The intellectual property rights for the Forsyth Barr Stadium could even be a potential revenue earner, with interest in the Dunedin venue coming from as far afield as France and Scandinavia.
Dunedin Venues Management Ltd chief executive, David Davies, said he was not surprised by the comments from former England and Lions prop Phil Vickery that the stadium "is a great model for the northern hemisphere".
Vickery, who Mr Davies knew from his time as chief executive of London Wasps, spent several hours at the stadium, and spoke positively about the roofed venue.
"I am not surprised he found the country and city engaging."
Mr Davies said over the last 10 months DVML had received inquiries from overseas about the venue, and "I think there will be a continual interest".
While stadium management were yet to field inquiries from the United Kingdom, he confirmed there had been interest in the stadium from France and Scandinavian countries.
It was unknown if those inquiries would "transform into people prepared to pay for some of the intellectual property", which, "quite rightly" had been protected by the city, he said.
Intellectual property rights concerning the stadium had not been budgeted for as a potential revenue earner, "but it is an area I can see for growth".
Although you could not stop people building their own covered stadium, he expected the city would be contacted by any group wanting to replicate something similar to Forsyth Barr Stadium.
"I suspect the best thing would be to engage those people who have gone before."
