Fleetwood Mac In NZ!

[michelej1]

December 4, 2009
http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-dail...oncert-weekend

Before its demise, the USSR was famous for its detailed statistics on everything from toothpick production to household lightbulb use.

Now the New Plymouth District Council has got in on the act and released a bunch of numbers about its preparation for the coming flood of Fleetwood Mac fans.

Though interesting, your life will not be improved by knowing that some 3000 ice-creams, 8000 hot dogs and 50kg of paella are expected to be consumed at the December 19 and 20 concerts.

Nor will the fact 450 people are arriving by train on Saturday night add meaning to your existence. However drinkers may be relieved to know there will be 160 food and beverage staff serving along 45m of bar frontage on both nights.

To cope with the influx of more than 20,000 visitors to the people's glorious province of Taranaki, Air New Zealand is putting on six additional flights.

This means more than 50 flights will be coming into and leaving New Plymouth airport over the weekend making it very close to quite busy.

There are also 10,000 travellers expected to arrive by car from the north, 10,000 from the south and a few from the east but none will be allowed in from the west.

Council customer service manager Cathy Thurston said they had so far organised 170 volunteers to help Fleetwood Mac fans around the city with information and advice.

"However, we need 105,000 ambassadors for the region," Ms Thurston said.

"Apart from anything else, these preparations for the Fleetwood Mac weekend will be a great dress rehearsal for other big events that are coming up, including the All Blacks versus Ireland test match next year, and the Rugby World Cup 2011."