The red hot Black Caps are here; so too are Scotland, and with the city's accommodation ''bulging at the seams'', and a sell out crowd, Dunedin is primed to revel in the international spotlight of the Cricket World Cup tomorrow.
Fresh from their decisive win over Sri Lanka in Christchurch on Saturday, the Black Caps had a low key arrival at Dunedin International Airport yesterday.
The Scottish cricket team was officially welcomed to the ''Edinburgh of the South'' by Mayor Dave Cull and other dignitaries yesterday, before mingling with about 300 fans in bright sunshine in the Octagon.
Scotland captain Preston Mommsen said the ''awesome'' welcome made the team feel at home, as did the city's street names.
The squad was also looking forward to tomorrow's clash with the Black Caps at University Oval, after losing to the West Indies by just three runs in a warm up game in Sydney last week, he said.
The excitment of their arrival was shared by Dunedin cricket fans, including Dunedin born Hugh Jack (8), younger brother Duncan (5) and their Scottish born father, Duncan.
The boys earned high fives from half the Scottish team after waving the Saltire at the end of the team's official welcome inside the Glenroy Auditorium yesterday.
Hugh said meeting the players was ''pretty cool'', and he would be supporting ''both teams, really'' during tomorrow's match.
Mr Jack was less equivocal, saying he would still be backing the Scots.
''The boys are being very diplomatic,'' he said.
The smiles of fans yesterday were also spreading to the city's hospitality businesses, already enjoying a bumper February, before the arrival of Cricket World Cup teams and supporters.
Hoteliers spoken to reported an influx of parents escorting students to the city, and visitors in the city for Chinese New Year celebrations, topped up by the arrival of the Cricket World Cup roadshow.
''The whole town is bulging at the seams, but we're not complaining,'' Hotel Cargill general manager Dean Nicol said.
His hotel was fully booked for the next two weeks, and other accommodation providers spoken to reported a similar trend.
Southern Cross Hotel, Scenic Hotel Dunedin City, Bella Vista Motels Dunedin, YHA Dunedin On Top Backpackers, and Quest Serviced Apartments Dunedin all said they were struggling to squeeze travellers in and would be very busy for the next two weeks.
Enterprise Dunedin director John Christie said it was difficult to determine the exact financial impact of the Cricket World Cup on Dunedin, but ''when your city is this busy, there is obviously going to be a significant economic impact''.
Only a handful of fans were waiting to welcome the Black Caps at Dunedin International Airport yesterday.
Players and management declined to speak to media.
Team captain Brendon McCullum stopped briefly to pose for a photo with two adoring young fans while coach Mike Hesson, of Dunedin, was greeted with an almighty sandwich hug from his two daughters.
