Kiwis faces huge bill on WC promise

WELLINGTON – After celebrations in New Zealand following the country’s selection to host the 2011 Rugby World Cup, officials began the tough task of finding hundreds of millions of dollars so they can deliver on the promise of staging the best world cup ever.

New Zealand, one of the world’s most passionate and welcoming rugby nations, has pledged to deliver a world-class tournament for players, officials, spectators and millions of fans watching around the world. “We will now begin the process of delivering on the promises we have made in our bid,” said New Zealand Rugby Union chairman Jock Hobbs after the country beat challenges from Japan and South Africa.First in line for an expensive facelift will be the main city, Auckland, which has notorious traffic problems and a main rugby stadium with a seating capacity well below international standards.The proposed months for the Rugby World Cup are September and October 2011, with 48 matches to be played in more than 11 potential venues, with the prime knockout matches to be held at Auckland’s Eden Park.NZRU chief executive Chris Moller said planning would begin now on a 130 million New Zealand dollar (89 million dollar) venue upgrade, the key question being who will pay to increase seating capacity from 53,000 to 60,000.”That hasn’t been determined, but we’ve been making good progress and that should be significantly advanced by today’s decision,” Moller said.Other venues were also in line for “expansion and upgrade,” he said, with the capacity at Christchurch’s Jade Stadium set to be increased from 37 000 to 55 000.New Zealand was also set to invest in other infrastructure projects beyond the rugby tournament sites.The Employers and Manufacturers Association has already called on the government to improve transport, electricity and other services.Auckland Chamber of Commerce chief executive Michael Barnett said the event was an incentive to finish the region’s motorway network well before its scheduled completion date of 2014-15.The government has guaranteed to underwrite the tournament, which will cost more than 100 million US dollars to run but ultimately generate large profits.”It’s estimated it will attract around 60 000 visitors to New Zealand, generate an extra 408 million dollars to the economy, plus an extra tax take exceeding 90 million dollars,” said Sports Minister Trevor Mallard.The event has grown in profile since New Zealand hosted the inaugural World Cup in 1987 to become the third most important international sporting event behind the Olympics and the football World Cup.Hobbs said the 2011 cup was guaranteed to be the most profitable World Cup so far because of skyrocketing international television rights that are set to make up about 60 per cent of revenue.The 2011 event may be the last shot for New Zealand to host the World Cup, say rugby officials.Beyond then, they admit, the spiralling cost of upgrading aging stadiums would likely price the country out of future tournaments.-Nampa-AFP”We will now begin the process of delivering on the promises we have made in our bid,” said New Zealand Rugby Union chairman Jock Hobbs after the country beat challenges from Japan and South Africa.First in line for an expensive facelift will be the main city, Auckland, which has notorious traffic problems and a main rugby stadium with a seating capacity well below international standards.The proposed months for the Rugby World Cup are September and October 2011, with 48 matches to be played in more than 11 potential venues, with the prime knockout matches to be held at Auckland’s Eden Park.NZRU chief executive Chris Moller said planning would begin now on a 130 million New Zealand dollar (89 million dollar) venue upgrade, the key question being who will pay to increase seating capacity from 53,000 to 60,000.”That hasn’t been determined, but we’ve been making good progress and that should be significantly advanced by today’s decision,” Moller said.Other venues were also in line for “expansion and upgrade,” he said, with the capacity at Christchurch’s Jade Stadium set to be increased from 37 000 to 55 000.New Zealand was also set to invest in other infrastructure projects beyond the rugby tournament sites.The Employers and Manufacturers Association has already called on the government to improve transport, electricity and other services.Auckland Chamber of Commerce chief executive Michael Barnett said the event was an incentive to finish the region’s motorway network well before its scheduled completion date of 2014-15.The government has guaranteed to underwrite the tournament, which will cost more than 100 million US dollars to run but ultimately generate large profits.”It’s estimated it will attract around 60 000 visitors to New Zealand, generate an extra 408 million dollars to the economy, plus an extra tax take exceeding 90 million dollars,” said Sports Minister Trevor Mallard.The event has grown in profile since New Zealand hosted the inaugural World Cup in 1987 to become the third most important international sporting event behind the Olympics and the football World Cup.Hobbs said the 2011 cup was guaranteed to be the most profitable World Cup so far because of skyrocketing international television rights that are set to make up about 60 per cent of revenue.The 2011 event may be the last shot for New Zealand to host the World Cup, say rugby officials.Beyond then, they admit, the spiralling cost of upgrading aging stadiums would likely price the country out of future tournaments.-Nampa-AFP