Auckland to host Cricket World Cup semi-final

News Release

30 July 2013

Auckland to host Cricket World Cup semi-final

Auckland Mayor Len Brown announced today that Auckland will host a semi-final of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, one of four day-night matches to be held at Eden Park.

Auckland’s three pool matches will include a blockbuster encounter between New Zealand and Australia, and games involving cricket powerhouses South Africa, India and Pakistan.

“Securing a semi-final is a real coup for Auckland, and a further endorsement of our ability to host major events,” Len Brown said. “These matches will bring more than $16 million into Auckland’s economy and generate more than 78,000 visitor nights for the region.

“Alongside Kiwi fans, Auckland’s large South African, Indian and Pakistani communities will be thrilled to have their teams play at Eden Park.

“Along with bid partners - Eden Park Trust Board, Auckland Transport, the New Zealand Government and Auckland Cricket  –  Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED) has done a fantastic job in securing this event for Auckland.

“An event as large as this will bring international teams, support crews and fans from around the world right into the heart of Auckland. And these events will be watched around the world - the Cricket World Cup is among the most viewed sporting events in the world, surpassed only by the summer and winter Olympics and the FIFA World Cup.”

ATEED will invest $3 million from its Major Events Fund to deliver the host city components of the tournament in February and March 2015. This funding will be supplemented by $1.1 million from the Government.

Fourteen teams will compete in the tournament: 10 full member nations and four qualifiers. Auckland is one of seven New Zealand cities to co-host the tournament with Australian cities.

The tournament will be managed and delivered by the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 local organising committee (LOC), in collaboration with the ICC. ATEED will support the LOC to co-ordinate Auckland’s contribution to the tournament.

Auckland matches during ICC Cricket World Cup 2015:

Pool Matches:

• Saturday 28 February: New Zealand v Australia

• Saturday 7 March: South Africa v Pakistan

• Saturday 14 March: India v Zimbabwe

Semi-final:

• Tuesday 24 March – teams TBC

ENDS

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