NEWS RELEASE

Tuesday 20 September 2011

Extra Fanzone for fans missing out on tickets to Ireland v Russia match

ROTORUA 20.09.11:

If you can’t be at Rotorua’s sell-out Ireland vs Russia Rugby World Cup 2011 match on Sunday evening (25 September) then the next best place to be will at the city’s special Fanzone being set up at the Energy Events Centre.

Rotorua District Council is scheduling the additional free Fanzone for fans who missed out on buying tickets for the match at Rotorua International Stadium this weekend. The last remaining tickets to the game were swept up yesterday morning (Monday 19 September) but ticketless rugby fans will still be able to watch Ireland come up against Russia live on the big screen from the Fanzone grandstand.

Events & Venues Rotorua general manager Peter McLeod said the council’s original plans were to set up Fanzones to coincide with each of the All Black’s pool games as well as the quarter finals, semis and finals. He said those games would all be shown live on the big screen but a decision had now been made to add an additional Fanzone for this Sunday (25 September) to meet expected demand.

“Many Rotorua residents won’t be able to attend what is really the premier match of Rotorua’s involvement in RWC2011 and no doubt there will be heaps out-of-town supporters who’ve also missed out on tickets to the game. So we’re catering for both residents and visitors with our decision to have an extra Fanzone opening on Sunday evening.

“This will follow on from Saturday’s scheduled Fanzone where the All Blacks vs France match will show live on our big screen, so it will certainly be a busy weekend.”

The Sunday Fanzone will open at 5pm at the Energy Events Centre ahead of match kick-off at 6pm.

Mr McLeod said that because of the late decision to open the extra Fanzone there would not be local entertainment but instead the pre-match television studio and stadium build-up would screen live for patrons and there would be some activities for children, along with food and refreshments.

Mr McLeod commended Events & Venues staff who he said had “pulled out all stops” to make the extra Fanzone possible at short notice.

“Out team already has an incredibly heavy workload making sure they deliver the big match on Sunday to a capacity crowd of more than 25,000 at the Rotorua International Stadium. So opening an extra Fanzone presents a huge additional workload at very short notice. But without hesitation the team has willingly come to the party and taken on the extra commitment.

“Rotorua residents can be very proud of the local effort in making sure Rugby World Cup 2011 is a big success in this city,” said Mr McLeod.

[Ends]

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