The All Blacks v Ireland decider match at Sky Stadium on Saturday is set to bring in $10 million in revenue for the capital.
But hospitality venues are still scrambling to get prepared because the industry's plagued by major staff shortages.
It's the eve of the big game and things at Sky Stadium are in full swing - the drinks are getting stocked, the food is being prepared and even the seats are getting cleaned, all in time for a massive night.
"I'm very excited, it's been a long time coming, the last three years have been pretty tough so to have a full house here tomorrow night is fantastic," Sky Stadium CEO Shane Harmon said.
There'll be about 38,000 people at Sky Stadium on Saturday night, the largest crowd for a sporting event since 2017 and the first-ever decider at the venue.
But it's no easy feat because like much of the hospitality industry Sky Stadium has been hit by a shortage of workers.
Harmon said it has been a struggle to get enough workers for the big event.
"Normally for a test match we'd have upwards of a thousand people working here in some capacity, so it has been a scramble this week to get to the numbers required."
Popular Irish pub owner JJ Murphy's general manager Eugene Wehrly said he is in the same position.
"Crying out for staff, same as everybody else, I could talk about staffing situations all day but it is what it is at the moment, we've got who we have, we've got good staff, so we're ready for it."
Wehrly said they're expecting a big night - in fact, as the week's progressed it's been getting busier and busier.
"For a long time Wellington's been really quiet so this is going to be definitely a boost the industry needs big time."
Wellington Chamber of Commerce's Simon Arcus said the game will help pump up Wellington's economy.
"It's really important for Welly to have this kind of pumping feeling, the confidence and the fizz back in the city. That's what makes a city."
Sky Stadium's predicting the game will bring in $10 million in revenue.
"Normally for a test match 40 percent of tickets are sold to people outside of the Wellington region, the hotels are full the bars and restaurants are going to be packed over the weekend, so it's going to be a great buzz around town," Harmon told Newshub.
Arcus said it is a much-needed economic boost though with a plea for punters to be a little patient whatever the result.
"This is a much-needed boost - $10m in the bank for the city and also a lift in confidence that we can do these things again. That people are prepared to come out, eat, spend and enjoy themselves."
