FIFA U-20 the party never stops   28 Apr 2015

Tantalising food from Myanmar, Uzbekistan, USA, Fiji and Ukraine will be on offer at the FIFA U-20 pre-match party in Cameron Street Mall on Saturday 30 May.

At the same time as the FIFA U-20 World Cup kicks off in Auckland, fans in Whangarei are invited to come along to the “long brunch” and then walk on up to the match at the stadium.

“We really wanted to replicate some of the atmosphere we achieved through the Rugby World Cup and it made sense to celebrate the countries we will be hosting during the tournament,” said WDC Economic Development Manager Pete Gleeson.

“Having world class footballers on our door step is fabulous and this is just another great opportunity to showcase our District.”

The brunch idea came from a group of hospitality providers and retailers who have been meeting monthly for the last year or so to work out the best way to maximise impact for Whangarei from this event.

“Getting the games here is one component and making sure our residents and visitors have an awesome experience is another,” he said. “We really wanted to do something different.

“The theme we’ve come up with the for city is 'The Party Never Stops’, so we are organising a party in town and then people with match tickets can follow the “Purple line” up to the Northland Events Centre for the 4pm kick-off.”

The long brunch will include entertainment by Brazilian dancers, street performers and drummers, along with food cooked by 'My Kitchen Rules' contestants. Each couple will cook food from one of the countries of the teams playing in Whangarei.

Ex-Whangarei resident Aaron Gascoigne and fellow 'My Kitchen Rules' contestant, Josh King, jumped at the chance to help out and have managed to get some of their competitors along too: Ian Wright and Sandie Dunsford from Wellington, Aaron and Heather Freeman from Palmerston North, Ricki May Paisley and Jessie Smulders from Christchurch and Kelly Du Toit & Megan Collinson from Napier.

“So whether you are a football fan or not, mark Saturday 30 May in your diary as a great opportunity to get out and celebrate,” said Mr Gleeson.

Shops and business are invited to enter a window decorating competition, adopt teams or use the FIFA colours as their inspiration. There will be prizes for the best dressed shop window or best dressed business for those without a shop front.

Throughout the city, flower beds have been planted with annuals in the FIFA colours of orange and purple, and street flags and billboards will also be displayed throughout the city.

A ‘Fever Pitch” information booth will be setting up in the Cameron Street Mall from 27 May to 11 June selling tickets and merchandise.

Tickets for all matches are also available through Ticketek.
30 May – 4pm Myanmar vs USA
02 June – 1pm Myanmar – Ukraine
07 June – 2pm Fiji – Uzbekistan
11 June – 4pm Round of 16

“We are really proud that Whangarei is hosting matches in this tournament and we plan to show FIFA and the world just how much!” Mr Gleeson said.

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