Snedden, the chief executive of Rugby New Zealand 2011 Ltd, which organised the tournament, said he was aware of the controversy surrounding Forsyth Barr Stadium but claimed it had really fired up the tournament.
"That England-Argentina game, the first major game in the new indoor stadium, was really, really special. I think people in the South suddenly realised they have got an asset on their hands which is going to be a great boon for them going forward," Snedden said.
"We needed Dunedin to fire and with the rearrangement to happen after Christchurch by putting the England team there for three weeks in a row, it would have a cumulative effect. We just knew that would happen ... there would be a snowballing effect there.
"And by placing Ireland there in the final match, and it was always going to be a critical match, it would be a real crescendo for that stadium to finish off with."
The success of the tournament had delivered an enormous opportunity for rugby in New Zealand, Snedden said.
He wondered if the World Cup could provide the template for festival-style atmospheres in the future.
"You watch the All Blacks and it is a different atmosphere. The anxiety levels are higher. But at a game where two other teams were playing, it was completely different. A team would get on a roll and you think three-quarters of the crowd was behind them. Then the other team gets activated and half the crowd switch allegiances. And so there was that vibrancy.
"Yet you go to an All Black match and it is serious. I think New Zealand rugby will have to think very carefully. They do have to take note the psychological impact of having colour in the stadium had on crowds. Somehow, they have to get the colour in the stadium in the crowd.
"Maybe one thing to think of, and it is not natural for us, but somehow ensuring when a touring team comes here that they have a solid section of support.
"Luckily next year we've got Ireland. Even if fans turn up to an Irish-All Black test and they have an Irish flag to wave. It is about creating a vibrancy.
"But there are a whole lot more people who have gone to Rugby World Cup because of the experience. And if they go next year and it is not there, then they will stop going. They've got to capture it."
The tournament has been a big success and Snedden pointed to the opening ceremony as being a key driver in setting the tournament alight.
"New Zealanders' expectations of the opening ceremony were really low. They weren't even aware it was on. They just saw the opening night as All Blacks against Tonga. I think what they got was one of the best opening ceremonies in any event. By far the best for the Rugby World Cup.
"The Olympic and Commonwealth Games opening ceremonies are big-budget items which last two and a-half to three hours. Ours took 25 minutes but actually hit the nail on the head during that time. From that moment on, New Zealanders suddenly sat really up and thought, 'maybe we are going to do a fantastic job of this'.
"The pride started steaming out of people. Within that, for me, the simplest and the cheapest thing in the whole ceremony, the one thing that got right inside me and made me emotional, was where everyone opened up their mobile phones and lit up the stadium. I just was blown away."
He said every area of the country captured the buzz.
"I got lost once driving between Rotorua and New Plymouth for a pool game. For some reason, I took the wrong road for an hour and got on a gravel road, deep in the heart of rural King Country.
"There were flags everywhere. And not just All Black flags, but flags from other teams. And lots of bunting."
Snedden felt sorry for the organisers in Auckland on opening night when crowds overran the festivities on the waterfront.
"There was an explosion of enthusiasm that night that was well beyond what anyone had expected. There was some problems but they sorted those out afterwards.
"I'm an Aucklander and lived here most of my life and this is the first time I have seen it unified. The people who have organised the Rugby World Cup in Auckland have done an enormous job."