Forsyth Barr Stadium ‘eager to welcome everyone back’

THERE may be a chance to get fans back at Forsyth Barr Stadium and work has begun on it.

Super Rugby Aotearoa starts on June 13, with the first game under the roof at Forsyth Barr Stadium, when the Highlanders host the Chiefs. All up, the stadium will play host to four games in the competition, but at this stage the games will be played behind closed doors.

However, with New Zealand having no confirmed cases of Covid19 in a week and no active cases in the South Island, there is hope the restrictions around crowds may be looked at in the next few weeks.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was set to look at the levels on June 8 and would make a decision no later than June 22 about moving alert levels.

That had lit the flame for Super Rugby teams and stadiums who want to get crowds back and aid their balance sheets.

DVML marketing and communications manager Kim Barnes said nothing had been set in stone, but stadium staff had looked at various scenarios.

‘‘We haven’t had any formal talks but we are making plans for various scenarios, should the government give the goahead to host more than 100 at an event,’’ she said.

‘‘When we have confirmation of what would be permitted we will be able to provide more detail on how we can best host specific numbers of fans under the roof, as we are eager to welcome everyone back as soon as we can.’’

The stadium had many corporate suites and dining areas in its main stand which would easily meet social distancing requirements. The stadium holds more the 20,000 even if the Otago Daily

stand end of the ground does not have any seating installed.

Other stadiums will be keen to get crowds through the gate as the competition gets under way. The competition runs through to mid August with the Mitre 10 Cup set to be start on September 11.