Community Fanzones travelling east

Community Fanzones will be travelling to the eastern suburbs of Christchurch during the Rugby World Cup 2011 Tournament to ensure no one misses out on the action.

Mayor Bob Parker says three Fanzones will be held in some of the regions hardest hit by the February earthquake.

“We’ve decided to take the Fanzone idea out to a few communities where people may have difficulty travelling to Hagley Park and who just generally deserve something fun in their neighbourhood.

“There will be something for the whole family, including live music and entertainment, free bouncy castle, ball skills, food stalls and, best of all, large screens to watch the matches live,” he says.

The Community Fanzones will run from midday to 11pm at Cowles Stadium, Cuthberts Green on Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 September; Ascot Grounds at QEII on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 September; and Ferrymead Sportsfields, to coincide with Redcliffs school fair, on Sunday 2 October.

The Fanzone at the Events Village in North Hagley Park is now up and final touches are being made in the lead up to kick off this Friday 9 September.

“It’s been hard for Christchurch people to get excited about Rugby World Cup 2011 with so much else going on for us here, and of course, with no matches being held in our city.

However there are still teams coming through, there will be live games screening around the city and we have a lot of passionate Rugby fans who will want to feel part of this once in a lifetime event,” says Mr Parker.

For more information on Rugby World Cup 2011 activity in Christchurch, visit www.christchurchnz2011.com.