The biggest Super Rugby crowd for a Blues home game in 15 years will cram Eden Park, with officials confirming Sunday’s blockbuster match against the Hurricanes is a sellout.
And in Dunedin for Saturday night’s Aotearoa opener between the Highlanders and Chiefs, sales nudged 20,000 with the prospect that, too, could reach go awfully close to capacity of 22,800.
Dual sellouts would be a dream result for New Zealand Rugby and cash-strapped franchises as rugby-starved fans flock for the first top-level matches in three months. As it stands, the near 60,000 tickets sold at both venues probably exceeded expectations.
The sold out signs went up on Saturday morning as ticket sales reached 41,000, making it the biggest Super Rugby crowd at Eden Park since May 2005 when 45,000 crammed in for the same two sides in Tana Umaga’s 100th match.
The highest recorded Super Rugby attendance in Auckland since then was for the Blues v Hurricanes in 2008 which drew 36,700.
Eden Park attracted 48,300 punters for last year’s Bledisloe Cup test and the reduced capacity for this match is because of seating configuration and the initial offer of $20 general admission tickets with accompanying children free.
The Blues ended that offer on Thursday such was the flood of interest, and by Sunday it’s expected anyone hoping to buy a walk-up ticket will be out of luck.
Hurricanes coach Jason Holland, whose side are chasing a sixth straight win in Auckland against the Blues, hoped a sellout was in prospect.
“It’s awesome for the game that so many people are keen to get back involved in it. Everyone is just pumped and it’s going to be a great day. The more the merrier up there, that’d be great,” he said.
In Dunedin, the Highlanders reported sales fast approaching 20,000 at Forsyth Barr Stadium, 24 hours out from kickoff.
A glance at the ticketing website showed blocks of 10 tickets still available side-on at either tryline for $42.50, and $24 student tickets in The Zoo at one end of the ground.
Super Rugby Aotearoa game one kicks off at 7.05pm on Saturday under the roof in Dunedin, with the Sunday afternoon blockbuster in Auckland a 3.35pm start.
