Highlanders commercial manager Mike Kerr says the side will again take on Moana Pasifika in a pre-season match, being played February 2 at 6pm — this time at a new venue.
Kerr says they’ve decided to move the game from the Queenstown Rec Ground to ‘field 2’ — closest to the Five Mile shopping centre — at the Queenstown Events Centre.
Local Bayleys group ops manager and owner Stacy Coburn says the call to shift the game to the Frankton field was driven by problems with traffic and parking in downtown Queenstown.
"This is more accessible and will hopefully have a wider appeal to families across the wider district to come here for the game."
Kerr says the ’Landers have never played a game on that field — "we’re pretty excited".
Coburn says about 5000 people turned out to the team’s last pre-season match against Moana Pasifika, played this February, which the Highlanders won, 33-24.
A similar number’s expected at next year’s game.
Bayleys has a long history of bringing Highlanders to the Basin — Coburn says that’s in part to ensure rugby fans in our patch get a chance to watch their team in action.
He also believes the partnership embodies the real estate company’s "commitment to teamwork, determination and striving to get the best results".
The company’s again ensuring all kids under 13 can go to the game free — up to six can attend with a fee-paying adult.
The Highlanders have also discounted earlybird tickets for locals, using the code ‘LocalsOnly’.
From today till December 31, using that code, tickets will cost $20 for adults and $10 for secondary school students.
From January 1, the adult price will increase to $30 a ticket.
