Auckland to open ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 Fanzone

Auckland’s non-stop summer is set to continue at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 Fanzone in the Britomart Precinct, where almost every tournament match will be screened live and free to the public.

The Fanzone will see Takutai Square transformed into an urban village green, with 47 ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 matches showing live on the big screen – beginning with the opening match between New Zealand’s BLACKCAPS and Sri Lanka on Saturday, 14 February (Valentine’s Day).

The Fanzone is being delivered by Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED) on behalf of Auckland Council.

ATEED Chief Executive Brett O’Riley says the Fanzone will be a great place for cricket fans to get together and watch the tournament.

“Auckland will host four ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 matches, but we want to extend the reach of the tournament and create a second home for cricket fans to enjoy the live cricket action,” says Mr O’Riley.

“The Fanzone provides a great opportunity for residents and visitors to Auckland to take part in the overall tournament experience and watch matches being played across New Zealand and Australia in a relaxed setting.”

Mayor Len Brown will officially open the Fanzone on Saturday prior to the opening match between New Zealand’s BLACK CAPS and Sri Lanka being shown live on the big screen.

Other ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 public activities taking place in Auckland during the tournament include an adopt-a-second team and street dressing programme being held in town centres throughout the region, and a weekend match day Fan Trail stretching from the Fanzone to Eden Park.

The BLACKCAPS will also be officially welcomed to Auckland at the Fanzone at 3.30pm on February 25, with fans able to meet the team before they take on tournament co-host Australia three days later at Eden Park.

The Fan Trail will be in action on each of the three weekend Auckland games on 28 February, 7 March and 14 March with themed entertainment based on the competing countries.

Fan Trail ‘dressers’ will be dressing the crowd in the participating teams’ colours for free, and encouraging walkers to join the parade of fans along the Great North Road section of the trail from 1pm, led by different musical performers on each game day.

Auckland’s non-stop summer includes a range of free activities and events including the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 Fanzone and Fan Trail, Volvo Ocean Race Auckland Stopover (VORAS) Village and Auckland Lantern Festival.

For more information on the Fanzone and Fan Trail visit www.aucklandnz.com/cwc2015.

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