Legendary U2 front man Bono will be amongst a group of A-list Irish celebrities who will watch the All Blacks play Munster here on Wednesday (NZ time).

The match will officially open the impressive new Thomond Park stadium that has been rebuilt at a cost of more than $80m.

And it seems the corporate areas on the night will be filled with some big names. They are led by rocker Bono who is keen to watch the All Blacks strut their stuff after his guitarist The Edge was amongst the massive crowd at Croke Park last Saturday to witness Ireland get smashed by New Zealand in the test in Dublin.

Others who will watch the Munster match are dancer Michael Flatley, golfer Padraig Harrington (a winner of three major titles), comedian Tommy Tiernan and folk singer Christy Moore with the stadium's 20 private boxes in heavy demand.

Limerick is out to make the most of the new facility which replaces the down-trodden park that saw one of the biggest upsets in world rugby 30 years ago when Munster beat the 1978 All Blacks 12-nil.

City leaders here predict the match could inject more than $12m into the local economy. Hotels and guest houses are full and as the All Blacks arrived from Dublin on Sunday Limerick was in party mode with pubs and bars busy.

The city is awash with red Munster and All Blacks flags and retailers have entered into the spirit of a shop window-dressing competition.

Jonah Lomu will switch on the Christmas lights on Monday night and the All Blacks great will also light up Ireland's largest Christmas tree on the banks of the river Shannon that runs through the city.

The All Blacks, after a good run of weather on this tour, struck drizzle in Limerick although the forecast for the match was for improving conditions.

Elton John is first big musical act booked to play at the stadium next June when summer returns to the area.