The tinsel-topped fans of the Sting will take a mail plane to make sure they stamp their mark on the grand finale of netball's national league.
Passionate Sting supporters yesterday chartered a Boeing 737 usually reserved to deliver the post to and from Invercargill to fly 110 fansnorth for Friday night's Force-Sting final in Auckland.
Winning the first semifinal has always carried the bonus of a final before a home crowd. But the Sting are taking their zealous mob with them.
Five hundred tickets for Sting followers go on sale at Stadium Southland this morning for the game at the North Shore Events Centre.
Sting events manager Liz Piper expected the queue to start forming at dawn.
"The interest has been amazing. People are considering it as the finale of 10 years of the Sting," Piper said. "Even though we're moving on to bigger and better things next year, this is the end of an era, and our supporters have been so loyal down here."
Home tickets for the final have sold out. The Force were criticised for opting to play at their home stadium, which holds 3800 people, but they are within the rules, which say the venue must be able to hold more than 2500.
The Sting fans - with their blue tinsel wigs, and big voices - will fill the eastern end of the North Shore stadium.
Sting fans are famous for queuing day and night for match tickets and throwing victory parades whenever their team collects the title - six years out of nine.
Coach Robyn Broughton often gives them credit for their role inthe Sting's 10-year dominance on court.
Said Piper: "Our fans have every reason to back this team - they have earned a lot of respect."
The chartered flight arrives on Friday afternoon for the 7.30pm game, and will return after the game.
The mail will have to make its way to Southland on another plane.
