Cup seat prices will leave fans gasping

By JAMES GARDINER

A price shock of $100-plus for terrace seats awaits New Zealand rugby fans hoping to watch next year's World Cup tournament.

If our officials manage to persuade the International Rugby Board to overturn Australia's plan to host the cup alone, they will then need to convince spectators to part with big wads of cash.

NZRFU chiefs are reluctant to say how much they plan to charge. "We'll scare people off," said one.

But the Herald has learned that $250 or more could be the price of the best seats at Eden Park for the semifinal. Even an uncovered terrace seat would cost more than $100.

Across the Tasman, getting into the final will cost up to A$750 ($900) for premium seats, which will probably be sold as a package with seats to the playoff for third and fourth.

The NZRFU is hoping to sell 550,000 tickets to 23 matches in this country at an average price of $84.

But while the All Black games, and those featuring France, Wales, Scotland and Samoa, should attract capacity crowds in the four main centres, some of the matchups in the pool rounds will be hard-pressed to fill the smaller venues with ticket prices of $60 or more.

NZRFU officials will next week fly to Dublin, where the Rugby World Cup board will make a final recommendation on who hosts the tournament.