Date set for 2011 World Cup venues decision

The decision on which venues will host World Cup quarter-final matches in 2011 is expected to be announced in early September.

Wellington, Christchurch and Auckland have submitted bids to host quarter-final matches with Auckland (Eden Park or North Harbour Stadium) and Hamilton bidding for the third-fourth place play-off game.

Auckland’s revamped Eden Park has already been selected to host the semi-finals and final.

Rugby New Zealand (RNZ) 2011 Ltd chief executive Martin Snedden admitted trying to balance the concept of a “stadium of four million”, a theme which was heavily promoted in New Zealand’s hosting bid to the International Rugby Board, and the financial requirements would be difficult.

RNZ 2011 Ltd were keen to ensure the World Cup remained a tournament for the whole country and was not just seen as an Auckland tournament even though the financial return from holding matches in Auckland would be greater than elsewhere in the country due to the size of the stadiums.

Eden Park’s capacity will be 60,000 for the tournament, while AMI Stadium in Christchurch will hold 45,000 and Wellington’s Westpac Stadium 40,000.

“There are tensions between those strategic goals and, as a result, there is a delicate balancing exercise to be undertaken when we are assessing the various proposals and venue allocation option,” Snedden said.

Rugby World Cup Ltd (RWCL), a subsidiary of the IRB, has stated a preference for two cities to host two quarter-finals but Snedden said they would consider the possibility of three venues being used as was the case at last year’s tournament in France.

“We would prefer to wait to see what is in the regional hosting proposals before we form a view about whether our preference would be to use two or three cities,” he added.

“If we then take a position that three cities is our preference, we will then have to work with RWCL to resolve the matter.”

Six options are being considered for the quarter-finals which include Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington getting either one or two matches each or two of the cities getting two games each.

The RNZ 2011 board will review the applications at their board meeting on August 12 and will put forward a recommendation to the RWCL board which will meet on September 3 and an announcement is expected shortly after that.