The first centre pass at the Forsyth Barr Stadium might be as early as next year, with Netball New Zealand chief executive Raelene Castle confirming some preliminary talks had taken place about hosting a test at the venue.
Castle told the Otago Daily Times NNZ was considering staging a test between New Zealand and Australia at the stadium.
"We've had some very interesting discussion with stadium officials about that possibility," Castle said.
"When they designed the stadium they did think about some of those other options, so it is realistic from that point of view."
Dunedin Venues Management Ltd chief executive David Davies said a wooden court could be put in front of the south stand and the temporary stands at the two ends of the ground could be dragged along to sit courtside.
Seats could also be put on the ground.
That would make it possible to seat between 12,000 and 14,000 or perhaps even more, Davies said.
Planning, if you can call it that yet, is still in the very early stages. The logistics and costs form part of the background with initial talks more about canvassing the possibilities of such as event.
Part of the attraction would be the possibility of breaking a world record. Sydney's Superdome set the world record for a netball crowd when 14,339 fans watched Australia beat the Silver Ferns 54-49 in November 2004. It was something to aim for, Castle suggested.
"We could have a world record crowd ... which would be a fantastic thing to try to achieve. But from our perspective, it has to be financially beneficial or break-even at the very least. If you were going to have that many people, you would want some financial up-side, so we would need to look at all those things.
"But we haven't had any of those discussion yet because the guys at the stadium have plenty to think about with the Rugby World Cup."
Last week the Otago Daily Times revealed the Wellington Phoenix will host defending A-League champion the Brisbane Roar in a pre-season game at the stadium in mid-August.
Rugby Union will get first use of the stadium when Meads Cup champion North Otago plays West Coast in a Heartland competition match on August 7.
Otago makes its first appearance when it hosts Manawatu on August 17, and in September and October, the venue will stage four Rugby World Cup games.
Sir Elton John will perform at the stadium in November.
