0811> NZ's X-Air To Stay In Wellington - But At A Price

E365 -- New Zealand's biggest extreme sports event, X-Air, has managed to remain in Wellington next year, but it's gonna cost them a pretty penny, mate. The city's bill for continuing to host X-Air? $2.2 million.

It has been confirmed that the 2007 X-Air will hit Wellington's waterfront in February, but it's expected to be $600,000 more expensive than this year's event was.

Just 30,000 tickets will be up for grabs over the two days - a serious drop from the estimated 80,000 people who attended the 2006 X-Air.

The two-day festival features all the great festival sports - skating, BMX, motocross and street dancing exhibitions, as well as all the fanfare, posing and food and drink that you can stomach. Tickets are going for $15 a day, or $25 for both days.

The event was apparently marred last year by ridiculous queues and walls of people.

"I just don't believe people were getting the experience that I wanted to deliver," said Director Mark Wright on Stuff.co.nz. "Limiting tickets would let spectators see a range of activities without having to face long queues."

This off the hook image courtesy of the dude who pulled the trick and X-Air

But, on the flip side, Wellington Mayor Kerry Prendergast said the city council (one of two big sponsors) is pretty stoked to host the event again, remaining "absolutely committed" to keeping the event free.

But she is in China right now.

"In the end ... it was no longer possible to achieve the financial outcomes to get the event here and for it to be free," countered acting mayor Alick Shaw.

Mr Wright said the 2006 event did not make enough profit to be rerun in the same format. Selling tickets meant it could continue to grow.

"Now that we've run it for two years we can see it (X-Air) has the potential to become an iconic event, up there with the Sevens," said Council events manager John Dawson.

Held in the TSB Bank Arena, Frank Kitts Park and lagoon, and at Taranaki Wharf, use of Waitangi Park would be a new venue, replacing the Michael Fowler Centre.

Kiwi acts Steriogram, P Money, Blindspott, Kora and the Black Seeds are gonna be keeping the crowds going. Overseas athletes are apparently queuing up to get in on the action, and some have had to be turned away to keep the number of Kiwi athletes in the competition.

Sweet.