Netball: Charter plane flies touch of Magic to deep south

The Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic are trying to ensure Stadium Southland has at least a sprinkling of Magic fans for the much-anticipated National Bank Cup final on Friday.

The Magic lost their home advantage after Netball New Zealand rejected Tauranga's Queen Elizabeth Youth Centre as a final venue.

To get some fans to the game in Invercargill the Magic franchise has organised a chartered flight, which will stop at Hamilton and Tauranga en route to Invercargill. It will return immediately after the game.

The plane seats 146 people and costs around $383 a person.

"Invercargill is difficult to get in and out of and it costs something like $700, so we believe this offers people something quite exciting," Magic chief executive Sheryl Dawson said.

"The $383 covers their tickets and transfers, and we'll probably do a little corporate special as well."

Stadium Southland seats around 4000 - and the loudest and most loyal netball fans in the country.

But Dawson is confident the small Magic crowd will make their presence felt.

"We know that there are a lot of people down that way - visiting students at university - who have rung and asked for tickets so that is good."

The Magic will receive 30 per cent of the gate takings from the match, less than if they were hosting the match themselves.

"We run matches very cost effectively so for us it is a significant loss of revenue," Dawson said.

* Those interested in buying a ticket on the chartered flight can contact Calder and Lawson in Hamilton or Shane Kennedy at House of Travel, Tauranga.