All Blacks: Eden Park still good test bet despite renovation
New Zealand Herald, 31 August 2008
…The All Blacks are scheduled to play France twice in June [2009], then Italy, followed by two tests against the Wallabies and one against South Africa.
This year Wellington and Auckland were awarded two tests each, with Christchurch and Dunedin picking up tests against England and South Africa respectively….
Eden Park Trust chief executive John….Alexander said he is expecting to hear from the New Zealand Rugby Union in the next week or so where they intend to play tests in 2009.
Assuming Wellington and Auckland pick up three tests between them, it is probable Christchurch will be the venue for the South Africa test, with Dunedin winning the right to host the French.
The Italian test is expected to be given to a smaller venue, with Waikato, North Harbour and New Plymouth hoping to get lucky.
The allocation of All Blacks tests is one of the more contentious issues for the NZRU. Hosting a test can boost a local economy by millions of dollars and the NZRU has a stated policy of spreading games across the country to give more people an opportunity to see the All Blacks live.
Against that, though, they need to maximise returns from ticket and corporate hospitality sales…
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» French renege on touring deal …However, patience is thin on the ground in New Zealand. Fans have been voting with their feet unwilling to part with top dollar for mediocre tests.
