The Otago Rugby Football Union will open just the two sides of Carisbrook for national provincial competition games and has also produced a club card as it tries to cater for a different market for the forthcoming season.
Union chief executive Richard Reid said with crowds in the national provincial competition not growing, it was better to have the crowd sit on just the sides of the ground, which would hopefully create a better atmosphere.
Patrons could sit or stand on the terrace or sit in the main stand but would not be able to sit in the Rose or Railway stands, and the bulk of the Neville St stand.
There would be a small part of the Neville St stand open as a family section.
There will be two ticket prices: $20 for the main stand, and $15 for the terrace, and children under 18 will be free.
The terrace will be roped between the two 22m marks for the crowds to stand there.
Union commercial manager Mike Kerr said the idea was about trying to get people closer together and create a better atmosphere.
"Human beings, being what they are, try to sit as far as possible away from each other.
"But if we force them to sit together then hopefully they will have a better time," Kerr said.
He said if the crowds built up, stands might be opened up.
The concept was popular overseas with stands closed off for certain games, and Kerr could see the idea catching on around the country.
Ground members in the main stand would be compensated by additional tickets.
With Otago struggling to draw crowds of more than 4000 for most games, the ground, which held more than 28,000 for the test last month, had an empty look about it at times last year.
The first home match is against Southland on August 7, and could possibly be a Ranfurly Shield challenge if Otago defeats Wellington in its challenge on July 31.
Carisbrook has been a busy place this year with nearly double the amount of use it had last year.
There have been premier, colts and country games played as well as rounds of schoolboy games.
Meanwhile, the union has printed a club card, which has been distributed to all rugby club members throughout Otago.
Kerr said card-holders would be able to get into Carisbrook for Air New Zealand Cup games for $10 in the main stand and $5 on the terrace.
The cards had proved popular, he said, especially with country clubs, and the union had distributed 5000 of them.
