In late 2006, the government came forward with the grand scheme of building a national stadium on the Auckland waterfront. This idea sadly ended up being caught in a battle of egos between then Sports Minister Trevor Mallard and Auckland Regional Council Chairman Mike Lee, with Lee using his local government power to stop such a venue being built in the nation’s largest city. In late 2007 Mike Lee tried to come up with his own finals venue by looking into the upgrade of Mt. Smart Stadium. This prompted the NZRU and government to finalise the selection of Eden Park, with fears that Lee was putting the hosting rights in jeopardy. Fast forward to July 2008 and construction is just about to get underway with only three years left till kick off

But what about the ten other venues that will be needed to host one of the biggest tournaments in the world? Do we have enough stadiums up to international standards

Here is a list of the fifteen stadiums most likely in the running to host World Cup matches in Twenty11 starting from the top of the North Island down to the Deep South:

NORTH HARBOUR STADIUM-
Opened: 1997
Where: Albany, North Shore
Current capacity: 25,000; Twenty11 Capacity: 25,000 (19,000 seats)
Primary use of stadium: Rugby (Internationals, Auckland Blues, North Harbour) Rugby League (Internationals), Soccer (Internationals)
Capacity ranking: 7th
Although it only looks half built, North Harbour Stadium was the backup plan incase Eden Park failed against the Resource Management Act and environmental courts. It is the main venue for a FIFA sanctioned Under 17s girls soccer tournament later this year. North Harbour Stadium CEO Brendon O'Connor in November 2007 said that he may look into upgrading, depending on the standard of matches the stadium would receive.

EDEN PARK-
Opened: 1900
Where: Mt. Eden, Auckland
Current capacity: 45,472; Twenty11 Capacity: 63,000 (all-seater)
Primary use of stadium: Rugby (Internationals, Auckland Blues, Auckland Rugby), Cricket (Internationals)
Capacity ranking: 1st
It will host the semi-finals, and final of the Twenty11 RWC due to it having the largest capacity. Looking at the renderings on the Eden Park website, it doesn’t visually seem a great stadium when you compare it to previous main venues (Millennium Stadium, Homebush Stadium, Stade de France), but now is not the time to get picky about its appearance. With just over three years left, Eden Park may need to be shut down to ensure the public it’s built in time. That may result in some loss of revenue, but it may be time for the bosses of the ground to be less greedy and more grateful that their stadium is set to host the big show.

MT. SMART STADIUM-
Opened: 1967
Where: Penrose, Auckland
Current capacity: 30,000; Twenty11 Capacity: 30,000 (all-seater)
Primary use of stadium: Rugby League (Internationals, New Zealand Warriors), Rugby (Counties-Manukau Steelers)
Capacity ranking: 6th equal
ARC Chairman Mike Lee’s favoured venue, Mt. Smart Stadium could cover games for Eden Park if it needs to be shut down for construction (which would please the ARC since they own Mt. Smart Stadium). If the new Dunedin Stadium doesn’t go ahead than Mt. Smart Stadium will be required to take on more RWC games come Twenty11.

WAIKATO STADIUM-
Opened: 2002
Where: Hamilton
Current capacity: 26,500; Twenty11 Capacity: 30,000 (all-seater)
Primary use of stadium: Rugby (Internationals, Chiefs, Waikato Mooloos)
Capacity ranking: 6th equal
Seen by many as one of the best stadiums in NZ, Waikato Stadium is in the running for the third/fourth playoff due to its close proximity to Eden Park and Auckland. Missed out on hosting a quarterfinal as it did not meet the required 35,000 capacity.

BAYPARK STADIUM-
Opened: 2001
Where: Mt. Maunganui
Current capacity: 19,800; Twenty11 Capacity: 19,800 (all-seater)
Primary use of stadium: Rugby (Bay of Plenty Steamers), Motorsports (Speedway)
Capacity ranking: 10th
Built by Tauranga MP Bob Clarkson in 2001, this ‘mini Caketin’ is now a fully covered stadium based in Mt. Maunganui. Possible temporary seating could boost the capacity to around 24,000.

ROTORUA INTERNATIONAL STADIUM-
Opened: 1911
Where: Rotorua
Current capacity: 35,000; Twenty11 Capacity: 35,000 (12,000 seats)
Primary use of stadium: Rugby (Internationals, Chiefs, Bay of Plenty Steamers, Softball (Domestic leagues)
Capacity ranking: 4th
A funky stadium with natural terraces, Rotorua International Stadium will be celebrating a hundred years in Twenty11. Its large capacity saw it host the British Lions/Bay of Plenty game in 2005 over its newer cousin BayPark Stadium, and its large capacity will again see it host a number of pool games.

YARROW STADIUM-
Opened: 2002
Where: New Plymouth
Current capacity: 21,000; Twenty11 Capacity: 24,000 (9,000 seats)
Primary use of stadium: Rugby (Internationals, Taranaki)
Capacity ranking: 8th
In September, Yarrow Stadium will host its first All Black match when the men in black take on Manu Samoa. This could be seen as a nod from the NZRU that Yarrow Stadium is certain to be one of the eleven venues for Twenty11. The capacity of this stadium is reported from 20,000 to around 25,000, which may be due to how many people they can cram into this great provincial arena.

MCLEAN PARK-
Opened: 1952
Where: Napier
Current capacity: 16,000; Twenty11 Capacity: 22,000 (11,000 seats)
Primary use of stadium: Cricket (Internationals, Central Districts Stags), Rugby (Internationals, Hawkes Bay Magpies)
Capacity ranking: 9th
Currently undergoing a $6 million dollar upgrade, the old wooden McKenzie stand is set to be replaced by the new Graeme Lowe stand which will provided new media and corporate facilities. The stadium will have a horseshoe shape appearance, perhaps giving it a new nickname. With much of the upgrade funding coming from the government, and the fact McLean Park is the only major stadium on the east coast of the North Island, Napier looks set to host pool matches.

FMG STADIUM AT ARENA MANAWATU-
Opened: 2005
Where: Palmerston North
Current capacity: 14,000; Twenty11 Capacity: 18,000 (all-seater)
Primary use of stadium: Rugby (Manawatu Turbos), Motorsports (Speedway)
Capacity ranking: 11th
When the selection of the eleven venues comes out, FMG Stadium at Arena Manawatu could be off the list. Sports Manawatu have admitted that although they hosted a British Lions game in 2005, they will need to have around 20,000 capacity and are fighting Yarrow Stadium and McLean Park for pool games. Discussions over upgrading/temporary seating is on-going.

WESTPAC STADIUM (THE CAKETIN)-
Opened: 2000
Where: Wellington City
Current capacity: 34,500; Twenty11 Capacity: 40,000 (all-seater)
Primary use of stadium: Rugby (Internationals, Wellington Hurricanes, Wellington Lions), Cricket (Internationals), Soccer (Internationals, Wellington Phoenix)
Capacity ranking: 3rd
Seen by many Kiwis as the nation’s best stadium, the ‘Caketin’ could have been the national stadium had Wellington agreed to the 50,000 capacity (60,000+ with temporary seating) suggestion by the NZRU in the 1990s. Still, it will be in contention for hosting a quarterfinal match. With Eden Park and AMI Stadium under construction next year, Westpac Stadium will be the biggest stadium in 2009.

TRAFALGAR PARK-
Re-Opened: 2008
Where: Nelson
Current capacity: 16,000; Twenty11 Capacity: 16,000 (4,000 seats)
Primary use of stadium: Rugby (Tasman Makos)
Capacity ranking: 13th
A long shot to host games, Trafalgar Park has already undergone a two year upgrade, though some Nelson businessmen wish to do another major upgrade to bring the capacity over 20,000.
If a second upgrade goes ahead than Trafalgar Park could earn a spot in the final eleven since currently only two stadiums from the South Island are guaranteed games.

AMI STADIUM-
Opened: 1880
Where: Christchurch
Current capacity: 27,000 (currently upgrading); Twenty11 Capacity: 50,000 (all-seater)
Primary use of stadium: Rugby (Internationals, Canterbury Crusaders, Canterbury), Cricket (Internationals)
Capacity ranking: 2nd
New Zealand’s second largest stadium, AMI Stadium will host many of the major matches in Twenty11. Canterbury Rugby Union CEO Hamish Riach has expressed concern that AMI Stadium will only get one quarterfinal match, but due to its major upgrade (and large capacity), it very well may host two quarterfinal matches.

PROPOSED DUNEDIN STADIUM-
Where: North Dunedin
Twenty11 Capacity: 30,000 (all-seater)
Primary use of stadium: Rugby (Internationals, Otago Highlanders, Otago)
Capacity ranking: 6th equal
Already three months behind schedule, the new Dunedin Stadium may not be ready for the Twenty11 event. In fact due to a small but well organized anti-stadium group, the stadium may not even be built as it now has to go through the environmental courts. Rugby New Zealand Twenty11 CEO Martin Snedden has told the planners to do it right, not rush it for a six week tournament. But stadium backer Malcom Farry has said it would be better for Otago to showcase the new venue at the World Cup, and that’s still their aim.

CARISBROOK-
Opened: 1874
Where: South Dunedin
Current capacity: 32,000; Twenty11 Capacity: 32,000 (21,000 seats)
Primary use of stadium: Rugby (Internationals, Otago Highlanders, Otago), Cricket (Internationals)
Capacity ranking: 5th
The 134 year old lady of Caversham is in the final years of her life, but has been confirmed by Otago Rugby Union that the ground could still be used for the Twenty11 RWC tournament. The best scenario for Dunedin would be the ability to have two stadiums to use, meaning more games for the Deep South, and a fitting farewell to the aging relic of New Zealand sport.

RUGBY PARK SOUTHLAND
Opened: 2002
Where: Invercargill
Current capacity: 17,000; Twenty11 Capacity: 17,000 (5,000 seats)
Primary use of stadium: Rugby (Otago Highlanders, Southland Stags)
Capacity ranking: 12th
Was set to host games at the 2003 RWC before the O’Neill/sponsors saga. But now Rugby Park seems to be too far down the list (as well as too far away in logistic terms) to hold any RWC games.

Probable 11: Eden Park, AMI Stadium, Westpac Stadium, Waikato Stadium, Mt. Smart Stadium, Carisbrook, North Harbour Stadium,  Rotorua International Stadium, Yarrow Stadium, McLean Park, BayPark Stadium.