Island Life by David Slack

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Island Life: All stadium, all the time

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  • Hamish,

    ...stick a traffic cone up a tree

    Look left next time you go over the Newmarket viaduct heading into the city.

    How on earth did someone got that cone on that tree!?

    The A.K. • Since Nov 2006 • 155 posts Report Reply

  • Robyn Gallagher,

    Yup, that's the best thing about being hooked on P - only 2 sleeps til xmas!

    That's hilarious. I'm going to steal it and use it to make people think I'm hip and witty and/or actually on P.

    Since Nov 2006 • 1946 posts Report Reply

  • Compie,

    Mark,

    I've got to argue for a couple of stadiums here that are iconic.

    Wembley, the old and the new, possibly the most iconic sports architecture ever, that attracted tourists of its own right.

    Past our naval's Wrigley Field in Chicago and Yankee Stadium ar two examples that transend sports architecture and are now part of the cultural heritage of a nation. This is also true of wembley, just think of Live Aid and Queen Live at Wembley, part of the musical history of the west. But also Shea stadium is remembered as much for the record and ground breaking concerts by the Beatles than anything else (well outside of NY that is).

    I've also go to argue that the Allanz stadium in Munich is outstanding and in time will be iconic.

    But the idea of stadium being beautiful is about to be taken to a new level (an I'm not talking about the cras commerialisation of parks like minute Maid park in Houston - Disney meets sport), but the work being done around Bejing in particular the new olympic park and swimming complex is just unbelievable.

    Having said all of the above, we are of course talking aesthetics, and what is high art to one person (minute maid park) is just cheap tacky commercialisation to another.

    Links:
    Minute Maid Park (this train is up on top of the stadium?
    http://www.pbase.com/lwh/image/24096604

    Beijing National Stadium, Olympic Green
    http://www.arup.com/eastasia/project.cfm?pageid=2184

    The Water Cube', National Swimming Centre, Beijing
    http://www.arup.com/eastasia/project.cfm?pageid=1250

    Wembley
    http://www.wembleystadium.com/

    Allianz Arena
    http://www.allianz-arena.de/en/index.php

    Dunedin/Vancouver • Since Nov 2006 • 114 posts Report Reply

  • Compie,

    Whops,

    navel, not the new HMNZS Otago.

    Dunedin/Vancouver • Since Nov 2006 • 114 posts Report Reply

  • tussock,

    So, aside from the wonderful things we may or may not get out a big stadium, and considering 90,000 seats will seemingly be unlikely to pay it's own way in a city of 1.5 million, has anyone mentioned temporary seating?

    You know, scaffolding, put it up, use it, take it down. Tada, several hundread million dollars saved, no white elephant to support. What is it I'm missing?

    Since Nov 2006 • 611 posts Report Reply

  • David Pattemore,

    From the spoof Volcadium news article:

    "This promise for the future and the integration of the stadium into an overall plan for Auckland has been an important consideration for all political parties and the various local authorities."

    If only that were so! My biggest fear is that as a small nation we are going to pour a whole lot of money into the World Cup, upgrading rugby parks all around the country not just Auckland. And then, in 2012, all the rugby fans will go back to their home countries and we will be left with a huge and costly sports infrastructure that will never be filled to capacity.

    If only the Government and the Auckland councils had a long-term strategy of how this all fitted into the overall plan for the development of Auckland. In all the Community Outcome meetings I attended over the last 12 months, this certainly never came up.

    I am warming to the Stadium New Zealand plan, but too many questions remain for me to be comfortable.

    Princeton, New Jersey • Since Nov 2006 • 2 posts Report Reply

  • Leopold Bloom,

    Talk of the iconic status of the stadium that will really "...put Auckland on the world map..." - can anybody else name an iconic sports stadium that has done this? Art gallery...yes (assorted Guggenhiems). Office building...yes (Empire State, Chrysler, Sears Tower, etc...). Sports stadum...mmm...not really. Munich (perhaps...and perhaps for all the wrong reasons). does anyone know what the Olympic Stadium in Sydney actually looks like?

    Colosseum? And they don't even use it for events any longer!

    Upper Hutt • Since Nov 2006 • 3 posts Report Reply

  • Mike Fistonich,

    Ok building a new unneeded stadium just so it'll be iconic sounds great , but does that mean if it turns out not to be iconic we'll build yet another one ?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10 posts Report Reply

  • Yamis,

    So, aside from the wonderful things we may or may not get out a big stadium, and considering 90,000 seats will seemingly be unlikely to pay it's own way in a city of 1.5 million, has anyone mentioned temporary seating?

    Well for starters they are looking at a 60,000 seat stadium not 90,000.

    I think it isn't beyond the realms of possibility that it can turn a profit or at least break even. It will draw more to a league test than Mt Smart will so the Kiwis are likely to shift there for tests, and other such things.

    One of the issues most stadiums face is that they don't get enough big drawing events/pay days in a year. A waterfront stadium as I've said before will attract more big events than any other venue and in a location which can't really be beaten in terms of accessibility and proximity to the population.

    It will have to a be a major stuff up for it to not do quite well at the very least.

    Since Nov 2006 • 903 posts Report Reply

  • Yamis,

    On the same theme. The Wellington sevens soldout in a split second today and tickets are 145 bucks.

    If the waterfront got that event (which it probably would due to commercial reasons) then you are looking at 8.7 million dollars in ticket sales alone from two days of sport.

    Since Nov 2006 • 903 posts Report Reply

  • Gary Hutchings,

    I think it isn't beyond the realms of possibility that it can turn a profit or at least break even. It will draw more to a league test than Mt Smart will so the Kiwis are likely to shift there for tests, and other such things.

    The killer is depreciation, if it ends up costing $700M at 50-70yrs life span ( from wellington stadium trust financial reports) that is $10-14Million that has to found every year before you can talk about making any profit to payoff the interest on any loan,

    While events like the 7s sell heaps of tickets, you will find that most of this money goes to the promoter, the stadium actually only gets a very small share, if this stadium goes ahead, unless you are going to get 50K+ ppl, why would you not go to Nrth Harbour/Mt Smart/Eden park as the ground rental will be cheaper.

    What we need to sit down and do is work out is will the cost of the Rugby world cup and the legacy it leave actually make money for Auckland (NZ), from the poor numbers I have seen they will not

    According to SPARC's website the event will only yield at max $500 million in benifit to NZ, so spending any more that $500 million seems stupid

    What are the economic benefits to NZ of hosting the event?
    The Bid Office estimates the tournament is expected to attract over 60,000 visitors to New Zealand and will generate significant economic benefits for the country. It is estimated that it will generate $380 million in direct additional expenditure within New Zealand, with a resultant impact on GDP of $408 million. In addition the tax take for the government is expected to exceed $90 million. This additional expenditure will come mainly from international visitors purchasing accommodation, hospitality and travel, which will result in further indirect spending.

    wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 108 posts Report Reply

  • David Slack,

    If you happen to be reading this rather than listening to the radio or drifting towards the TV news, this just in.....


    A group of Aucklanders has mounted a legal challenge to Rugby World Cup Minister Trevor Mallard's stadium proposal.

    Mr Mallard gave Auckland city and regional councils a deadline of Friday to choose between building a new stadium on Auckland's waterfront - the Government's preferred option - or extending Eden Park to provide the main venue for the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

    An application for an interim injunction to stop the councils from making decisions tomorrow and Friday was lodged in Auckland High Court shortly before 5pm.

    The papers have been filed in the name of a private citizen, representing a group of Aucklanders.

    It will go before a judge tomorrow.

    *****************************
    And while we're at it, there's also something brewing at Investigate

    Devonport • Since Nov 2006 • 599 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    And while we're at it, there's also something brewing at Investigate.

    It's below. You have to wade through a very long and tedious passage of windbaggery before you get to the following. But you can't read any more unless you pay them money with your credit card. LOL:

    When Dunedin private investigator Wayne Idour went public back in October with revelations that he’d been investigating the Labour government, it caused a shockwave in the Beehive. What no one, possibly not even Idour, realized was that it also caused shockwaves in Dunedin. Questioned on TV3’s Campbell Live, Idour at one point had admitted that he was looking into the activities of David Benson-Pope, and hinted that there might be more to come. Not only – according to observers at parliament – did Benson-Pope look stressed, but hundreds of kilometers away in Dunedin members of a BDSM (bondage, discipline, sado-masochism) group known as “Southern Kinx” suddenly froze like possums in the headlights.

    “All of a sudden,” Roxanne*, one member of the group, told Investigate, “I don’t know what has gone on…but all of a sudden the Southern Kinx group – most of its official members have taken a big step back. Officially there are now only seven members. But it’s not for reasons of people dropping out because at the last ‘play party’ [a BDSM orgy] there were still 25, 30 people.”

    What’s the connection between a private eye checking out Benson-Pope, and a BDSM group? Benson-Pope is part of Dunedin’s BDSM scene....(more)

    Hmmm ...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Seem like nice folks ...

    http://www.southernkinx.co.nz/

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • David Slack,

    Check out the nice Freudian typo:

    To read more, please click on the chopping cart icon.

    Devonport • Since Nov 2006 • 599 posts Report Reply

  • Yamis,

    Cheers for the info Gary H. I think though that if Wellington can sell out 30,000 seats Auckland would breeze past 50,000. It can't be at Eden park I suspect because it will no longer exist if a waterfront stadium does. certainly not in it's existing size anyway. And Mt Smart seats less than 30,000 so it is a no go.

    North Harbour is also not big enough. I'm also wondering why on earth NH are still suggesting themselves as a legitimate venue. I'd prefer Eden park to that joint. It's barely an Auckland stadium let alone a national one. They need to seriously wake up and smell the flowers, coffee and crap that is rotting between their ears.

    Since Nov 2006 • 903 posts Report Reply

  • Felix Marwick,

    Anyone worried that by the time a decision is made the media will have nothing left to write about because every possible angle has already been done?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 200 posts Report Reply

  • Gavin Auld,

    Trevor Mallard has LIED to all of you. HE KNOWS that the only way he can get "Trevor Mallard Stadium" on the waterfront is if the general public do not know about the bid made by North Harbour Stadium, which is better than his bid in everyway. That is why he has turned this into "Eden Park vs Waterfront", instead of having a 3-way in the media.

    You should all visit: this site

    The simple fact is that the Waterfront costs to much, is impracticle due to transport issues, and will not be finished before the world cup. The guy who surveyed the site said it would cost upwards of $1000m - more than double what Mallard thinks he can build it for - and what does Mallard know about building stadiums???

    Eden park is not an option because of needing resourse concent to have ANY night time event due to Joe Public purchasing houses next to a stadium and then expecting to be able to sleep.....this means it cannot sustain itself after the world cup due to low income.
    Also costs too much for the required upgrade.

    Only other REAL option...(only real option) is North Harbour. Lets see....It has already been DESIGNED, it already has RESOURSE CONCENT (which Mallard is trying to dodge for waterfront), nearby zoned area is for Pubs, Bars, Restaurants, Hotels and a shopping complex, it is right next to a BUS TERMINAL, and by the time it's finished, It will have TWO MOTORWAYS running past it and a passenger rail system to Britomart.
    It costs a fraction of the cost of either Eden, or Waterfront.
    An interesting fact is this: Eden Park has 9 Hectares, Waterfront will have 4, North Harbour has got 28 Hectares.


    We HAVE to get past the fact that everywhere from Manukau up to Rodney District is a part of Auckland, despite having 11 or so councils. (I actually think we're down to 8....). If you go to Aussie - or any other part of the world - they don't think North Harbour is its own city - it IS a part of Auckland, and should be treated that way. If we need a National Stadium in Auckland - then North Harbour HAS to be considered.

    Another simple fact is this: both Eden park and Waterfront will struggle to open before the RWC. Waterfront is super high risk timewise because of the fact that it is to be built on top of water which is an engineering feat in itself.
    North Harbour stadium - if built - would be ready for the 2010 season.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 3 posts Report Reply

  • Gavin Auld,

    North Harbour is also not big enough. I'm also wondering why on earth NH are still suggesting themselves as a legitimate venue. I'd prefer Eden park to that joint. It's barely an Auckland stadium let alone a national one. They need to seriously wake up and smell the flowers, coffee and crap that is rotting between their ears.

    North Harbour was designed to take 48,000 people, and has resourse concent for this many. It has 28 hectares to build on, and can easily upgrade to the 60,000 seats that are wanted for the world cup. It maybe small now - but it is a much better option that Eden Park or the Waterfront Stadium.

    I ask you - have you EVER been down to Aucklands waterfront??? There is busy traffic there at ALL TIMES of the day and night. It CANNOT cater for the busses that will be needed. Mallard thinks that britomart will suffice by itself - but have you been there? Britomart really can't cope with 60,000 people leaving all at the same time.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 3 posts Report Reply

  • Vic Grace,

    Hello,

    How about the design of Stadium New Zealand from this website http://stadiumnewzealand.org/ ? ...

    Since Nov 2006 • 1 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Trevor Mallard has LIED to all of you. HE KNOWS that the only way he can get "Trevor Mallard Stadium" on the waterfront is if the general public do not know about the bid made by North Harbour Stadium, which is better than his bid in everyway.

    North Harbour Stadium is a terrible idea: the equivalent of building Stadium Australia in Homebush - or, as some people wanted to do at the time, siting the Wellington Stadium in Porirua.

    There is no way there will be "rail to Britomart" (and a new harbour crossing too?) in 2011. NH Stadium chronically struggles to draw crowds as it is. You'd be spending money on empty seats.

    Britomart really can't cope with 60,000 people leaving all at the same time.

    Yes, but they won't all be getting on the train and, more to the point, they won't all be leaving at the same time - because they'll actually have something to do after the game.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Yamis,

    Aside from people who live on the North Shore is there anybody in Auckland happy to go all the way up to Albany to watch sport?

    The Harbour side get about 5,000 along after winning the Ranfurly shield for christssakes.

    It is so far behind the waterfront stadium that its not funny. I'd prefer Eden Park over NH simply because it would not draw the numbers.

    It would be the biggest white elephant you've ever seen whereas at least the waterfront stadium has a decent hope of being something cool.

    Since Nov 2006 • 903 posts Report Reply

  • Andre Alessi,

    They really need an option in that Herald poll for "Couldn't care less and rugby makes no sense to me".

    I'd attach my name repeatedly to that option.

    (Mind you, I'd probably be hunted down and beaten by rugby players.)

    Devonport, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 864 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Beard,

    Russell's right: NH makes as much sense as Porirua would have done.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1040 posts Report Reply

  • Compie,

    NH stadium is an absolute no go.

    Why put something where the people aren't if it is inteneded to be used as much as possible. But the NH stadium would seriously have to address the issue of getting over the bridge.

    take the U2 concert, the bus company has been advertising that people taking the bus to the concert can't take the bus home, services stopped by then. WTF. What unenterprising idiot can't pay some drivers an hours overtime and make the company some money and more importantly customer relationships - brand building.

    Here in Dunedin, to get a taxi to the peninsula after a few beers in the evening is upwards of $35. Now fro Auckalnders this is nothing, but when the average fare in dunners is close to $6 it's huge. So the bus company in its wisdom made a one way journey at 1am I think it is. Not always full, but providing a public service on a very long dark anddangerous road.

    Not one to listen to talkback except marcus lush, I happened to be still on the station driving into varsity this morning and silly old Laws was on. Boy was he giving it to Auckland, but I have to agree everything he said (and this galls me to say) mad sense.

    Boy did Laws lay into the managment of the bus company in Auckland.

    But more than anything else why is it the voice of the negative buggers is always louder than the positives? It's like down here in Dunedin, my god do we need a new stadium, and the most innovative, exciting, stimulating and progressive place is the waterfront. But no two bloody minded councilors whos self importance is beyound belief are railrodding every single

    Angry Taylor quits stadium trust
    By David Loughrey

    The head of Dunedin company Animation Research has resigned from the Carisbrook Stadium Trust, and launched a stinging broadside against what he calls the negative politics of two councillors.

    Ian Taylor resigned after a private meeting with councillors on Tuesday, and said he could no longer deal with the “totally unproductive” attitudes of Crs Leah McBey and Lee Vandervis.

    “No amount of money could make me spend two minutes in a room with those people."

    Ms McBey believes that she has the right to ask the hard questions of any stadium trust on behalf of the people that voted for her. Well people that voted for her also believe that a stadium is good, so is she representing their interests?

    As for the quips about a

    Trevor Malard Stadium

    please leave it out. More than one man wants this and it will not be remembered for his name.

    Dunedin/Vancouver • Since Nov 2006 • 114 posts Report Reply

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