By Tom McRae
It's set to be bigger than the V8 Supercars, Fieldays and possibly even than the Rugby World Cup.
While the All Blacks are facing the Irish tonight, Hamiltion is having their biggest night of the year.
It will be a big boom for the local economy.
They're literally bussing in from around the country – thousands of rugby fanatics will pour millions into the Waikato economy.
At Biddy Mulligan’s pub, they're expecting tonight to be bigger than St Patrick’s Day.
“We've got all our staff on,” says Maddy Barker of Biddy Mulligan’s. “We've got more alcohol in and we've decorated the pub.”
For the last few days, Hamilton has been gearing up for the influx.
“The busiest night of the year,” John Lawrenson of the Lawrenson Group calls it. “Pandemonium – the Irish party like no one else.”
John Lawrenson owns a dozen bars and restaurants. He was in Hamilton the last time the Irish toured in 2006 and says it was the biggest night Hamilton has ever seen.
“It was chaos in a six-hour period,” he says. “They managed to drink one of the biggest chillers I’ve seen in my life completely dry.”
The sold-out signs up at Waikato Stadium mean all 25,000 tickets have been snapped up. It's expected the huge contingent of out-of-towners spending up large will make this the biggest weekend of the year for Hamilton businesses.
All accommodation is fully booked too.
“It’s a huge boost, mainly for bars, restaurants and taxis, and good for motels,” says Mike Ward of the Hamilton Motel Association.
This is the last game of the Irish tour. They won't be back for another 12 years, and Hamilton is certainly making the most of it.
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