Canterbury and Crusaders rugby has slashed season ticket prices by over 60 per cent for some seats in an attempt to lure fans back to AMI Stadium.
Supporters will be able to get a season ticket in the new Deans Stand for as little as $3.69 per week, while the elite Platinum tickets have been reduced by $142.50 to $392.50 for the new season. A season ticket covers all round-robin matches for both Canterbury and Crusaders rugby, plus it gives the owner the right to purchase a Test ticket in their own seat.
Hamish Riach, chief executive of Canterbury and Crusaders rugby, said that the number of season ticket holders at AMI Stadium had dwindled in recent years for a myriad of reasons, but with the new stand about to be opened and the two teams playing extremely well, the only thing now missing was the fans.
“We know from our research that one of the concerns has been price, and we are doing something about it. We have listened and now we are acting,” he said.
Adult prices range from $392.50 for Platinum tickets in the Deans Stand down to $117.50 in either the Tui or Hadlee stands. Children’s prices range from $153.50 in the Deans or Paul Kelly Stand to $84.50 in the Tui or Hadlee stands.
“We have also introduced a range of very flexible options for payment, starting weekly. We acknowledge that this has been a tough year for both the New Zealand economy and many New Zealanders, so by introducing these flexible options we want to make it as affordable as possible for Cantabrians to be able to enjoy their two rugby teams,” he said.
Canterbury and Crusaders rugby has already contacted both existing and former season ticket holders with the new offer and was planning a couple of open days at AMI Stadium towards the end of January.
Dick Tayler, president of the Canterbury Rugby Supporters’ Club, said the new season ticket prices, plus the fact that the Supporters’ Club was close to an agreement with the Rugby Union to have a base back at AMI Stadium, was all great news.
“The Supporters’ Club and the general public have been hamstrung in the last few years with the redevelopment of AMI, but everyone is looking forward with optimism to the 2010 season. At the Supporters’ Club we plan to undertake a big drive to rebuild our membership base and also to get in behind the Canterbury Rugby Union.
“Both the Crusaders and Canterbury sides are playing attractive, successful rugby, we have world class facilities – all we need is fans returning to roll back the years to those great eras in the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s,” he said.
For the Rugby World Cup, season ticket holders will get a Priority Booking Period, before the public release of tickets, to apply for one ticket to each of the pool matches at AMI Stadium. They’ll also have the option of applying for a Quarter-Final Weekend Pack for either Wellington or Christchurch and/or the Bronze final.
The season ticket offers close on January 31, 2010. Supporters also have the opportunity to buy a 2011 season ticket at 2010 prices by the same date. Rugby New Zealand 2011 Ltd intends to give priority booking opportunities for RWC 2011 pool matches and quarter-finals to those persons that hold Canterbury and Crusaders season tickets as at February 8, 2010.
Adult ticket prices and savings *
New Price Old Price Cash reduction
Platinum $392.50 $535.00 -$142.50
Gold $337.50 $475.00 -$137.50
Silver $205.00 $468.00 - $262.50
Bronze $145.50 $355.00 -$210.00
Copper $117.50 $255.00 -$137.00
Children ticket prices *
Silver $153.50
Bronze $95.50
Copper $84.50
Stands*
• Deans Stand – Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze
• Paul Kelly Motor Company Stand – Silver and Bronze
• Tui Stand – Copper
• Hadlee Stand - Copper
Home Draw – Crusaders - 2010
Sat 13 Feb Highlanders AMI Stadium 7.35pm
Fri 26 Feb Sharks AMI Stadium 7.35pm
Sat 6 Mar Blues AMI Stadium 7.35pm
Sat 20 Mar Lions AMI Stadium 5.30pm
Sat 10 April Waratahs AMI Stadium 7.35pm
Sat 17 April Cheetahs AMI Stadium 7.35pm
Sat 15 May Brumbies AMI Stadium 7.35pm