And while the stadium building itself would be finished on time, other building at the site would be going "to the wire", Dunedin Venues Management Ltd (DVML) chief executive David Davies said yesterday.
The timelines were tight and the big screen, for instance, was arriving about the same time as the first game, between North Otago and West Coast on August 7.
While it was expected to be in place for the game, Mr Davies said he wanted punters to be aware the first game, in particular, was a test for the venue.
"I can't guarantee by August 7 everything will be finished," Mr Davies said. "I have to remind people we were always going to use those events as tests."
Mr Davies said the stadium building would be completed on time.
The process for opening the venue would begin in August, with a handover on August 1, an official opening by Prime Minister John Key on Friday, August 5, and a mana whenua dawn blessing by local iwi.
Mr Davies said around that time, keys would be handed over and people would start moving into their new offices.
But he said those approaching from Anzac Ave would see work under way at the University of Otago building. The outside of that was expected to be finished by the World Cup, but the whole building would not be finished until December 1.
Work would also be under way on the Academy of Sport building - planned to be completed by the World Cup, despite piling work having only begun at the end of May. "That will really go to the wire prior to the World Cup," Mr Davies said.
It was now known catering equipment for the stadium would be a week or so late.
By August 17, when Manawatu plays Otago in the ITM Cup, "everything should be ship-shape".
Mr Davies said 2000 tickets had been sold for the North Otago game, and he was still confident of between 7000 and 10,000 turning up for the event.
