KEY POINTS:
Warriors rugby league fans have given the thumbs-up to a two-year trial of smoke-free seating areas at Mt Smart Stadium games.
The Warriors franchise brought in the ban in March 2007 in the hope of showing young fans that smoking and sport do not mix.
It applies to all seated areas, including corporate boxes and grandstands.
A new survey shows 95 per cent of patrons support the move - 15 per cent more than in a survey at the end of the first season.
About 20 per cent of patrons surveyed said they smoked and 21 per cent said they had quit.
"There's no question that smoke-free has been positive ... It's far more inviting, and for people with families they are conscious of the need for a smoke-free environment," said Vodafone Warriors ambassador Peter Leitch, the "Mad Butcher".
"This stadium is to be congratulated for it. Personally, myself and my family prefer it smoke-free and we enjoy the stadium."
The survey was commissioned by stadium owner Auckland Regional Council.
Stadium manager John Lynch said yesterday that smoke-free seating was also on trial for the Counties Manukau Steelers' Air New Zealand Cup games at Mt Smart.
"Effectively, we have it for all events at the stadium except for the Big Day Out. It's impossible to enforce where you have 40,000 people walking around."
Mr Lynch said there were designated smoking areas at the rear of the stands out of public sight with planter boxes full of sand for cigarette butts.
"We have not had any negative comments from smokers or non-smokers."
The smoke-free move is backed by the ARC, Cancer Society, Health Sponsorship Council and Action on Smoking & Health (ASH).
