[ad_1]
A nearly sold-out Bledisloe cup match served as the grand finale for a week that showed Wellington is once again open to the public as a capital of events and culture.
Thousands of people watched the All Blacks draw 16-16 against the Wallabies at Sky Stadium, unfazed by a few gusts of wind and popping rain.
It served as a finishing touch to what has been a great week for the city, though it didn’t serve as the economic boost that retail and hotel owners might have hoped for.
Local bartender Matt McLaughlin said the take-ins were not what he expected on an All Blacks tryout weekend, but he couldn’t complain.
READ MORE:
* When you think of hot sauce, what saint do you think of?
* A new hospitality business will open in a small Southland settlement
* Celiac sufferer says the $ 4 gluten-free surcharge on coffee is being taken advantage of
Robert Kitchin / Things
3-year-old Black fan Maika Kauika is led by Lyall Bay’s Uncle Wesley Chase as they make their way to the stadium.
“It certainly is a great feeling to be here with 30,000 people,” he said.
“We are the envy of the world, so we are very lucky. I don’t think anyone is going to be upset about it. “
Profits at his Danger Danger bar were on par with previous Saturdays, while Friday night was 10 to 15 percent lower.
Robert Kitchin / Things
Rugby fans head to Sky Stadium in Wellington to watch the All Blacks play the Wallabies in the Bledisloe Cup. Around 31,020 people bought tickets for the event, so the tickets were almost sold out.
Iko Iko co-owner Thomasin Bollinger said there were many mother-daughter duos perusing the store that afternoon.
They had come to town to see Benee play her sold-out shows this week.
“There seems to be an incredible commitment to keeping local businesses well supported,” he said. “We have been steadfast as we go.”
Loretta’s owner Marc Weir said it was a record Saturday for coffees last weekend, but this weekend had also been stable.
Bridie Witton / Things
Cuba Street’s Loretta coffee has been stable this weekend.
People who had planned to watch the canceled World of WearableArt (WOW) show still came to town, which served as a boost, along with loyal customers.
“I think it was people from out of town who wanted to go to WOW,” he said. “This week and last week there were a lot of outsiders.”
WOW was scheduled to run from September 30 to October 17 at the TSB Arena.
Street artist Matthias Goed was about to perform before the lunchtime crowd on Cuba Street, which he described as “incredible.”
“We haven’t worked for months,” he said.
He and other artists had been busy entertaining the families who had come to Wellington during the school holidays.
Sophia Kingsbury, a supervisor at Third Eye, said the store had been twice as busy this month compared to September.
“The school holidays have had a lot to do with it,” he said. “A lot of people are supporting the locals.”
He had clients from the South Island, including Dunedin.
Everday Wines co-owner Dan Gillett said it had been a Sunday like any other.
“We just sailed,” he said. “Usually it is busiest in the afternoon. This week has been good in general. “
A Unity Books bookseller said the store was at its usual pace for a weekend, with many out-of-towners still coming to town for WOW.
“They just came anyway because it was their annual trip to Wellington,” he said.
