RWC opening prompts ticket sale surge
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The Rugby World Cup (RWC) 2011 opened on Friday, with organisers reporting a significant surge in ticket sales as the tournament gets underway. Tournament organisers RNZ 2011 said they have now sold 1.2 million tickets, with sales revenue now totalling NZ$249 million (US$205 million), leaving NZ$19.5 million to reach the tournament-end target.
“We are now seeing sales of almost NZ$1 million a day,” said RNZ 2011’s Chief Operating Officer, Therese Walsh. “We always expected sales to rise as the tournament comes alive across the country so it’s great to see so many New Zealanders now wanting to be ringside.”
“Our advice to fans is to purchase tickets now and avoid disappointment or having to queue on match day,” Ms Walsh added.
The RWC 2011 was officially declared open in front of 60,000 fans at Auckland’s Eden Park on Friday. The tournament’s Chairman, Bernard Lapasset addressed the opening ceremony in Maori and English, backed-up by computer-generated images projected on the stadium’s surface and a cast of 1,000 performers and volunteers, culminating in a massive ‘haka’ – the pre-match war dance performed by New Zealand’s All Blacks side.
The All Blacks then opened the tournament with a 41-10 victory against South Pacific islanders Tonga.
Pic caption: Ben Youngs scores in England’s match against Argentina, wearing the European side’s controversial ‘all black’ kit (courtesy of Getty Images)
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