KEY POINTS:
Waikato rugby fans are upset their city will at best get to host the 2011 Rugby World Cup's version of the booby prize.
Despite the city hosting more than 170,000 people at the recent Hamilton 400 V8 series, the city's main rugby stadium looks set to miss out on the business end of the Rugby World Cup in 2011, with the third and fourth playoff game its best bet.
Waikato Rugby Union marketing manager Pat Mellsop said it was "highly unlikely" Waikato Stadium would host a Rugby World Cup quarter-final in three years' time.
He said the stadium's maximum temporary seating had been increased to accommodate 30,000 people but this was short of the 35,000 benchmark Rugby World Cup officials are wanting for the quarter-final stage onwards.
Just three grounds - Eden Park in Auckland, the Westpac Stadium in Wellington and Christchurch's AMI Stadium - meet the organisers' 35,000-person criterion, and the revamped Eden Park is leading the charge to host the semifinals and final.
Mr Mellsop said Rugby World Cup 2011 would release information for submissions on playoff games this Friday but "clearly we don't meet the criteria for quarter-finals".
"It's just the reality of it all. It's a big event. The games are going to be spread around New Zealand and we'll make sure we're a part of the mix."
But Waikato rugby stalwart Andrew Strawbridge said it would be "incredibly disappointing" to miss out on hosting a quarter-final, "particularly on the back of the good job we've done hosting big events here recently".
Strawbridge, who played "130-something games" for Waikato over 13 seasons and is skills coach for the New Zealand under-20 rugby team, said the city was "ideally placed" to host another big match.
"We would have no trouble filling the stadium - people could come here easily from Auckland, Tauranga, Rotorua and, of course, from here."
His view was supported by former Waikato second five-eighths and All Black Matthew Cooper, now chief executive of Sport Waikato.
"If people look at the recently completed V8 series and how well the stadium did hosting the Lions a few years back they would realise this is a proactive place that is challenging the big boys in terms of events.
"In saying that, I'd be very disappointed if the city wasn't considered."
Hamilton Mayor Bob Simcock remained optimistic and said Hamilton's record of supporting rugby matches in the city should not be overlooked.
