Rugby World Cup tickets will cost every New Zealander

By Dan Parker

Ticket prices for the 2011 Rugby World Cup will range from $30 for some pool matches up to well over $1000 for the final.

But the event will cost every single New Zealander $60 each before they even try to buy one.

The World Cup stadium upgrades are far from completed but the pricing structure for getting in when they are, is.

When the early pool matches are played in Christchurch and around the country it is hoped tickets starting at $30 will be cheap enough to lure the masses.

“The whole strategy around those matches has been making sure that price doesn't get in the way,” says Martin Sneddon.

“So in fact people can feel like they can have a World Cup experience whether they're Invercargill, Nelson or Whangerei.”

For a ticket to a pool match, the price for a match not including the All blacks will range from $30 to $250.

To see the All Blacks you will have to pay $60 to $450.

If you attend a pool match, that will qualify for you for the draw for finals ticket.

A semi-final will set you back between $290 and $780, while the final tickets begin at $390 and cap at $1250.

Marty Leslie is a veteran of two World Cups, he played for Scotland, and says full stadiums are crucial to the event's success.

“Thirty bucks, $60 is mostly not too much to ask these days. Hopefully a lot of people go there because it will show how good we are at supporting and hopefully every team gets good crowds.”

The introduction of the major events management bill will also help to ensure no one pays more than the original price for a ticket.

“Amongst other things it prevents scalping. It means we can ask and receive assistance from the likes of TradeMe to try and cut it down,” says Mr Sneddon.

The World Cup is forecast to make a $40 million loss which the Government has under-written along with investing over m$200 million in our stadium upgrades.

That equals over $60 from every single New Zealander.

So even if you cannot afford a ticket, you will still end up paying.

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