More seats for rugby

Artist's impression of the redeveloped Eden Park. Photo / Supplied

Capacity at Eden Park during the Rugby World Cup could surge higher than the expected 60,000 as bosses fine-tune preparations.

Up to 2000 extra seats could be needed to accommodate media and match officials from around the world.

Detailed plans are being drawn up for the next stage of construction which will include a giant hospitality tent on the No 2 ground.

Eden Park Trust chief executive David Kennedy said he had hired consultants to put together a resource consent application which would be filed with the new Supercity council in the next few months.

"There is a variety of specific things that are required that are not in the normal course of business," he said. "We have to provide a certain number of seats for patrons, media and other match officials. We don't know how many extra will be needed."

Rugby World Cup Limited, an arm of the International Rugby Board, will determine the exact number.

Work will begin next June on constructing the temporary seating to the park's existing capacity of 50,000.

Kennedy said a resource consent application was also being prepared for the extra power, water and food that would be needed to accommodate an additional 10,000 spectators. Approval would also be needed for matches which would start later in the day, he said.

"There could be 14 outdoor broadcast vans whereas normally we would have two. All that needs consent."

Kennedy was confident the application would go through without any hold ups.

Eden Park will host nine Rugby World Cup matches including the opening ceremony, both semifinals, third place playoff and the final.