No evidence of Fifa Under-20 World Cup benefits

Phil Sentch, Northland's New Zealand Hospitality representative, said the four Toll Stadium games had virtually no impact on Whangarei's hospitality scene. Photo: Michael Cunningham.

Hosting four games of the Fifa Under-20 World Cup cost Whangarei District Council $648,000 with a further $1.7 million spent on sports fields and facilities in the lead up to the tournament.

But feedback on the benefits has been mixed, despite organisers saying before the show went ahead it could bring $3.5 million into Whangarei's economy.

Phil Sentch, Northland's New Zealand Hospitality representative, said the four Toll Stadium games had virtually no impact on Whangarei's hospitality scene.

"We traded as per usual, as if it were a normal week. I expected a lot more," Mr Sentch, who owns Rynoz Bar & Grill on Cameron St, said.

A pre-tournament economic impact assessment estimated an extra $3.5 million would be pumped into Whangarei's economy - $1.87 million from New Zealand Football and Fifa delivering the event, $1.04 million from international visitors and $760,000 domestically.

Exact figures on how much did come into the district are not known, but Whangarei District Council economic development manager Peter Gleeson said he had heard anecdotally that many businesses had benefited from the increase in visitors.

Northland Chamber of Commerce chief executive Tony Collins said between 3000 and 5000 people attended each match, although the timing of games - in the early and mid-afternoon - may have compromised the benefits for hospitality businesses.

"Mid-week games in the early afternoon are not the best time slots to be looking at for hospitality use," Mr Collins said.

About 18,000 people attended each of the three sell-out Rugby World Cup matches Toll Stadium hosted in 2011. Last year's Four Nations rugby league match was also much more popular than the Fifa games, Mr Collins said.

Mr Gleeson said the council allocated $1,624,405 over the past two years to build four new fields, a $410,000 clubhouse and a $45,000 light pole at the new Koropupu Community Sports Park at Springs Flat.

The funding came from Parks and Reserves Capital Works, not the Fifa budget. An additional $80,000 was spent sprucing up Toll Stadium.

Mr Gleeson said the work met Fifa's requirements as well as the need for more sports fields in the district.

For the bid itself, the council allocated a $558,000 budget, which cost $10,000 to put together. On top of this, $80,000 went to the Local Organising Committee.

The $558,000 covered $85,000 spent ensuring training venues were up to scratch. General hosting costs of $140,000 covered city decorating, events like the long brunch, the Fifa fan zone, team receptions and marketing.

Just over $330,000 went on venue hire, electricity, security, cleaning, temporary toilet hire, seating and staffing.

Mr Gleeson said it was great to see local businesses embrace the tournament and its "feel good" factor by decorating accordingly.

There is no doubt that the tournament helped Whangarei move on to the world stage, he said. "Whangarei received glowing reports through the international media and from Fifa officials. We have shown that we are capable of playing in the big sandpit."

Northern Football development officer Dave Alabaster said the tournament had been a "magnificent" event for Whangarei and had opened people's eyes to world class football.