FIFA U-20 final to screen live at Queens Wharf

Aucklanders and visitors to the city can watch the FIFA U-20 World Cup final between Brazil and Serbia live on the big screen at Queens Wharf this Saturday.

With the 25,000 available tickets to the final snapped up almost two weeks out from match day, ATEED spokesman, Steve Armitage, says the live screening has been initiated to give those who missed out on tickets the chance to get together with fellow football fans in a festive atmosphere and enjoy the climax of the biggest football tournament Auckland and New Zealand have ever hosted.

“Fans in Auckland have really embraced this tournament and we want to give the community an opportunity to get together and enjoy the grand finale of this truly global event. The football has been spectacular so far. It’s all been building up to Saturday’s big match in Auckland.”

Mr Armitage says almost 100,000 tickets have been purchased for the nine tournament matches Auckland has hosted at North Harbour Stadium, including Saturday’s final, while more than 27,000 people have visited Fever Pitch, the interactive fan hub on Queens Wharf, during the tournament.

Fever Pitch will be open from 10am on Saturday and the action kicks off on the big screen when Senegal takes on Mali in the third and fourth place play off at 1.30pm. That will be followed by the main event at 5pm. The viewing area is under cover so the live screening will go ahead rain or shine.

The live screening will be accompanied by food stalls, entertainment and spot prizes throughout the day.

Saturday will also be a final opportunity to check out all that Fever Pitch has to offer including the FIFA Cube, which features digital displays, high tech skills stations, an information ‘locker room’ with information on the tournament and its history, football skills demonstrations and of course the opportunity for face painting in team colours.

There is also an outdoor, small sided football pitch for a kick around, a digital zone packed with multimedia experiences, inflatable kick wall and goal shoot skills stations and information about pathways into football participation.

Mr Armitage says the FIFA U-20 World Cup Final brings down the curtain on one of Auckland’s biggest events seasons ever.

“Auckland hosted a non-stop summer of major events including the Dick Smith NRL Nines, Volvo Ocean Race stopover, ICC Cricket World Cup matches, Auckland Arts Festival, Pasifika and the Lantern Festival, leading into the FIFA tournament.”

These headline events are part of ATEED’s 2014/2015 Major Events Portfolio, which includes 35 events that have generated a substantial return on investment for Auckland.

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