Rare sell out possible at Carisbrook

Tomorrow's rugby clash between the Lions and Otago could prove to be a modern day exception at Carisbrook by selling out.

Otago Rugby Union (ORU) chief executive Russell Gray remained confident that the fifth match of the Lions tour would be played before a capacity crowd of 30,000, even though there were still 4000 unsold tickets yesterday, most costing $80 each.

Gray estimated about 27,500 would have sold by tomorrow afternoon, with the conditions dictating whether a walk-up crowd would fill the remaining seats.

A sellout would be a pleasant surprise for Gray as the ORU expected only major tests to be played in front of a full house at the famous ground.

"The days of selling out for Super 12 or Super 14 are well gone," Gray said.

"It's allowed us to be a bit more realistic about the numbers we can expect. So if we have a crowd here of somewhere between 12-15,000 for a big game, we're pretty happy with that."

One reason for the dropping numbers was a greater financial commitment for the large university student population in the southern city. They were now more discretionary with their money, Gray said.

"Often they're looking at the opportunity to watch the game on a big screen at a hotel or sit around at a student flat with a dozen cans they bought at the supermarket."

However, Gray said crowd numbers were better than Otago's halcyon days in the 1990s. He noted that just 15,000 people watched their defeat of the 1993 Lions at Carisbrook.

Ticket sales were even slower for Tuesday's game against Southland at Invercargill, with 6000 still available yesterday.

The final provincial match, against Auckland on July 5 had nearly sold out, with just 400 tickets remaining yesterday.

- NZPA