Thousands move early for World Cup tickets

Rugby World Cup 2011 organisers received a massive boost on day one of the global ticketing application phase as thousands of fans both in New Zealand and around the world moved quickly to secure Team and Venue Packs for the tournament.

Download photos from the 500 Days to Go event at the Wellington Railway Station >>

To mark 500 days to go until the start of next year's Rugby showpiece, applications opened at 9am in New Zealand on 27 April and by the end of the first day there had been over 25,000 applications, equating to 90,000 tickets.

The Rugby community within New Zealand has also pre-ordered 14,500 packs and this total revenue, along with the opening day of global applications, has already exceeded the total ticket revenue of the Lions tour to New Zealand in 2005.

The application phase is open until 21 May and allows the global public to apply for packs for all teams and all venues.

"It's an encouraging start and is in line with what we expected after 50,000 fans pre-registered their interest in purchasing packs over the last month," said Martin Snedden, CEO for Tournament Organiser, Rugby New Zealand 2011 (RNZ 2011).

"This is a global event and the rest of the world is certainly waking up to the fact that a Rugby World Cup in a country so passionate about the Game will be a special time in this country.

"It's really important that Kiwis avoid being disappointed and take advantage of this phase of ticketing if they are going to secure the seats they want at this Tournament.

"As we have always said, RWC 2011 will be a fantastic celebration of Rugby and New Zealand. It won't be returning in a hurry so now is the time for Kiwi fans to get behind the Tournament. To really experience the excitement of this event, we say to fans you have to be there," added Snedden.

"Once again, Rugby's global family has underlined its extraordinary passion for the game ahead of this, the seventh Rugby World Cup," said Rugby World Cup Limited (RWCL) Chairman Bernard Lapasset.

"Those that have their tickets safely secured can now look forward to experiencing a Tournament that will celebrate Rugby at its best and showcase New Zealand's wonderful hospitality and heritage. It will be an event not to be missed."

To mark the significant milestone, RNZ also took the Webb Ellis Cup to the Wellington Railway Station, where 18,000 commuters pass through between the hours of 7am and 9am. The public were invited to have their photos taken with the Cup, which they could then download for free from www.flickr.com/rugbyworldcup.

"Today has been a special milestone for RNZ 2011 with just 500 days to go to kickoff so it was wonderful to see so many fans grabbing a moment with the Rugby World Cup, the Webb Ellis Cup, at Wellington Railway Station this morning," added Snedden.

Full ticket information is available at www.rugbyworldcup.com/tickets. Tickets will be sold in three phases, beginning with Venue and Team Pool Packs. Phase two in August/September involves individual ticket sales. Ballots will be held for tickets to the semi-finals and Final in the third phase near the end of 2010.