Those 7pm kick-offs have made it impossible for me to get down from Auckland and back on the same day. I made it down last year 5 times - 4 on the same day. I can do it for under $100 that way; if I need an overnight then it more than doubles that. I can't afford that.
Incidentally when on the plane back I always saw 5 or 6 people at least who had obviously been to the game; then there were people like me who had been but were not obvious. And that was just on whatever flight I was on: there are around 8 flights that one could get back on after the game. And then there are people from Christchurch etc.? I don't know how many people in total went down and back on the same day but every bum on a seat counts!
Anyway I can make a game or two in the new year so I'll be there and I've bitten the bullet and bought a membership. I've just forked out $100 for the Violent Femmes concert in March so it's economise for a wee while for me!
The good thing about Auckland is the International Terminal offers free accommodation on very comfortable benches and has a Maccas, and a subway open 24/7. Don't know about Wellington Airport Harry, but yours has helped me on all our games up there except one year when I drove up. Thinking of driving this year too.