Editorial: Hands off the jewel in Wellington's crown

OPINION: The vultures are circling. As the Wellington sevens kicked off in bright sunshine yesterday (is it ever any different in the capital?) word emerged that both Auckland and Dunedin are contemplating bids for host rights to the New Zealand leg of the international sevens circuit when it comes up for grabs again in 2012.

The interest of both cities is predictable. Dunedin will, by that stage, have a new indoor stadium to pay off and Auckland has ever aped the capital. But, as Auckland discovered when it tried to replicate Wellington's success with David Beckham's football team, the LA Galaxy, it takes more than a fat chequebook to stage a successful event.

Almost 32,000 fans turned out to watch the Galaxy play the Wellington Phoenix in 2007. Less than 15,000 watched them play an invitation team in Auckland a year later. The Wellington match broke even. Auckland ratepayers took a $1.88 million bath. Hosting a successful event has more to do with people than money.

The sevens, despite the heroics of Gordon Tietjens' New Zealand team – hot favourites to win again – is not really about rugby. It is about the Marilyn Monroes, the Speedo Cops, the Borats, the Taxi Girls and the Blanket Men – the fans who don fancy dress and make the tournament a high point in their calendar.

And behind the fans is an army of 350 volunteers ensuring everything runs smoothly.

They liaise with the visiting teams, ferry them to and from the stadium, marshal spectators, run messages, keep the scores and do all the other things necessary to ensure players and fans enjoy themselves.

Wellington also has another unique advantage – the stadium. Its concourse allows spectators to visit friends in other parts of the ground and facilitates the friendly mayhem that has become synonymous with the event. Its downtown location makes it part of the city.

It is just a pleasant stroll from the stadium to Courtenay Place, where bands will be playing until the early hours tomorrow morning and the bars will stay open even later.

The New Zealand Rugby Union has turned down an offer from Wellington City Council to be permanent host of the event. That is fair enough. It is good business to weigh up your options every now and then. But it would be madness for the union to mess with a proven formula.

Nevertheless, there will be some anxious people in the capital until the union allocates the hosting rights for 2012 and beyond, later this year.

Along with the World of WearableArt and the International Festival of the Arts, the Wellington sevens is one of the jewels in the capital's crown. It fills the city with colour and life, attracts visitors and pumps almost $16 million into the local economy.

Go the Marilyns, go New Zealand and thanks to the volunteers who make it all possible.

- © Fairfax NZ News