Organisers are confident Rugby World Cup games in Dunedin will be played at the new Forsyth Barr Stadium, but have unveiled a ticketing scheme that covers the possibility of Carisbrook being used.
Ticket prices for all 48 games at the tournament were released by the Rugby New Zealand 2011 Ltd organisation yesterday.
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Two of Dunedin's three games are among the most reasonable, with prices as low as $30 for adults, ranging up to $95 for premier seats.
The feature Ireland-Italy game in Dunedin starts at $40, with prices ranging up to $150.
As expected, prices for All Black and knockout games are extremely steep, reflecting the organisers' need to recoup up to $280 million from ticket sales, their only revenue stream.
It will cost adult fans between $60 and $450 to watch the All Blacks' pool games, while tickets for the semifinals ($290-$780) and final ($390-$1250) at Eden Park are the highest seen for a sports event in New Zealand.
Dunedin's situation - not knowing with certainty which stadium would be involved in the tournament - was unique, Rugby NZ 2011 chief executive Martin Snedden acknowledged.
"We're working on the basis that the Dunedin games will be played in the new stadium," Mr Snedden told the Otago Daily Times yesterday.
"But prices are for the matches in Dunedin, regardless of whether that's at the new stadium or Carisbrook.
"We talked about the possibility of two pricing options but decided we would make it too complicated for ourselves and for the public if we did that."
Mr Snedden's group plans to visit the Forsyth Barr Stadium in July, 2011, to make a final call on whether it will be ready for the World Cup in September-October 2011.
Mr Snedden said he was not concerned at the prospect of sluggish ticket sales for the Dunedin games if fans dallied to see which stadium would be used.
"Firstly, we are becoming more and more confident that the new stadium will be available. There seems to be an incredible determination to make sure it's ready.
"And I just don't think Otago people will want to delay getting their tickets, because others might rush in and snap them up."
About 25,000 of the 29,000 tickets for each game in Dunedin would be available for the public, Mr Snedden said.
Ticket sales open next April for fans who want to buy packs including tickets to every game at a venue or in a pool.
Individual tickets will go on sale later in the year, followed by ballots for semifinal and final tickets
Ticket prices 2011 Rugby World Cup
In Dunedin
Scotland v European qualifier (September 14) and England v play-off team
(September 24)
$15-$20 (child), $30 (GA), $40 (D), $50 (C), $75 (B), $95 (A)
Ireland v Italy (October 2)
$20-$33 (child), $40 (GA), $65 (D), $95 (C), $120 (B), $150 (A)
Venue packs (all three games)
$50-$73 (child), $100 (GA), $145 (D), $195 (C), $270 (B), $340 (A)
CHEAPEST GAMES
Include: Fiji v Namibia (Rotorua), Italy v European qualifier (Nelson),
Tonga v Canada
(Whangarei), Canada v Asian qualifier (Napier)
$15-$20 (child), $30 (GA), $40 (D), $50 (C), $60 (B), $70 (A)
ALL BLACKS
v Tonga (Auckland)
$60 (child), $120 (D), $220 (C), $350 (B), $450 (A)
v Asian qualifier (Hamilton)
$30-$48 (child), $60 (GA), $95 (D), $140 (C), $190 (B), $250(A)
v France (Auckland)
$60 (child), $120 (D), $220 (C), $350 (B), $450 (A)
v Canada (Wellington)
$48 (child), $95 (D), $140 (C), $190 (B), $250(A)
KNOCKOUT
Quarterfinals (two in Wellington, two in Christchurch)
$190 (D), $290 (C), $390 (B), $480 (A)
Semifinals (both in Auckland)
$290 (D), $490 (C), $690 (B), $780 (A)
Final (Auckland)
$390 (D), $750 (C), $1100 (B), $1250 (A)
