5 October 2011

Wellington gears up for quarter-finals weekend

Huge crowds are expected in Wellington this weekend as the city gears up to host two quarter-finals matches – Ireland v Wales on Saturday and South Africa v Australia on Sunday.

All the quarter-finals action will be live on the big screens at the new Courtenay Live Site FANZONE, the Rugby Village FANZONE and the Town Hall

Venues are expected to fill up fast and Wellingtonians are urged to carefully plan their transport, arrive early and be prepared with a plan B if their choice of venue is full. Road closures, detours and the high number of people in town may cause some delays. Extra public transport will also be put on over the weekend.

Crowd size at all public venues will be closely monitored and access closed when they reach capacity. There will be some information about alternative venues on FANZONE big screens and temporary LED-lit signs in high-profile locations, as well as plenty of volunteers and security staff on hand.

One alternative venue set-up in the event of an overflow is the Arena (the events centre) on Queens Wharf – it will be used for match screenings if other sites are full. It will be another alcohol-free family-friendly venue.

The Courtenay Place Live Site will have two big screens – one on the front of the Embassy Theatre and the other in Courtenay Park at the Taranaki Street end. Courtenay Place and surrounding streets will be closed progressively, from 4am Saturday 8 October, to 6am Monday 10 October. The Live Site will be open to the public from 11am–11.30pm and fenced and controlled by security.

Schedule: Saturday 8 October

Rugby Village FANZONE
1pm: The Thomas Oliver Band
4pm: Band: Knives at Noon
6pm: Live coverage of Ireland v Wales on big screen
8.30pm: Live coverage of England v France on big screen
10pm: Band: Midnight Youth

Civic Village (Town Hall and Civic Square)
From 10am: Caricaturist Gerard Gargouil, Town Hall
10am–4pm: South African Cultural Festival, Civic Square
5.30pm: Covers Band: Avi Diva, Town Hall
6pm: Live coverage of Ireland v Wales on big screen
7.30pm: Covers Band: Avi Diva, Town Hall
8.30pm: Live coverage of England v France on big screen

Courtenay Live Site FANZONE
1pm: Band: Twinset
3pm: Hollie Smith
6pm: Live coverage of Ireland v Wales on big screen
7.30pm: Band: Tommy and the Fallen Horses
8.30pm: Live coverage of England v France on big screen

Sunday 9 October
Rugby Village FANZONE
1pm: Band: The Nudge
3.30pm: Strike Percussion
6pm: Live coverage of South Africa v Australia on big screen
7.45pm: The Wellington International Ukelele Orchestra
8.30pm: Live coverage of New Zealand v Argentina on big screen
10.15pm: The Wellington International Ukelele Orchestra

Civic Village (Town Hall and Civic Square)
From 10am: Caricaturist Gerard Gargouil, Town Hall
10am–4pm: South African Cultural Festival, Civic Square
5.00pm: Motown Band: Sophie and the Unrealistic Expectations. Town Hall
6pm: Live coverage of South Africa v Australia on big screen
7.30pm: Motown Band: Sophie and the Unrealistic Expectations. Town Hall
8.30pm: Live coverage of New Zealand v Argentina on big screen

Courtenay Live Site FANZONE
3pm: The Woolshed Sessions
4.30pm: Band: The Yoots
6pm: Live coverage of South Africa v Australia on big screen
7.30pm: Band: X-Ray Catz
8.30pm: Live coverage of New Zealand v Argentina on big screen
10pm: Band: X-Ray Catz

For more information on road closures visit Wellington.govt.nz, public transport visit gw.govt.nz or for more detailed event information visit WellingtonNZ2011.com

ENDS

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