McLean Park was sodden yesterday but this week's rain hasn't dampened fans' enthusiasm for the All Blacks test on Saturday. Photo / Supplied
The possibility of rain on the night of the All Blacks clash with Argentina has not put last-minute ticket buyers off.
"We've only got about 200 left," Hawke's Bay Rugby Union commercial manager Jay Campbell said late yesterday afternoon.
He expected the "sold-out" signs signalling a capacity crowd of 22,500 to go up some time today.
"Get in if you want to get in," was his advice.
Since the All Blacks touched down at Hawke's Bay Airport on Sunday morning, the late sales have accelerated.
Mr Campbell said devising the seating and ticketing requirements for such a major event had been challenging.
"It's OK when you do the CAD (computer-aided design) drawing on the screen but it becomes a different story when you begin putting it together on the ground."
Signage, regulatory passageways and sighting requirements came into play - and with one section of stands with 20 rows they discovered a late glitch as it was too close to the ground and did not fit regulatory rules.
"We had to take three rows off the bottom - but we placed those people who would have been there in the other stands - everyone is happy."
He said the bonus for the Napier City Council and the rugby union was that what they had put in place for the test was a secure blueprint for future major events at the park.
"We were the guinea pigs with this one but it's come together."
The ticket focus had now switched to the Magpies September 14 Ranfurly Shield defence against Otago at McLean Park.
"It's early days but they're starting to go pretty well," Mr Campbell said.
About 500 were sold on Monday and more than 200 yesterday.
For Otago, it will be an occasion identical to the Magpies challenge against Counties last weekend where they took the shield off the team which had taken it from them.
Last season, Hawke's Bay took the famous "Log O' Wood" off Otago.
With a huge crowd expected, the union will keep the 9000-seat temporary grandstand on the embankment area and the seating in front of the Harris stand in place for the match.
While the Harris stand set-up would then be taken down, the main embankment stand would remain until the side's final challenge of the season against Wellington - should they stave off Otago and Bay of Plenty.
Buy tickets
• Tickets can be bought at ticketdirect.co.nz; or 0800 224224; or in person at HB Rugby Union office, McLean Park.
• Ticket prices for the seating in front of the Harris Stand are $17.50; for the big embankment stand it is $12.50 for adults and $7.50 for children
'It can be quite amusing to watch ... it's not so amusing to clean up.'