The 2011 Rugby World Cup will begin in exactly 182 1/2 days from now!
Another milestone is reached and our excitement is building. We have plenty more planning and preparing for our trip to New Zealand and our itinerary now has to be altered to include events that have introduced themselves to us.
I haven't heard anymore on how well the tickets are moving for the 2011 RWC. With the recent earthquake in the Canterbury, there is a lot more uncertainty regarding games in the area and the focus hasn't yet turned from the survivors of the quake. This week a report from engineers on the status on the Christchurch AMI stadium wasn't released and the NZ government is asking for additional reports and assessments of the stadium's condition. Dunedin's Forsyth Barr Stadium would be capable of hosting some of the games that were originally scheduled for the Christchurch stadium, although accommodations, travel and practice fields would be other challenges yet to face. It is estimated Christchurch could lose around $50m if the games must be moved from the city. Hopefully the games can remain in Christchurch and the influx of world travelers and rugby fans will help to start the new chapter of Canterbury's rebirth.
"In the end if we can get a stadium that operates, and that everyone is comfortable with then, yes, we need to deal with accommodation and we need to deal with bars and restaurants and the like. But I think we can address those issues. We won't have a clear answer for a few weeks but we are getting closer."- NZ Prime Minister John Key
