One million tickets are already sold to the rugby world cup on Monday July 4th which amounted to NZD200 million. The RWC has already reached 75% of their revenue target.
When the world is looking at a sloe economy, especially in Europe and the United States, New Zealand is bucking the trend and gaining lots of momentum.
The tournament officially starts on 9th September and ends on 23rd October. It is the world’s third largest sporting event and will no doubt have a huge impact in the local economy.
Horwath Asia Pacific Ltd. did an impact report and said half a billion in NZ Dollars will be propelled into the New Zealand economy. The RWC projected the event will add NZD507 million into the Gross Domestic Profit for 2011 and additional NZD112 million in tax revenue.
Those are impressive numbers for a small country like New Zealand. It is estimated that 66,000 international supporters, 2,500 international media personnel and 2,500 corporate and VIP guests will be present for the event.
Will you be visiting or watching a live game?
You can catch a game in Auckland, Wellington, Hamilton, New Plymouth, Rotorua, Dunedin, Whangarei, Nelson, Palmerston North, Napier or Invercargill. All venues are within less than three hours flight from any of the destinations.
Eden Park in Auckland will host the opening and closing games.
There will be 20 teams from around the world and 48 matches in total.
This is taken from the official RWC website:
The teams are divided into four pools. The Pools for the Rugby World Cup 2011 are:
Pool A: New Zealand, France, Tonga, Canada, Japan
Pool B: Argentina, England, Scotland, Georgia, Romania
Pool C: Australia, Ireland, Italy, Russia, USA
Pool D: South Africa, Wales, Fiji, Samoa, Namibia
Which countries will you be cheering for? New Zealand and anyone playing Australia?
If you have recently moved to NZ, but are not a rugby fan, be ready to be introduced to the national religion. Businesses and schools will close, work will stop and social gatherings will revolve around the TV or the stadium until the All Blacks come home with the trophy.
We hope you will take time to visit one of the sites, or go for a real live game or just hang-out with friends and family celebrating the game that one third of the world will be watching…the World Rugby Tournament.
While you are watching…think about all the possibilities these events have brought into New Zealand…in sectors like… tourism, hospitality businesses and investments. Has a job been created for you?
