Argentina test worth $3 million

The All Blacks - Argentina match in McLean Park last September contributed much to the Hawke's Bay economy.

Last September's rugby test in Napier between the All Blacks and Argentina contributed $3 million to the Hawke's Bay economy, according to a consultant's report commissioned by Napier City Council.

Economist Sean Bevin's analysis of the impact of the game was summarised in a report prepared for the council's economic development committee by the council's economic development manager, James Rowe.

It said the game, which drew a sell-out crowd of 22,390, attracted an estimated 7840 visitors to the region and contributed about $3 million to Hawke's Bay's GDP.

Total visitor spend was estimated at $4.12 million.

"Given the scale and status of the test match, the match provided a further major external domestic and international market profile opportunity for Napier and the wider Hawke's Bay region," Mr Rowe said in his report.

"The rugby test provided an important further tourism sector development opportunity for the city and region," he said.

The council's contribution to the test included providing the Rugby Union with a $250,000 grant, equal to the cost of hiring McLean Park where the game was played.

The report says the council had a further $73,000 of operational costs associated with running the event.

"These costs should sit with the venue hirer [the Rugby Union] however as the match budget has still not been finalised the distribution of these costs into the match budget has yet to occur," Mr Rowe's report said.

The $3 million boost in GDP meant that for every $1 the council invested, it received a $9.28 return, the report said.