Tickets to the Women’s Rugby World Cup are cheap, and organizers say this is to ensure stadiums are packed with fans to support the growth of the women’s game.
The match kicks off Saturday at Eden Park and it is on track to sell out with over 30,000 tickets already purchased for that match.
That would make it the first women’s sporting event at Eden Park, and the largest crowd ever to see a women’s rugby match.
Nearly 80,000 tickets have been sold for the tournament so far – about 60 percent of the total, and more than double that of the last World Cup in Dublin.
An adult pays just $10 to see triple-header pool games and up to $50 for the double-header finals, while a child can enter for a fiver.
By comparison, those with tickets to the men’s Rugby World Cup final held here in 2011 coughed up between just $400 and north of $1000.
Tournament director Michelle Hooper said people haven’t had much of a chance to deal with women’s rugby in Aotearoa, so modest ticket prices would give them that opportunity.
“The focus has always been to ensure that matches are well attended and we want to ensure that there is no impediment to filling our stadiums.
“The great thing about it is that it’s so accessible to so many people who otherwise wouldn’t get a chance.”
News of the tournament’s popularity with fans was music to the players’ ears at the team’s welcome ceremony earlier this week, Hooper said.
“You can imagine those players who have lived their lives, you know, coming to participate in a Rugby World Cup, that’s all they dream of.
“To hear that New Zealanders appreciate them and want to see them perform on the world stage. It was quite a euphoric moment to be there when those athletes heard that message.”
The host cities of Auckland and Whangārei can also look forward to a blow to the coffers from the arriving crowds.
Chris Simpson, head of major events at Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, said that with Covid-19 restrictions relaxed, people flocked to large-scale events.
“We expect about 27,000 visitor nights, 5,000 internationals and $3.7 million in GDP,” he said.
But some of the gains were priceless, Simpson said.
“The best female athletes in the world compete in Auckland and New Zealand and what that will do to inspire the next generation.
“I think if they see them first hand, and how inspiring it is to see them compete on a global stage, it will inspire a lot of young girls to get into sport and rugby.”
Women’s Rugby World Cup 2022 match schedule
Saturday 8 October – First billiard matches
South Africa v France (Eden Park, Auckland, Pool C)
Fiji v England (Eden Park, Auckland, Pool C)
Australia v New Zealand (Eden Park, Auckland, Pool A)
Sunday 9 October – First group matches
USA v Italy (Northland Events Centre, Whangarei, Pool B)
Japan v Canada (Northland Events Centre, Whangarei, Pool B)
Wales v Scotland (Northland Events Centre, Whangarei, Pool A)
Saturday 15 October – Second group matches
Scotland v Australia (Northland Events Centre, Whangarei, Pool A)
USA v Japan (Northland Events Centre, Whangarei, Pool B)
France v England (Northland Events Centre, Whangarei, Pool C)
Sunday October 16 – Second group matches
Italy v Canada (Waitakere Stadium, Auckland, Pool B)
Wales v New Zealand (Waitakere Stadium, Auckland, Pool A)
Fiji v South Africa (Waitakere Stadium, Auckland, Pool C)
Saturday October 22 – Third group matches
Australia v Wales (Northland Events Centre, Whangarei, Pool A)
New Zealand v Scotland (Northland Events Centre, Whangarei, Pool A)
France v Fiji (Northland Events Centre, Whangarei, Pool C)
Sunday 23 October – Third Group matches
Japan v Italy (Waitakere Stadium, Auckland, Pool B)
Canada v USA (Waitakere Stadium, Auckland, Pool B)
England v South Africa (Waitakere Stadium, Auckland, Pool C)
Saturday October 29 – Quarter Finals
Quarterfinal 1 (Northland Events Centre, Whangarei)
Quarterfinals 2 (Northland Events Centre, Whangarei)
Sunday October 30 – Quarter Finals
Quarter-final 3 (Waitakere Stadium, Auckland)
Quarter Final 4 (Waitakere Stadium, Auckland)
Saturday November 5 – Semifinals
Semifinal 1 (Eden Park, Auckland)
Semifinal 2 (Eden Park, Auckland)
Saturday 12 November – Final
Final (Eden Park, Auckland)