Dunedin is well ahead in the number of tickets sold for the first three tests of the All Black year.
About half the tickets for the second test against the French in Wellington had been sold early yesterday, and about 10,000 tickets have been sold for the match between the All Blacks and Italy, to be played on June 27 in Christchurch.
Tickets went on sale nationwide yesterday.
Otago Rugby Football Union marketing manager Chris Green said it would be great to sell out the ground by next Monday, which was 26 days before the test on June 13 at Carisbrook.
Last year, the ground was sold out for the test match between the All Blacks and the Spring-boks, 26 days before kick-off.
"I think if we can sell out by that day [next Monday], and match last year, then that will send a strong statement to those in charge of rugby of how highly this city sees the All Blacks," Green said.
The city did not host a test for three years until last year, and Green said people in the South obviously had an appetite for test rugby.
"We have to fight to get tests here year after year and if we can sell out, that will show we really want test rugby down here."
Green said more than 20,000 tickets had been sold, with about 7500 remaining.
The capacity of the ground was 27,757, though last year, additional seats were added once the ground sold out.
Yesterday was a particularly busy day, with ticket sales averaging 100 an hour.
On the standing terrace, there were about 900 tickets left, while in the main stand, only single seats were available.
The Railway stand uncovered section was sold out, while the Neville St stand, with its family based pricing, was 85% full.
The Rose stand was 85% full.
Green said tickets in the covered railway stand, which traditionally were slow to sell, were also being bought quickly.
He praised the Dunedin City Council for supporting the event, and said a sellout would give a real buzz to the city.
He said it was great to have sold more tickets than Wellington and Christchurch, which were much bigger cities than Dunedin.
Tickets had been sold exclusively to members of the public south of the Waitaki River from April 24, while members of rugby clubs and referees have been able to buy tickets to the game since March.
With plans ready to start construction of the new stadium soon, it might be the last game of test rugby at Carisbrook, which first hosted a test 101 years ago.
