Lions tickets to cost up to $300

1.00pm

A public ballot for tickets to rugby matches during next year's Lions tour of New Zealand was confirmed this morning and some supporters will have to pay up to $300 for test tickets.

A New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) press conference this morning announced details of the ballot, a first in New Zealand rugby.

NZRU media manager Joe Locke said in a statement that an estimated 150,000 tickets would be available via public ballot for the eight-match, three-test series beginning on June 4 in Rotorua.

NZRU deputy chief executive Steve Tew described the Lions tour as one of the biggest sporting events seen in New Zealand.

"The union wanted a fair, balanced and transparent system that gave everyone the chance to see the Lions play," he said in a statement.

"We expect that demand will far outweigh supply and by holding a ballot, we're giving everyone the chance to buy a ticket."

The NZRU has decided on different "weightings" for different groups in the ballot.

Members of the rugby community, season pass holders or those who live within a provincial union where the Lions are playing a provincial match will have a greater chance in the ballot.

Tourism New Zealand said the tour was expected to attract up to 15,000 British and Irish visitors who could bring in more than $50m in foreign exchange.

"We want to send these visitors back to the UK as 'walking brochures' for New Zealand," Tourism New Zealand chief executive George Hickton said in a statement today.

He said the tour was a great opportunity to showcase the country to visitors from one of New Zealand's biggest markets.

"We want to help ensure that not only the accommodation and transport infrastructure in New Zealand is set to deal with the influx of visitors, but that the welcome mat is put out everywhere that they go.

"For many of these visitors this trip is a holiday of a lifetime. They will want to get out to the regions and experience what New Zealand has to offer," Mr Hickton said.

The United Kingdom is New Zealand's second-largest market, with 279,036 visitors in the year ended July 2004.

Lions tour schedule 2005

June 4 v Bay of Plenty, Rotorua International Stadium, Rotorua

June 8 v Taranaki, Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth

June 11 v New Zealand Maori, Waikato Stadium, Hamilton

June 15 v Wellington, Westpac Stadium, Wellington

June 18 v Otago, Carisbrook, Dunedin

June 21 v Southland, Rugby Park Stadium, Invercargill

June 25 v New Zealand – 1st Test, Jade Stadium, Christchurch

June 28 v Manawatu, Arena Manawatu, Palmerston North

July 2 v New Zealand – 2nd Test, Westpac Stadium, Wellington

July 5 v Auckland, Eden Park, Auckland

July 9 v New Zealand – 3rd Test, Eden Park, Auckland

- NZPA, allblacks.com