New season launch but Bay venues not decided

Craig Tiriana | 16th March 2010

NPC RUGBY

Bay of Plenty Rugby's board is still to finalise the venues for the Steamers' six national provincial championship home games for this year.

The New Zealand Rugby Union was to launch the official competition draw today in Wellington where they are also to name a new sponsor for the provincial showcase, previously known as the Air New Zealand Cup.

The Steamers 2010 home games will be listed as venue still to be finalised. However, the Bay is expected to share its home games between Tauranga's Baypark and Rotorua's International stadium in a four games to two split in favour of Baypark.

Bay of Plenty chief executive Jeremy Curragh said the majority split was part of a contractual obligation the union had with Baypark - a duel stockcar and rugby stadium - the home of the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union.

Curragh said the Bay board would confirm the home venues at its next meeting as there were some final details still to be sorted.

Traditionally the board allocates games based on venue availability and potential spectator appeal with games played on Thursday and Friday nights and Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

Last season the Bay had seven homes games, which were shared four-three, and good crowds with an average of 9200 helped pumped $520,000 into the union's $144,972 profit confirmed at yesterday's annual meeting in Opotiki.

Curragh said there had been no talk of having all of the home games at Baypark.

"We definitely want games to go to Rotorua, obviously it's part of the wider region, there's a great stadium there and we got a good crowd last season for the Hawkes Bay game," he said.

At the request of broadcasters Sky Television there is a schedule change this year. There will only be one Friday night game and there will be a new 4.30pm match on Sunday afternoons in its place.

Last season Bay of Plenty's had seven competition home games and six away.

This year the Steamer's competition draw will be a reverse of last season's meaning they will meet Counties/Manukau, Auckland, Southland, Otago, North Harbour and Manawatu on home turf. They will travel to meet Waikato, Northland, Wellington, Canterbury, Tasman, Hawke's Bay and Taranaki.

The first competition match is away to Waikato in Hamilton and there is bound to be some feeling in the derby with Bay of Plenty's past sacked coach Greg Smith having been appointed to a technical role with the Mooloos. The Bay's first home game is against Auckland.

It could be quite a challenge for the Steamers to attract the same numbers through the turnstiles as they did last year with away games to traditional drawcards Wellington and Canterbury and neighbouring unions Waikato and Hawke's Bay.

Curragh hoped unions like Counties and Auckland might bring supporters south.

With provincial games clashing with the Tri-Nations internationals most unions will again be without the majority of their All Blacks.

The extra away game would increase the costs for the Steamers' campaign with teams - when travel by road exceeds two hours - bound to be in the venue city 24 hours before kick-off and flights are not available after some late afternoon and evening games until the next day.

The Bay union does not pay for travel, but picks up the bills for accommodation and meals while on the road.