The giant inflatable Rugby Ball is an unique venue and
destination experience designed to gain huge exposure for New
Zealand as the host of Rugby World Cup 2011. Since 2007, the Ball
has appeared in Paris, London, Tokyo and Sydney, showcasing New
Zealand to an estimated media audience of many millions.
New Zealand's Giant Rugby Ball is a New Zealand Government
project led by Tourism New Zealand designed to maximise the
benefits to New Zealand of hosting the Rugby World Cup in 2011.
Appearing in some of our key visitor markets, it is part of Tourism
New Zealand's strategy to raise awareness of New Zealand as the
host country of Rugby World Cup 2011 and encourage visitors
here.
In its international installations, by day the Ball is been open
to the public, giving visitors a stunning audio-visual experience
of New Zealand, our heritage, landscapes, culture and tourism
offerings. As queues of visitors line up outside, New Zealand
entertainers and cultural performers entertain waiting crowds with
Māori songs and dance.
By night, the venue becomes a hub for New Zealand-hosted trade
and industry events, showcasing the best of New Zealand food, wine
and hospitality.
While managed by Tourism New Zealand, the Rugby Ball Venue is a
joint project with New Zealand Trade & Enterprise, the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs, and Trade and the New Zealand 2011 Office.
So far, the Ball has appeared in Paris, France (2007); London,
England (2008); Tokyo, Japan (2009); and Sydney, Australia
(2010).
The facts
- The Ball itself is a temporary inflatable venue that measures
25 metres long, 17 metres wide (at its widest point) and 13 metres
high
- The venue takes five days to construct
- The air system works by two air pumps expelling 8,000 litres
per second. A revolving door allows the movement of people in and
out of the Ball while maintaining the interior air pressure
- It can hold up to 220 people
- The Ball can house an estimated 600,000 conventional rugby
balls
- 1500 sq metres of PVC blockout fabric is used in the Ball
- A key feature of the Ball is a 10-minute audiovisual show that
transforms the interior of the Ball into a variety of New Zealand
environments from the depths of the ocean, beaches, volcanoes and
bush walks, to the sidelines of rugby games
- The Ball was created by New Zealand's Inside Out Productions,
which was also responsible for the three-storey Louis Vuitton
suitcase that toured the world for Louis Vuitton's 150th
anniversary celebrations
- It was designed and built by New Zealand's Fabric Structure
Systems, global specialists in inflatable and temporary
structures
- In October 2008 the Ball was awarded a Gold Award in the Design
Institute of New Zealand's BeST Design Awards
Past Highlights
The Eiffel Tower, Paris, France - October 2007
New Zealand 's innovation and creativity were on display during
the final stages of the Rugby World Cup 2007 when the giant Rugby
Ball was installed in front of the Eiffel Tower in central Paris.
During the 15 days the Ball was open, an estimated world-wide
audience of 137 million readers, listeners and viewers were exposed
to media coverage of the Ball; over 25,000 passed through the
interior of the ball.
The audiovisual experience really transports you to the
heart of New Zealand and in 10 minutes I had discovered a country
that I could never before have imagined."
Julia Fouquet, L'Equipe
Potters Field, London, UK - November 2008
Timed to coincide with the All Blacks tour in the UK in November
2008, the Ball hosted the Queen, Prince Phillip, Mayor of London
Boris Johnson and New Zealand's newly-elected Prime Minister and
Minister of Tourism John Key. Over 7,500 people visited the Ball
during the week it was installed alongside London's iconic Tower
Bridge.
The Ball was the venue for numerous events including the
International Rugby Board's Rugby World Cup 2011 pool draw. Media
coverage reached an estimated 200 million people around the
world.
Prime Minister John Key opens the Ball in London
The Giant Rugby Ball hosts thousands in London
The Tokyo Tower, Tokyo, Japan - October 2009
Over 14,000 people visited the ball while it was in downtown
Tokyo. It also created a sensation in the Japanese media with
coverage on television, radio, in print and online reaching
millions of people.
Visits to Tourism New Zealand's Japanese website peaked on
Sunday 1 November, the day following the Bledisloe Cup match played
in Tokyo.
Read more about the Giant Rugby Ball's Tokyo visit
Millions learn about NZ through the Giant Rugby Ball promotion in
Tokyo
Circular Quay, Sydney, Australia - September 2010
Download image of the
Ball in Sydney
The Giant Rugby Ball made its fourth and final international
appearance at Sydney's Circular Quay between 2 and 12 September. It
was placed alongside the Overseas Passenger Terminal, with views of
the iconic Sydney Opera House.
This appearance in Australia - New Zealand's largest tourism
market - was timed for the beginning of the one year to go
countdown to Rugby World Cup on 9 September, and the Bledisloe Cup
match played in Sydney on 11 September. It was a record-breaking
appearance that surpassed expectations, with 26,670 people passing
through during the 10 days it was open.
Read
more about the Giant Rugby Ball's visit to Sydney
