Call for more big games in Napier
McLean Park, Napier, is one of the top cricket venues in New Zealand and the region's governing body, Central Districts, want it to stay that way.
With just tomorrow night's New Zealand versus England one-dayer match to be staged this summer CD chief executive Hugh Henderson said New Zealand Cricket's decision to allocate just the day-nighter was concerning and the "public have every right to demand more".
Henderson understood NZ Cricket wanted to allocate more games to southern venues such as Christchurch but, ironically, it came at a time when Hawke's Bay was blessed with predominantly rain-free summer days.
"We're hopeful of getting the India and West Indies tour matches back on the calendar next summer," he said, adding McLean Park was also in contention for the men's ODI World Cup in 2015.
He didn't have tickets sold for tomorrow's day-nighter because NZ Cricket hadn't released them yet.
"I don't know how many yet but pre-sale figures are way better than Seddon Park [Hamilton] and Westpac Stadium [Wellington] so that augurs very well for us."
While he wasn't sure how many children were wagging school, he didn't think principals would mind releasing fans an hour before.
BBC radio commentator John Agnew, dubbed "the voice of English cricket", will be guest speaker for fans in hospitality tents during the innings break.
Sponsors ANZ have also a family zone for entertaining children but he didn't expect congestion at main ticket gates.
"Idiots" engaging in drunken antics will be evicted.
