SEVENS READY: Fans in costume at day two of the Wellington Rugby Sevens last year.

The price has increased but tickets to Wellington's biggest party sold out within three minutes this morning.

This year, 10,100 tickets to the New Zealand International Sevens tournament were available.

The most expensive ticket to the two-day tournament in February will cost $195, up from $175, and the price of the cheapest pass has also risen $20, to $145.

Christchurch man Jason van den Elzen and two friends in Wellington were "furiously clicking" at 9am but only managed to get a single ticket.

The trio were on a conference call coordinating tactics in an attempt to secure 10 tickets.

Mr van den Elzen, 37, and his wife had already arranged flights and the crew had decided on costumes - karate kid verse the cobras.

The trio have put their names on the official Ticketek wait list.

Mr van den Elzen questioned why more tickets were not made available to the general public.

''I'm suspicious because they said there's a wait list so are they staggering the release?

''I understand why clubs and people involved in the sport should have preferential access to them but, when it comes to it, the heart and soul are the people of the country.''

Wellington account manager Robert Manual, 44, also missed out on tickets this morning but isn't giving up.

''We'll take every single avenue - legal or illegal.

''More tickets should be available to the public.''

He has been to all but one of the tournaments held in Wellington

Hayley Bullen of Kapiti was lucky enough to get three tickets after just one click.

''I had two browsers open just to be safe and the site was pretty slow.

''I didn't even look at where the tickets were I just bought them.''

NZ International Sevens general manager, Steve Walters, was thrilled supporters were quick to snap up tickets.

''We have seen in recent weeks the passion of rugby fans come alive, which is exciting as we count down to the NZ International Sevens.

''It is sensational that even during one of the world's biggest events we still have supporters eager to snap up tickets to the sevens.

"We want to reward fans by continuing to step it up year after year to provide New Zealand's best festival of rugby, culture and fun."

There are 112 tickets up for grabs in the cheerleading competition.

Hospitality packages are also available.