New Zealand union pleads for national stadium

AUCKLAND (Reuters) -- A senior New Zealand Rugby Union official has called on the New Zealand government to help fund a national stadium so the country can accommodate the sort of crowds that attend the rugby union World Cup.

Steve Tew, the NZRU's deputy chief executive, made the point after announcing the itinerary for next year's 10-match tour by the British Lions, the first visit by the Lions to New Zealand since 1993.

With up to 20,000 Lions supporters anticipated to follow the tour, Tew said most grounds could be sold out several times over for each game.

"There are large numbers of British supporters already confirmed with tour operators in the UK," Tew said. "We have a significant amount of pressure and interest from licensed and non-licensed operators trying to get tickets.

"We're anticipating between 15,000 and 20,000 tourists here by the end of the tour. It's conceivable that it's going to be a very tight ballot for some tickets."

Tew said the scramble for tickets illustrated the inadequacy of most New Zealand rugby grounds and he urged the government to consider investing in a national stadium.

"This is not only an issue for rugby tours but also if New Zealand ever wanted to host the World Cup or the Commonwealth Games," he said.

"If the government wants those sorts of events in New Zealand, then it needs to take a leadership role in ensuring they were able to happen."

The country's biggest rugby ground, Auckland's Eden Park, which will stage the Lions' third and final test next July, has a capacity of 48,000.

The venues for the other two tests, Wellington's Westpac Stadium and Christchurch's Jade Stadium, hold 37,000 and 40,000 respectively.

Tew said season ticket holders would account for many of the local sales. After adding in British and Irish tourist allocations, the NZRU allocation and tickets traditionally sent to clubs, general tickets to the public would be scarce.

New Zealand needed a stadium with a capacity of up to 70,000, he said.

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