Christchurch opens Rugby World Cup Fanzone

The Rugby World Cup 2011 Fanzone and events village has been completed Christchurch's North Hagley Park.

Christchurch City Council Marketing Manager Richard Stokes says the events village is starting to transform into a rugby hub that will soon be filled with plenty of family entertainment.

Stokes explained "it's exciting to see it come together and as we embark on spring and hopefully some warmer weather, it will be great to provide Christchurch residents with a place to get out and have some fun.

"It has been a long, challenging winter dealing with earthquake damage, snow storms and a closed-off city centre. I think people are ready to venture out with friends and family to watch some Rugby action together and I'm looking forward to seeing some smiling faces fill the place."

'Stadium Christchurch', within the Fanzone, will have two large 20 square metre screens showing all 48 matches live. The action can be viewed from grandstand seating, which seats 1000, and from a 30 by 50 metre Rugby ground in front of the screens that holds 2000 people. Food stalls, a licensed bar and entertainment areas will also be available.

Nearby, final touches are being made within the Mastercard Ruck (the Council's large inflatable dome) for its transformation into a rugby museum with seven nostalgia lounges ranging from the 1940s h to the modern 2000s state-of-the-art lounge. Interviews with local personalities associated with rugby history will be held in the lounges throughout the Tournament during the Newstalk ZB Legends of Rugby Speaker Series.

One of the event villages' big days is expected to the on the weekend of the 8th and 9th October when the 'COKE Rugbyfest @ Hagley' coincides with the quarter-final match on the New Zealand side of the Rugby World Cup .

The event will be held next to the Council's Fanzone and will include two giant super screens and on-field and on-stage entertainment from some of Christchurch's most talented performers, musicians and dancers. A crowd of 40,000 is expected, which is similar to the number of people that would have turned out for the match if it had been held at Stadium Christchurch (AMI Stadium) ï¾ as had originally been planned.

The REAL New Zealand Festival is also coming to Christchurch with a nationwide celebration of New Zealand arts, food and wine, heritage, culture, entertainment, business and lifestyle. The activity will be held next to the Fanzone as part of Rugby World Cup 2011 and will run from 9th September to 23rd October. Presenting Canterbury markets will also be held in the same vicinity during the Finals weeks from 8th to 23rd October, showcasing the best food and wine from the Canterbury region.

Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker says, "we can all agree it's been a really challenging year for this city, but that doesn't mean we stop having fun altogether. It's time to join with the rest of the country and get excited about Rugby World Cup 2011 - so get ready to let your hair down and take some much deserved time out with friends and family."

Rugby World Cup 2011 kicks off this Friday (9th September).

For more information on Rugby World Cup 2011 activity in Christchurch, visit www.christchurchnz2011.com