The Samoa Rugby Union says it ended up making a profit from hosting the All Blacks in Apia, after receiving some additional sponsorship money.
The SRU announced in July it was a facing a loss of US$580,000 from the historic test, citing smaller than expected earnings from broadcasting and sponsorship.
Manu Samoa and the All Blacks sing their respective national anthems ahead of their rugby match in Apia Photo: RNZI / Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia
SRU Chief Executive Officer Faleomavaega Vincent Fepuleai says, since that announcement, the Samoa International Finance Authority provided additional sponsorship from the test, turning the deficit into a profit of US$300,000.
"After the match when we did our financials specifically for the match we had made a loss but down the track the main sponsor that we applied for funding, towards that particular match - the All Blacks and Manu Samoa - came through in the end a couple of months afterwards, so that gave us a bit of profit in the end. We made about 800,000 Tala."
Faleomavaega says the main hindrance to earnings from the match was the reduced capacity of 8000 at Apia Park following extensive renovations.
Fans during the All Blacks v Manu Samoa test in Apia. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
He says the SRU spent a lot of money addressing safety issues around the ground and upgrading the changing rooms and technical areas, with support from the government.
