Tauranga has been snubbed as a match venue for 2011's Rugby World Cup, leaving local rugby fans upset and business leaders predicting the city will miss out on a windfall of up to $15 million a match.

Details of the draw and venues for the tournament were unveiled at a function in Auckland yesterday, with 48 matches to be spread across 13 grounds in Whangarei, North Harbour, Auckland, Waikato, Rotorua, New Plymouth, Napier, Palmerston North, Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch, Dunedin and Invercargill.

Tauranga, Queenstown and Auckland's Mt Smart Stadium were the big losers, missing out on the chance to host games.

Instead, Western Bay rugby fans will need to travel to Rotorua International Stadium, with Tauranga's southern neighbour set to host three matches, one featuring international heavyweight Ireland, and another involving Fiji.

Bay of Plenty Rugby Union chairman Bruce Cameron said it was a shame Tauranga did not get to host any games but was pleased at the outcome for Rotorua.

He put some of that success down to Tauranga and Rotorua councils forming a joint venture to bid for games.

"We went together on a joint venture basis and got a good result. The union was happy with the way the bid was presented.

"I was surprised Tauranga did not get one or two games, but when you see how the other (rugby) unions fared, you can understand the decision that was made. It came down to ticking the boxes."

Bay of Plenty Rugby Union chief executive Jeremy Curragh said Tauranga missed out because the international body did not accept New Zealand's argument for a 16-venue tournament.

Mr Curragh said if the international organisation had accepted Rugby New Zealand 2011's recommendation, then Tauranga, Mt Smart Stadium and Queenstown would have been added to the list of venues.

But in a classic compromise, 13 venues were selected. The international body wanted 10 venues - the number selected for the last two tournaments.

Tauranga Chamber of Commerce chief executive Max Mason said the missed opportunity to make at least $10-$15 million a game for the Western Bay economy was a huge blow.

"And that's a conservative estimate only. Once you start totalling up car hireage, accommodation, entertainment, and so on, and the possibility of a beer or two drunk by visitors while here, the potential losses really start to mount up."

Mr Mason said on top of that, there was also a huge lost opportunity to showcase Tauranga and the Western Bay to the rest of the world through overseas media coverage.

Tauranga Mayor Stuart Crosby was disappointed Western Bay missed out, but remained optimistic about what the event could bring to the Bay. "[ There's] still an opportunity for our community to leverage off the rugby world cup in terms of getting visitors here," he said.

He said it surprised him that no games were to be held at Baypark, as he did not feel the stadium was lacking. " I think it's a bad decision. Our stadium is better than theirs [ Rotorua's], it's got better amenities."

Tourism Bay of Plenty general manager Tim Burgess said the news was unfortunate, but a lack of internationalstandard accommodation, compared to Rotorua, was probably to blame.

"It's no secret there are a lot more international standard hotels in Rotorua in close proximity. It's a different style of accommodation here. For this particular event we're probably looking at more the fivestar hotel market."

However, Tauranga was unlikely to miss out completely, with Mr Burgess anticipating teams could visit Tauranga before matches to train.

"Rugby World Cup officials really liked Blake Park and Tauranga Domain as potential training facilities when they visited last year."

Richard Kinzett, the business development manager for Western Bay's economic development organisation Priority One, said the true benefit lay with the team bases and he hoped the Western Bay would pick up one or two teams.

"A game is a hit on a day whereas teams are here for an extended period of time and bring supporters."

Bob Clarkson, who built Baypark, said the stadium did not meet World Cup standards set by the International Rugby Board. Mr Clarkson said he was " rapt" games would not be played in Tauranga, saying it would cost ratepayers about $ 1 million to upgrade the stadium.

"If we had had just one game here they would have wanted better corporate boxes and a better field," he said.

He said Baypark was "quite nice and tidy and looks good on TV" and should have been considered as a game venue just the way it was.

But Baypark stadium director, Grant Seagar, said Mr Clarkson was " talking rubbish" adding that Baypark was one of the only stadiums in the country with full compliance when it came to World Cup standards.

Mr Seagar said the stadium was currently being sandcarpeted, which could have improved its chances of getting World Cup games, but that was the only improvement needed, which would cost a maximum of $ 100,000.

Tauranga MP Simon Bridges was bitterly disappointed the city did not get to host at least one game.

"New Plymouth and Napier both got games and I would have thought our stadium was just as good if not better, it's a huge blow to the region."

Greg Rowlands, a former All Black and the Bay's most capped rugby player, was a little disappointed that Tauranga missed out, but said Rotorua had more appeal to international visitors.

"If I looked at it from just a rugby perspective, then I'm a little disappointed. But if you look at it from a national point of view, Rotorua has more attractions for international visitors."