Sydney Tri-Nations big kick for economy

The cash flows when the All Blacks and Wallabies meet. Photo / Getty Images

Rugby tests between New Zealand and Australia in Sydney have nearly double the economic impact of many other Tri-Nations games, according to a survey that estimates the 2010 Tri-Nations Championship will have a US$174.3 million ($240 million) economic impact across the Southern Hemisphere.

Research prepared by the Centre for the International Business of Sport Coventry University said 2010 attendance figures had risen to nearly half a million, from 450,000 last year.

The survey estimated a US$28 million impact on the Sydney economy from a match between Australia and New Zealand, but the Auckland economy only gets an US$8 million boost from hosting South Africa and Wellington gets US$11 million.

The Melbourne economy gets a US$16 million boost from hosting Australia against New Zealand. The Johannesburg economy gets a US$19.6 million boost from a match between South Africa and New Zealand, while the Pretoria economy gets a US$9.2 million boost from hosting Australia.

Inclusion in the competition from 2012 should boost the Argentine economy by US$8 million to US$12 million for each match hosted in the country.

- NZPA