Credit: Negative2Positive Photography
Rugby was a major draw card for tourists to the city according to the latest economic data reports on the Black Ferns vs Wallaroos and All Blacks vs Argentina Test matches at Orangetheory Stadium earlier this year.
The report commissioned by ChristchurchNZ found 51% or 10,389 of the total 20,285 unique attendees to the All Blacks Rugby Championship Test match on August 27 were from outside of the Canterbury region. The report from independent industry experts Fresh Info measures everything from tourist numbers to spend by visitors, satisfaction, and resident pride to benefit to cost ratios and change in regional GDP (Gross Domestic Product).
The Argentina rugby team and the All Blacks during national anthems at the August test match at Orangetheory Stadium.
The visitor spend was more than $2.1 million with many hospitality businesses in Addington recording significant jumps in revenue. Additional data from electronic card transactions showed the value of retail spending was up 33% on the average August weekend in 2022 in the Addington suburb. The spend in the central city was up 6% versus the average Aug ‘22 weekend. The report quantified the net benefit at more than $698,000.
The report also tracked visitation; finding the average stay of 2.28 nights for visitors who stayed overnight and $229 spent per visitor for the weekend, excluding the ticket price. This data was collected on a wide range of goods and services including accommodation, food & beverage, retail, activities, and transport. Resident pride remained high at 79% and liveability at 90%, in line with the national average for events, benchmarked against events evaluated using Event Economics from across the country, a factor worth baking into future events and planning.
While on a smaller scale, the benefits were similar for our Rugby World Cup Champion Black Ferns Test match the weekend prior. Their Rugby World Cup warm-up versus the Wallaroos on August 20 drew 3,913 to the event with 1,707 visitors coming from outside of the city. The event generated an estimated $212,322 expenditure and had a benefit to cost ratio of 1.37.
Karena Finnie, Head of Major Events at ChristchurchNZ, was pleased with the economic event results and glad to put two years of COVID cancellations and postponements behind her.
Karena Finnie - Head of Major Events at ChristchurchNZAfter the past two years of major events disruption, the agency was proud to bring big spectacles back to the city. Ōtautahi Christchurch waited more than five years for these events and the data really proves we are hungry for more.”
“After the past two years of major events disruption, the agency was proud to bring big spectacles back to the city. Ōtautahi Christchurch waited more than five years for these events and the data really proves we are hungry for more.”
“With a blockbuster line-up of events this summer including Elton John, the Black Clash, Bread & Circus World Buskers Festival and plenty more festivals, gigs and matches – we’re certain the economic impact of these events will only draw more visitors, continue to add to our city’s vibrancy and be of great benefit to our local community,” Finnie said.
In a Stuff story, Michelle Cattell, owner of The Miller Bar in Lincoln Rd, said it was an “amazing night,” with the venue taking around three times what it normally would on a Saturday night. And Argentinian barbecue restaurant El Quincho, in Riverside Market, did twice its normal trade, co-owner Maria Lee told Stuff.
