Super rugby success
The sold-out Super Rugby Pacific Super Round has beaten all economic forecasts and delivered strong results for Christchurch.
Christchurch’s bold investment in bringing the inaugural New Zealand Super Rugby Pacific Super Round to the city has paid off in spectacular fashion, with economic impact reporting from Fresh Info revealing the event exceeded expectations, delivered the competition’s first-ever sellout, and further elevated Christchurch’s standing as a major events capital.
The three-day rugby festival attracted 73,187 attendees, with 42,310 of those being unique attendees, meaning people who attended more than one match were counted only once. About 16,570 of the domestic attendees were from outside of Christchurch, with an additional 3924 international visitors, including those from the USA, UK and Australia.
The report shows visitor spend was $13.1 million, more than doubling the forecast of $6.1 million. Visitor nights also exceeded expectations at more than 49,000 bed nights, outstripping the 34,000 predicted.
“The sellout crowds, quality of rugby and atmosphere across the three days made Super Round a memorable occasion for fans and teams alike,” says Super Rugby Pacific CEO Jack Mesley.
Crusaders CEO Colin Mansbridge says bringing Super Round to Christchurch was a fitting celebration of the city’s deep connection to rugby.
“I don’t think anyone who was there will forget the weekend in a hurry. We saw packed stands, great rugby and a city that came alive around the event. It felt like more than just a rugby event; it was a milestone moment for Christchurch. These results show the impact that can be achieved when a city gets behind an event like this.”
More than 1.2 million viewers tuned in to Sky’s live broadcasts across the week. The standout opening night clash between the Crusaders and Waratahs became the most-watched and most engaging match of the entire regular season across all Sky platforms.
Image: Cashel St was lined with fans eager to get to One New Zealand Stadium at Te Kaha for the inaugural Crusaders match. Credit: ChristchurchNZ.
