A firm criteria for allocating home games will see Bay of Plenty Steamers split their Air New Zealand Cup matches between Tauranga and Rotorua this season.

The Steamers will play a guaranteed seven games at home during the round-robin stages of the new extended tournament which now runs from July to November.

The split sees three games allocated to the Rotorua International Stadium and four at Bay park in Tauranga. It's expected the New Zealand Rugby Union will officially release the draw some this week.

Bay of Plenty Rugby Union chief executive Jeremy Curragh confirmed the Bay board had approved the draw proposal, based on the same criteria devel oped to determine the 2008 Cup quarterfinal against Southland at Baypark.

"It's a sensible approach to something that's always going to be a challenging decision to make it as fair as possible in every situation," Curragh said.

The criteria includes contractual obligations, financial analysis using average crowds for the last three years, logistical issues, sponsor obligations and extenuating cir cumstances.

Games cost about the same for both host venues and the union still holds a contract with Baypark which determines the majority of games must be played there.

The union averaged close to 8500 per game last year, almost twice as many people as the previous season.

The seven 2009 home games, which include clashes with heavy weights Wellington, Waikato, Can terbury and Hawkes Bay, should also allow the union's marketing arm an opportunity to sell the team.

"Because it's so early in the year we can really plan what [promotions and training] we're going to do in the leadup to games," Curragh said.

Two home pre-season games, one in Whakatane and one in Tauranga, were also being planned.

Season ticket packages are expected to be available in April and on a first-come-first-served basis, will include a ticket to the All Blacks v South Africa test in Ham ilton in September.

The Steamers will kick off their season by hosting Northland in Rotorua for a Friday night clash on July 31. Their second home match, against Wellington, is also in Rotorua, a Saturday afternoon match on August 22.

The first Baypark outing will be against neighbours Waikato on August 30.

Canterbury follow for a rare visit a week later, on September 5. The red and blacks haven't played in Bay of Plenty territory since they ended the region's one _ and so far only _ Ranfurly Shield era in 2004.

The only Thursday night match at home is against Tasman on Sep tember 17 at Baypark. It will be the first time the Makos have played in the Bay of Plenty since they were established in 2006.

The final Rotorua match is against Hawkes Bay on Friday night, October 2, while Taranaki are the final confirmed visitor to Baypark during the regular season, on Sunday, October 25.