Rugby: Counting down to 2011

Preparations are on track for the 2011 Rugby World Cup. Photo / Richard Robinson

The Rugby World Cup 2011 is two years away. James Ihaka looks at what still needs to be done in Auckland and everywhere else in preparation for the big event

STADIUMS

Of the 14 possible playing venues for RWC 2011, only Dunedin's proposed $198 million Otago Stadium is in doubt.

The chief executive of Rugby New Zealand 2011, Martin Snedden, was flexible about a cut-off date although the stadium is likely to be completed only three weeks before the kick-off on September 9, 2011.

He said the five other venues being upgraded were on track.

Christchurch's AMI Stadium was only a couple of months away from being finished and the $7.9 million upgrade on Napier's McLean Park would be completed by the end of the year.

Eden Park was six weeks ahead of schedule and would meet its $240.5 million budget.

"We are not struggling," said Mr Snedden.

"Just to send the IRB a very strong signal about preparations for the tournament we took them through the developments at Eden Park ...

"It's going to look great and will be one of the surprise packages."

TICKETS

Rugby New Zealand 2011 says its ticketing plan will be ready by the end of next month.

About 1.7 million tickets will go on sale early next year. Mr Snedden expects New Zealanders will buy 1.2 million tickets for the 48 matches. He said ticket prices for round-robin matches would be similar to those for a Super 14 match or test match.

But tickets in the knockout stages would be "very expensive by New Zealand standards", at prices similar to the RWC in France in 2007 - starting at an average of $450 for a quarter-final match to at least $800 for the final.

Mr Snedden said it would cost about $310 million to run the tournament and ticket sales would raise about $280 million.

"To put that into context, the most that has been generated in New Zealand out of any event was the Lions tour - from 12 sold-out matches we generated $32 million, so we have to do nine times that," he said.

ACCOMMODATION

Cruise ships berthed in Wellington or Lyttelton harbours could be the answer to a likely accommodation shortage when the quarter-finals begin, said Mr Snedden.

RNZ 2011 is to make an announcement in the next few weeks, but three 2000-berth ships are expected in Wellington and Christchurch during the quarter-final weekend, taking pressure off accommodation and transport in the cities.

After the quarter-finals, the ships will cruise up the coast to Auckland where they will probably berth for three days over the semifinal weekend before sailing off and coming back for the final.

"During the pool phase it's not an issue but when it gets to the quarters when you've got Christchurch and Wellington and four teams in a city then things get a bit pushed."

The only area not being catered for is the fully independent traveller.

Mr Snedden estimated up to half of those coming for the cup - about 60,000 visitors - would not come on organised tours or packages.

"But we have created a really good structure and order that will make sure the market finds it a lot easier."

TRANSPORT

Auckland Regional Transport Authority World Cup transport programme director Bruce Barnard said at least 200 buses would be needed to shift fans from Eden Park and North Harbour Stadium throughout the city.

Expressions of interest will be sought this month to sort out bus operators by early next year.

Mr Barnard said work on rail operations was ongoing with Veolia and Ontrack.

An upgrade at the Kingsland station would begin this Christmas. The upgrade would result in express services to the city with the potential to move 15,000 people.

It would also enable people to load from both platforms.

A final operations plan on road closures around the stadiums is expected by June next year.

It is expected that some level of integrated ticketing (free travel on public transport with a RWC ticket) will operate for the tournament.

ROADS

Fletcher Building infrastructure chief Mark Binns has promised he would try to complete the $430 million Victoria Park tunnel in time for the World Cup.

Fletcher, which will work in an alliance with the Transport Agency as well as Palmerston North road-builders Higgins Contractors, Beca Engineers and Australian tunnelling experts Parsons Brinckerhoff, is already working to complete three other big Auckland infrastructure projects before the cup.

It is duplicating the Manukau Harbour motorway crossing for $230 million and digging a $160 million railway trench through New Lynn.

Michael Barnett, who heads Auckland City's Rugby World Cup steering committee, believes the city's roads would be in "good shape".

"There have been enough of the projects brought forward I think to have the basic infrastructure in place so then it will be a case of having bus services and train services available," Mr Barnett said.

WHAT CITIES ARE HOSTING WHICH TEAMS?

Organisers will make an announcement on December 17.

Mr Snedden said: "We are working with each of the teams to find out what their preferences are and match that with what our preferences are and what the regional preferences are and hopefully we will get a good mix."