Largest NPC crowd for some time looms for Rugby Park
“With the All Blacks playing at 7 o’clock it has worked out really well. Town will get a real spike out of this weekend - hospitality and accommodation. We know the return it has for the city.”
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Rugby Southland officials are optimistic Saturday’s Stags Day fixture will see the largest NPC crowd show up to Rugby Park in many years.
In 2020 a crowd of about 7000 attended an NPC match between Southland and Taranaki at Rugby Park - a number that hasn’t been toppled since.
Although that day also included the popular Pack the Park charity fixture as a double-header.
“I think we can match that,” Rugby Southland commercial and marketing manager Jack King said about the potential crowd for the Southland-Otago showdown on Saturday.
As of Thursday morning, King said there were 1000 hospitality tickets sold across the ground and a further 1500 or so pre-sold general admission tickets.
Season membership sales were up by about 100 from last year.
“We are already at 2500 and with the weather playing its part, and being game one, I’ve got a pretty optimistic figure in my head. I think we can pull in 7000 people. It’s going to be big.”
A crowd around that 7000 mark would be a significant boost for Rugby Southland, and the NPC competition in general.
King acknowledged attendance numbers were down at Rugby Park last year, but he was buoyed by the interest in the lead-up to the 2024 campaign. He added that they have a real opportunity to create a new Stags fan base this season.
The plan is to try to roll the expected big crowd on Saturday into the Stags’ other four home games at Rugby Park this year.
At the second home fixture on Saturday, August 24, a fireworks display and live music performance will follow the Southland-Taranaki NPC game.
“We made it pretty clear we weren’t happy with the draw last year with three Sundays and a Wednesday [at Rugby Park]. I think New Zealand Rugby kind of knew we had the bad end of the stick with that, so we got three Saturdays, a Friday, and a Sunday this year.
“We are going to work hard and make hay while the sun shines,” King said.
King pointed out that the interest leading into Saturday was not just a boost for rugby in Southland but for Invercargill in general.
“With the All Blacks playing at 7 o’clock it has worked out really well. Town will get a real spike out of this weekend - hospitality and accommodation. We know the return it has for the city.”
Rugby Southland did not request for the annual Southland-Otago game to be played first-up this year. Although King said they did ask New Zealand Rugby officials for a certain day and time for Stag Day.
“We made it very clear it needed to be Saturday at 2 o’clock. We know that it is a very social occasion and the later it is the more difficult it can be. I think a bit of host responsibility kicked in.”
A significant contingent of Southlanders, who are now attending University in Dunedin, are expected to make the trip home for Stag Day.
On top of that will be the travelling Otago fans.
Invercargill Police have stated they will have a visible presence in the CBD this weekend as the city’s rugby fans prepare to celebrate Stag Day.
Southland Area Prevention Manager Acting Inspector Mel Robertson said with Southland facing Otago at Rugby Park Police are anticipating an influx of fans ahead of the big game.
“We’ll be out on the streets making sure people stay safe while they’re enjoying themselves. Our message to the revellers is look after yourself and your mates.
“If you and your friends have been drinking, arrange for a sober driver, or have a way to pay for a taxi home.
“There is a 24/7 alcohol ban in place around the Invercargill city centre and anyone breaching the alcohol ban will be liable to a fine.
“If you’re driving, expect to be breath-tested; slow down, keep your phone down, buckle up, and drive sober.
“We want to see everyone enjoying themselves and will have a zero-tolerance approach to violence and alcohol-related offending.”