The shows will go on, and the stadiums won’t be empty
America’s Cup sailing will resume on Wednesday, while cricket, netball and rugby can finally put tickets on sale for their big events tomorrow.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s announcement yesterday of a shift in Covid-19 alert levels (Auckland from 3 to 2, and the rest of New Zealand from 2 to 1) as of 6am tomorrow was welcomed around the country.
Race one of the America’s Cup match between Team New Zealand and Italy’s Luna Rossa will be sailed on Auckland Harbour onwednesday, but without crowds under level 2.
In Wellington, tickets went on sale almost immediately for tomorrow’s cricket double-header at Sky Stadium, with the Black Caps facing Australia at noon and the White Ferns meeting England at 4pm.
The sides were playing behind closed doors yesterday, as they did on Wednesday.
In Christchurch the Silver Ferns will have fans at Horncastle Arena for the fourth and final Constellation Cup test tomorrow, after the first two were closed to the paying public, as today’s third test will be.
Also in Christchurch, the defending Super Rugby Aotearoa champions the Crusaders will have fans at Orangetheory Stadium when they host the Hurricanes tomorrow, a match that was shifted back a day due to the alert level.
A big day on the racing calendar – Derby Day at Ellerslie in Auckland, of which the highlight is the New Zealand Derby – will also go ahead, albeit without crowds.
The America’s Cup will start on Wednesday, with the first two of up to 13 races between Team New Zealand and Luna Rossa, but with restricted crowd numbers on Auckland’s waterfront. Both the defender and challenger had previously agreed to the Wednesday start providing Auckland was moved out of Covid-19 alert level 3.
Two races a day are scheduled on Wednesday, Friday, and through the weekend to Monday at least, with
Sunday being the earliest date for one team to secure the seven wins needed for victory.
New Zealand Cricket confirmed tomorrow’s double-header would be open to the public at the 30,000-capacity Sky Stadium.
NZC had been relatively fortunate in terms of alert levels this season, with West Indies and Pakistan touring and playing with no crowd restrictions. Yesterday’smatches were initially set for Auckland’s Eden Park and tomorrow’s for Bay Oval in Tauranga, but were both moved to the capital at the request of the Australian team, so they could fly out of Wellington.
NZC chief executive David White said the locked stadiums on Wednesday and yesterday cost it an estimated $1.4 million in gate takings, or 56,000 fans who were expected in Wellington and Auckland.
The easing of alert levels was welcome news for the Crusaders, who have had their fingers crossed NZ Rugby’s decision to push their homeopener against the Hurricanes back a day would pay off. Now, they can open the Orangetheory Stadium gates to fans, generating much needed revenue for the reigning champions. A sold-out match at the temporary 17,400 capacity ground generates about $350,000 for the Crusaders.