NPC Bay of Plenty Steamers semi-final boosts Tauranga city center bar popularity

Ward said he estimates his sales are up about 40% compared to a typical Saturday night.

He said they shuffled the tables so no one would have to be turned away.

“All our hard work has paid off, I’m very pleased. With Steamers reaching the NPC finals, I hope this bodes well for our weekend earnings.”

Ward said the NPC final between the Steamers and Wellington would be shown live on the bar’s big screen, followed by the Lipovitan-D Challenge Cup match between the All Blacks and Japan.

Ashley Gee, owner of Miss Gees bar and eatery in the Strand, also reported an increase in sales for rugby spectators on Saturday.

“We already had some functions and other orders not related to the game agreed upon in advance. While we weren’t shocked, we were busier than expected as more people started arriving after the game ended.”

Redoubt Bar and Eatery co-owner Rana Corlett said Saturday’s revenue was up about 20% from the previous weekend, despite overall being lower than a year ago.

“We have to take the good with the bad and Saturday was a good night but we could have been busier.”

Corlett said she was a strong supporter of the proposed boutique stadium because it would benefit not only the hotel industry, but also retailers and accommodation providers.

CBK owner Billy Emeny said he had a “good Saturday night” partly because of the rugby crowd.

“I follow Steamers and it was a fantastic game. We weren’t as busy as some of the bars and restaurants on the Strand, which is closer to the apartment complex. But I’m very happy with how it went.”

Emeny said he was 100% behind the boutique stadium project as it would bring huge economic and social benefits to the city.

Tony Bullott, owner of 850 Cameron Motel and chairman of Hospitality NZ Bay of Plenty’s accommodation sector, said there were still vacancies in the city over the weekend.

“The city was certainly not full and we had about 70% occupancy. And this was the worst winter for our members in the last 10 years.”

Bullott said demand for the Labor weekend was “starting to pick up”.

The Steamers have played at two home stadiums this season, the Tauranga Domain and the 18,000-capacity Rotorua International Stadium.

A new stadium in central Tauranga has long been mooted amid concerns the 17,000-seat Mercury Bay Park in Mount Maunganui is not suitable for rugby. The Steamers have been playing in the Tauranga Domain for many years.

Tauranga City Council had been considering building a $220 million boutique stadium at Tauranga Domain from 2026 with a capacity of up to 15,000 seats, but agreed in May to start with a scaled-down $90 million version from 2033.

The council’s general manager of development and partnerships, Gareth Wallis, said it would have 5,000 permanent places plus 2,000 temporary places. If the second stage is implemented later, the number of permanent places will increase to 7,000 and temporary places to 4,000.

He said the events, which attracted people to the town, brought economic benefits to the hospitality sector and overall spending, and the local team’s progress to the final added to “community pride and excitement”.

“If more people could be accommodated in Tauranga, it would also mean greater economic benefits.”

Bay of Plenty Rugby Football Union chief executive Mike Rogers said the union’s board had decided where Steamers NPC home games would be played.

This season the team played in Rotorua twice, and Bay of Plenty Volcanix also played there.

He said the NPC quarter-final and semi-final games on site were not sold out and no additional temporary slots were added.

When asked about the new stadium, Rogers said the union supported the development of sports and events infrastructure in Tauranga.

“It is clear that improved facilities will improve the experience for those attending games, events and concerts.”

He said Mt Maunganui Bay Oval, which seats 12,000 people and hosts top-level international cricket, is “a fantastic example of delivering appropriate infrastructure that attracts national and international activity… (which) provides significant social and economic benefits to the city.” .

Sandra Conchi is a senior journalist at Bay of Plenty Times And Rotorua Daily Post who was a journalist for 24 years. She mainly covers police, court and other judicial stories, as well as general news. She was named Regional/Community Reporter of the Year at the Canon Media Awards.