Ticket sales have passed the 25,000 mark as the One New Zealand Warriors go all-out for their biggest crowd of the season for Sunday's blockbuster against in-form Cronulla Sutherland at Go Media Stadium Mt Smart (4.00pm kick-off).
A special 48-hour ticket offer for all remaining general admission tickets led to a another surge in sales but there are still seats available after the deal closed at 10.00am today.
A fifth consecutive 20,000-plus crowd is assured, a feat not achieved since the heady days when the Warriors debuted in 1995.
It leaves the club on track to match the 1995 record of eight straight crowds of more than 20,000.
The stadium’s capacity has been increased to 31,000 with extra seating installed for the rugby union Test between the All Blacks and South Africa being played on Saturday night.
With the additional seats available, it gives the One New Zealand Warriors a chance to attract their biggest crowd at Go Media Stadium outside the 1995 campaign.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity for everyone to get on board and pack the place out with an enormous crowd,” said One New Zealand Warriors CEO Cameron George.
“The support from members and fans has been exceptional all season no matter what the weather. The players have been blown away by the experience of playing in front of such passionate crowds. They love it.
“We’ve got a team which is playing with real determination and pride, pushing hard each week to make their supporters proud.
“It’s going to be another huge day at our home on Sunday and we want as many people as possible to be part of it.”
George also encouraged supporters to make plans for the three remaining games at Go Media Stadium this season against Canberra (July 21), Manly Warringah (August 18) and St George Illawarra (August 25).
“With the level of support we’ve seen, we’d recommend getting in now to buy tickets for the rest of the season,” he said.
“Outside 1995, this has been the biggest season we’ve seen at Go Media Stadium so let’s keep it going and push the team all the way.”
Outside 1995, this has been the biggest season we’ve seen at Go Media Stadium so let’s keep it going and push the team all the way
Cameron George One New Zealand Warriors CEO
The club record attendance at Go Media Stadium is 32,174 for the sixth-round match against the Illawarra Steelers at the then-named Ericsson Stadium in 1995 when the ground’s capacity was much bigger than it has been for many years.
Outside 1995, the biggest attendance for all matches including finals was 28,745 for the week one play-off final against Parramatta in 2007.
The highest regular season crowd post-1995 was for last year’s homecoming against the Wests Tigers when a crowd of 26,009 packed the venue.
If the One New Zealand Warriors post 20,000-plus crowds in the remaining home games they’ll equal the record set in 1995 when the original Warriors attracted crowds of more than 20,000 in their first eight home games of the season.
So far this season the total attendance for the first five home games has been 108,983 (an average crowd of 21,796 a game), the best numbers since 1995. The last four crowds have been 23,695 (Cowboys), 20,395 (Roosters), 23,686 (Dolphins) and 22,612 (Rabbitohs).
