Cricket: Sell-out crowds expected in city

Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull and White Fern Suzie Bates launch a campaign for ICC Cricket World Cup...
Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull and White Fern Suzie Bates launch a campaign for ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 tickets in the Octagon yesterday. Photo by Gerard O'Brien.
The ''affordable'' tickets prices for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 pool matches will have University Oval in Dunedin at capacity, says Mayor Dave Cull.

Mr Cull said he would be at all three Dunedin pool games and he expected sell-out crowds at the University Oval.

''I think the games will be full. I think it is fantastic and a real opportunity for families to enjoy top-class cricket at an affordable price.''

It was announced yesterday prices for pool matches tickets will be $5 for children and from $20 for adults.

ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 spokeswoman Therese Walsh said she expected high demand for tickets.

''What we've announced today is pricing that makes it affordable for fans and families to get among the action and see the best teams and best players going head to head in our backyard.''

The tournament, hosted by Australia and New Zealand, will feature 49 matches, in 44 days, in 14 cities, including Dunedin, Christchurch, Nelson, Wellington, Napier, Hamilton and Auckland.

Adult tickets to a quarterfinal in Wellington will cost between $50 and $150, and adult semifinal tickets in Auckland will cost between $65 and $195.

Children's tickets for a quarterfinal will cost $20, semifinals $30 and the final $60.

A child is a person aged 16 and younger on match day.

White Fern Suzie Bates said she was looking forward to watching Afghanistan play in Dunedin.

The embankment at the University Oval was the best place to watch cricket in New Zealand, she said.

''It will be a cool atmosphere.''

Otago Cricket marketing manager Andy McLean said he expected the tournament to be well supported in Dunedin.

''We have a nice-size venue for the kind of games we are hosting and we are hosting them at a time of year which will suit the students.''

The team to play the Black Caps in Dunedin would be determined at a New Zealand tournament in January next year.

The teams yet to qualify should not be disregarded, such as Kenya which made a ''splash'' in the 2003 World Cup by making the semifinals.

Tickets go on sale from February 14 next year, but people can register for pre-sale tickets at www.cricketworldcup.com

- .shawn.mcavinue@odt.co.nz


ICC Cricket World Cup 2015
• Hosted by New Zealand and Australia.
• 14 teams: New Zealand, Australia, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, England, India, Ireland, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, West Indies, Zimbabwe and two other nations yet to qualify.
• 14 host cities: Dunedin, Christchurch, Nelson, Wellington, Napier Hamilton, Auckland, Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.
• Every visiting team plays in both countries.
• Three pool matches in each host city.
• At University Oval in Dunedin: Black Caps play a team yet to qualify on February 17; Sri Lanka play Afghanistan on February 22; Afghanistan play a team yet to qualify on February 26.


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