end fine-dining. Cost: $471,900.

Platinum

Tables of 10, which can also be bought on individual basis. Includes former players as guest-speaker entertainment and high-end fine dining and drinks. Six-game minimum. Cost: $155,995 for six key games, including semifinals and final.

Eden Park Pavilion

A $10 million purpose-built temporary facility. Tables of 10, but can be bought on individual basis. Includes former players as guest-speaker entertainment, high-end fine dining and drinks. Cost: $109,550, for 10 fans for semifinals and the final.

Premier Package

Off-site entertainment in ballroom-style settings. Includes high-end fine dining and drinks before matches, buses to and from the games. Cost: $87,950, covers a table for 10 and category A tickets for the semifinals and the final.