Ticket revenue for Rugby World Cup 2011 (RWC 2011) has reached a significant milestone, exceeding by 11 times the revenue of the previous largest grossing event in New Zealand history as the event closes in on its Tournament end target.
Tournament organiser Rugby New Zealand 2011 today announced that revenue from ticket sales had reached NZ$265.6 million dollars from ticket sales of 1.35 million.
The 2005 British and Irish Lions Tour grossed NZ$24 million.
“We now need to make sales of just NZ$2.9 million to meet our financial target of NZ$268.5 million and we fully expect to do so with big crowds expected for the final four matches of the Tournament,” said RNZ 2011 CEO Martin Snedden.
“The way New Zealanders have embraced this event has been fantastic and we are thrilled to be in this position given the challenges we have faced.”
This weekend France play Wales in the first semi-final at Eden Park on Saturday night with New Zealand taking on Australia in the second semi-final on Sunday night.
RNZ 2011 confirmed that 7,000 tickets across most categories are available for the first semi-final. Allocation for the second semi-final is currently exhausted, but a few hundred additional tickets are expected to be released later in the week.
“Now that the four semi-finalists have been confirmed we expect strong demand for remaining tickets over coming days,” said Shane Harmon, RNZ 2011 General Manager Marketing and Communications.
“It’s all or nothing for these teams so we urge fans to move fast to secure their place at what will be two nail biting encounters.”
Tickets can be purchased online at www.rugbyworldcup.com/tickets and at selected Ticketek outlets for the France v Wales semi-final and the Bronze Final. At this stage, tickets for the Final on October 23 can be secured through Official Travel and Hospitality packages as the public ticket sales allocation is currently exhausted.
International Rugby Board Chairman Bernard Lapasset said:
“We are set for a thrilling finale to Rugby World Cup 2011 with two compelling semi-finals set to take centre stage this weekend and a northern hemisphere versus southern hemisphere showdown guaranteed for the Final.
“It is always sad to see teams go home after the quarter-finals, but all four homeward teams can be proud of the role that they played in contributing to what were four superb matches.
“With the knock-out phase of Rugby World Cup 2011 now well and truly underway, attendance and atmosphere continue to be strong and I would like to thank New Zealanders for the outstanding support and passion for this Tournament.”
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