MATCH FIT: The Rotorua International Stadium is as ready as it will ever be. Photo/Stephen Parker
MATCH FIT: The Rotorua International Stadium is as ready as it will ever be. Photo/Stephen Parker
There'll be plenty of food, drink, toilets and great rugby action, but organisers of tonight's Lions versus Maori All Blacks match are asking fans to bring patience and a positive attitude.
A total of 1000 staff have been employed to ensure the 28,500 ticket holders have a fun and safe time.
Rotorua Lakes Council operations and event development manager Crispian Stewart said among the workers were 250 security staff, 200 catering staff and 50 parking wardens.
When the Lions were last in Rotorua in 2005, the stadium was a sell-out with 32,000 people but a decision was made to cap the number at 28,500 this time.
"We've never tested the grass reserves area if it's wet but also having fewer makes it better to move around, get to the toilets, get to the food and drink stations and just makes sure the patrons' experience is a better one than being cramped in. You might make a few more dollars with more but it's not worth it."
Mr Stewart said there was a sell-out crowd of 26,000 for the World Cup match in Rotorua in 2011 between Ireland and Russia but the extra few thousand seats had been found for the Lions with temporary seating behind the dead ball areas.
The scoreboard is ready for tonight's game. Photo/Stephen Parker
He said having a quality curtain raiser with the Black Ferns versus England at 4.15pm would help alleviate traffic congestion at the start of the game.
However, fans were asked to be patient, particularly in food and drink queues and at the end of the game, where it could take up to an hour to move 28,500 people out of the ground, Mr Stewart said.
"We are putting in plenty of infrastructure to combat as much congestion as we can but people will need to be patient."
Eurest catering unit manager for the Energy Events Centre, which has the stadium contract, Steve McClay said they had 90,000 cans of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks ready.
He said the number was based on an average of two alcoholic and one non-alcoholic drink for each person.
He said staff would carefully manage alcohol intake with only four drinks allowed to be bought at once, which could be reduced throughout the night depending on the circumstances.
He said there would be queues and people would need to be patient.
"I would rather people have a safe and happy time than rush people through in an irresponsible way. You are there to enjoy a rugby game not to drink too much ... We want everyone to have a safe time and go home just as happy as they arrived."
He said there would be 15 vendors, most of which were locals, serving food including hot chips, hot dogs, American hot dogs, doner kebabs, pasta and wild food as well as the stadium kiosks operating.
Eurest was also responsible for feeding buffets and canapes for up to 500 people in the corporate boxes.
Kiosks inside the stadium would be selling food including fish and chips, nuggets, American hot dogs and pies.
Conditions of stadium entry * No alcohol * No chilly bins * No glass * No offensive weapons * No smoking in grandstand * No unsealed beverages * No animals * No professional photography or videography * No bicycles, skates, scooters and skateboards etc * No illegal substances * No gang patches * No commercial food
At the game * 90,000 drinks * 120 portaloos plus 100 stadium toilets * 15 food vendors * 250 security staff * 200 catering staff
