With revenue from ticket sales having already exceeded any previous rugby league event in this country, Auckland's NRL Nines tournament appears likely to be a success.
Event promoter David Higgins said general admission ticket sales for the February 15 and 16 tournament had already passed the five-figure mark, generating over $1.5 million in revenue.
The previous highest gate take for a league event is understood to be about $1 million for a sold-out Warriors finals match at Mt Smart Stadium.
"We're currently in the region of $1.5 million revenue on general admission gate alone," Mr Higgins said.
The encouraging early ticket sales figures, which include over 10,000 sales to key market Australia, indicated the event - which is backed by up to $12 million of ratepayer money over the next five years - would be a financial success.