We must ensure the public purse stays shut tight.

go rather than (or as well as) housing, particularly that likely to be too expensive for first-home buyers.

Years ago I visited Stockholm and their kulturhuset (culture house), a dream community facility containing a library, a theatre, cinema, art gallery, exhibition halls and a whole floor given over to chess. What about something like that adjoining the stadium?

That’s the loony thing about building an enclosed stadium on the waterfront. We should be looking out to sea. But in a stadium, we all look at each other. Once seated, we could be in Timbuktu. Far better to have an “always-on” development that embraces the seaside aspect and ensures life thrives there, independent of sports events and concerts.

It’s impossible to estimate the return the Warriors will receive. However, the Brooklyn Nets’ revenue climbed to US$190m from $84m when they built the Barclays Centre. The Sacramento Kings suddenly managed a large pre-tax profit after opening their similar arena.

The Warriors’ stadium will host 200 non-NBA events a year apparently; it’s hard to see 200 nonsport events in Auckland a year.

A report last month by Forbes estimated the Warriors will bring in an extra US$55m-$60m a year from naming rights, corporate suites and ticket sales (prices up from about US$500 per game to US$600). They also estimated about US$300m from Personal Seat Licences (PSLs), a one-off payment for season ticket