McLean Park early winner, says World Cup supremo on Bay visit
August 26, 2009
Great news in the Hawke’s Bay Today – 25/8/2009
Kit McConnell made his first trip to McLean Park this week and the Rugby World Cup tournament director likes what he sees.
Mr McConnell, from Rugby World Cup Ltd, visited the park yesterday to see its progress and preparation for the international rugby event in 2011.
Rugby World Cup Ltd is the organisation in charge of running the rugby competition.
“It’s my first time in the (Graeme Lowe) stand, in fact it’s my first time in Napier to be honest,” Mr McConnell said.
“These visits are important because we can look at the plans all we like, but you can’t get an appreciation for it without coming to see it and it’s given us a huge step forward for our planning.”
Mr McConnell has toured all venues in New Zealand which will host games when the World Cup arrives in two years.
His visit also included representatives from Sky Television, which is the World Cup broadcaster, and travel and accommodation organisations. ING staff, who are the commercial agents for the tournament, also attended.
Mr McConnell said McLean Park was in top shape and he was impressed with the upgrades to the grounds and the support from local councils.
“We’ve been impressed with the way the councils have integrated the park into the city,” he said.
“We want to create a festival atmosphere for all the international visitors and spectators that are going to come here.”
Canada and France will play their pool matches at McLean Park and possibly Japan, opening up marketing opportunities.
”Napier is going to get some international exposure and we’re keen to work with the councils and Venture Hawke’s Bay on that,” Mr McConnell said.
Rugby New Zealand match services manager Steve Dunbar, who was also at McLean Park yesterday, said a national volunteer programme would be another big part of World Cup preparations.
“There are some that already work with Rugby New Zealand and we want to get them involved,” he said.
“It will be part of a national programme involving up to 3000 people helping us, from greeting teams at the airport, to driving teams to venues, to helping at the venues.”
