Ready to drink from the cup

BY MATT CALMAN

Next September, two proud visiting rugby nations will square off as Rugby World Cup action gets under way at Westpac Stadium in front of 35,000 fans.

During that weekend, thousands of visitors from around the world and the country will fill the capital's bars, shops and restaurants, and venture out on winery tours in Martinborough.

The distinctive dark green of South Africa and the red of Wales will be draped behind shop windows, fly from flagpoles and even be projected against buildings as part of elaborate lighting displays.

When other teams such as Tonga and France arrive, the feel of the city is set to change again.

Several "fan zones" featuring 40-square-metre screens, and stocked with the tournament sponsor's beer, will be dotted between the stadium and Courtenay Place – anchored by the $12.5 million Wharewaka building near Frank Kitts Lagoon.

During the tournament, about 85,000 overseas visitors are expected to come to the country, bringing with them about $500 million to spend.

The stalemate between the Government and Auckland Regional Council over moving two historic sheds in order to build Auckland's "party central" at Queens Wharf has dominated headlines this week and thrown the spotlight on to Wellington's proven track record of hosting events.

Wellington has five pool games, including the All Blacks' clash with Canada, and two quarterfinals. It is hosting the South African team for 18 days.

On Monday night about 100 business people gathered at Ilott Theatre, in Wellington's Town Hall, to hear the latest plans for next year, and how they can make the most of the tournament.

City councillor John Morrison says the city's real opportunity to get extra benefit from the tournament is to entice visitors travelling through Wellington between games in other centres to stop over for longer.

"Obviously we're trying to get more than our share and I'm pleased to say we're generally up to speed. I think we will attract good numbers, I think because we are the pivotal point in the middle of the country and we do have a reputation.

"We're encouraging our people in terms of accommodation and business not to switch off after the quarterfinals. It appears, with accommodation, Auckland might be a bit tight. There's nothing to stop someone staying in Wellington and just flying up for the game and back again, when they'd rather be in a hotel in the middle of a city that's going bloody well than in a bloody motel in Otara."

Council Rugby World Cup and city events director Derek Fry, the man leading the charge to ready Wellington for the tournament, says he hopes the city can build on its reputation as the "party capital" to be seen as a "carnival capital".

"You'll hear those distinctive Polynesian drums on the day France plays Tonga and you'll hear French music and culture being reflected," he says.

"We should have a flag on every flagpole in town. That life and colour and ambience that we want to create will be very obvious."

New public toilets on the waterfront, the revamp of Wellington airport, a redevelopment of Kelburn's Cable Car terminal, the Manners Mall bus lanes and the Lower Cuba pedestrian mall are all due to be completed by the time the tournament arrives.

The all-weather Wellington Showgrounds artificial sports field in Newtown – which will be a training ground for South Africa, the All Blacks and Australia – has been completed and will be officially opened later this month.

About $350,000 has been budgeted for keeping the city clean, including 40 staff patrolling the streets around the clock. The city council is contributing $1million towards the $12.5m Wharewaka, which is under construction beside Frank Kitts Lagoon and on track for completion early next year.

During the Rugby World Cup it will be the centrepiece of events in Wellington, with powhiri for visiting teams and dignitaries, an information centre and a cafe. People will gather in nearby Odlins Plaza, at the end of Taranaki St, to follow games on one of four big screens. The base for cup volunteers is at the rowing club next door.

The largest influx of visitors – about 30,000 – will arrive for the two quarterfinals at Westpac Stadium on October 8 and 9.

Courtenay Place will be closed to traffic for four days to accommodate the crowds.

It also represents the city's best opportunity to reap a financial reward from the tournament.

Rugby New Zealand 2011 Ltd chief executive Martin Snedden says having two quarterfinal matches each in Wellington and Christchurch has provided the cities with a "golden moment", with the influx of four teams and four groups of supporters as well as Kiwi fans.

"There will be far more Rugby World Cup visitors in Wellington during the quarterfinal weekend than there will be earlier in the tournament so everything within the city and the region will be put under pressure. But equally the opportunities will exist as well.

"Wellington did a fantastic job hosting the Lions four years ago. I think this is sort of the Lions times two or three," Mr Snedden says.

"That will be the culmination. That will be a really special finish to the region's involvement."

Tournament organisers appointed Williment Travel Group, after a international tender, to create an "accommodation bank" during the tournament.

It talked hotels around the country into setting aside rooms, which was crucial in securing enough rooms for key stakeholders such as teams, officials, sponsors and police, Williment director Duncan Garvie says.

"We had buy-in right from day one from the industry. That's the commercial side of it. That's where they're making their money."

The accommodation that has been snapped up through the bank has been worth $60m across 250 properties so far.

"It's exceeded our initial expectations. This is only an aspect of it. We didn't have every room in every hotel. We're just a part of it. What we do know from the Lions tour is that the hotels will do well."

Mr Garvie believes Wellington has an opportunity to build on its reputation for hosting visitors and could attract large numbers of travellers to the city and the region.

"They'll create a legacy for the city by the way they approach this event. It's about raising the bar. I think there's good potential for Wellington there if we're realistic with our rates and welcoming with our hospitality. The key message here is that the whole country, four million people, needs to host these people and show them a good time. It's up to everybody really."

Mr Snedden says learning from the way Wellington has handled events in the past has been valuable in organising the event. "Wellington is incredibly important. Wellington has proven itself as an event city, therefore it has a level of expertise here, and also a history of success which is really useful to us and other places in terms of preparing for this, although this is bigger than any of us have done before."

Westpac Stadium will be renamed Wellington Regional Stadium to satisfy the sponsors' requirements for "clean" stadiums. Tonight it is using the second test between the All Blacks and South Africa to test traffic-control measures that could be used at the tournament. But is the city ready to cope with the large numbers of visitors?

Greater Wellington regional council chairwoman Fran Wilde says the council is looking at providing free shuttles for ticket holders to pool games to and from the stadium and around town for everybody on quarterfinal days.

It is also considering a discount pass for train users during the quarterfinal weekend. "By the time of the World Cup our new trains will be running and the network upgrade will be complete so we don't anticipate major problems ... The stadium was specifically located to take advantage of being at the hub of our public transport and roading network."

From past experience, especially during the 2006 Lions tour, people drift into town during the day, then walk to the stadium, Ms Wilde says. "For nearly 20 years now, much of the urban design and planning has been around providing for exactly this situation – making the city the event heart."

Mr Fry says he expects people to gather in the city early on game days. The way the fan zones will be set up should lead people from them to the stadium in a "pied piper" way.

"We need to create a festival and an environment where people can take part in that. We are very mindful of ensuring people get to games on time and they're in a festive mood when they get there."

The next round of ticket sales to individuals will begin in early September. In the first stage people were able to buy only packs of tickets.

Mr Snedden says about 500,000 of the 1.65 million tickets have been sold – 75 per cent of them in New Zealand. There will continue to be good opportunities for Kiwis to get to games, he says.

"We've had a really good start to it. I think we will get pretty close to most matches selling out. I look at what Wellington are doing to prepare and it's looking great to me."

- © Fairfax NZ News