Welcome to the Barmy Army's headquarters

The Barmy Army rolled out the heavy artillery yesterday morning - a 40ft-long mobile headquarters with a hot tub, merchandising area and stage from which to launch its antics.

The Army already has negotiated the locations of nine bases in New Zealand, the largest of which will be in Auckland's Viaduct Harbour Marine Village. But the mobile unit offers something else.

"You press the button, it opens up, and who knows what's inside," Barmy Army pointman Freddie Parker said. "Having a mobile unit like that as part of our convoy is fantastic."

Mounted on top of an 18-wheel truck, the container - minus the hot tub - will be travelling the Lions tour circuit. Fans visiting Barmy Army bases will be able to access email and message boards, post their Barmy photos and buy Lions gear.

They will also be able to find a good time. "It will be at all of our Barmy Army bases. We'll have VIP parties, some bands will play and we'll have some surprises as well," Mr Parker said. None of the plans have been finalised.

The newest addition to the Barmy arsenal was designed in New Zealand for the tourism publication Arrival Magazine, which is sponsoring its activities.

The truck is stationed in Auckland, where Mr Parker expects up to 25,000 Lions fans to make their way to the old Alinghi and Team New Zealand headquarter sheds in Viaduct Harbor.

They will be in the country for three reasons: to watch the rugby, to socialise with a beer and to meet locals.

Officials fearing an uncontrolled crowd in the central business district appear happy with the Viaduct Harbour venue chosen as a meeting place for supporters with stages for "kiwi experience" demonstrations such as sheep shearing.

Graeme Osborne, chief executive of Tourism Auckland, said the city expected between 20,000 and 25,000 international visitors to Auckland. "Auckland is well prepared to welcome these visitors and show them a fantastic time," he said.

Mr Parker's worry is transport.

"The problem that Auckland has is that it does not have a transport infrastructure to move away from the CBD. There is nowhere really we can go to."

He said a centrally located base was required near hotels but away from major housing. The Viaduct Harbour venue was fantastic, he said.

"The fans are not going to want to travel for 20 to 25 minutes to get somewhere."

A marquee set up in the Britomart precinct is not preferred because it will not be big enough and additional premises would be required leading to the site being less controlled. The cost of installing temporary facilities also counts against Britomart, which will be a back-up venue.

All going to plan the Viaduct Harbour venue will be commissioned at the beginning of June with its use expected to peak during the last two weeks of the tour. The design of the old Alinghi and Team New Zealand buildings means activity zones can be opened up as the tour progresses.

Mr Parker said the Barmy Army had 42,500 members after being formed 10 years ago.

"It was named during the 1994-95 Ashes Tour of Australia. The more we lost against the Australians the more we partied and drank ... We made up silly songs about the Australians and about ourselves.

The England cricket team won the final test, however, leaving a series result of four to one.

"The Australian media could not understand that although we were losing so heavily the fans were still happy to party and sing so they named them the Barmy Army - a group of 100 guys."