Stadium wars
WHAT will be the biggest battle within New Zealand’s borders in 2024 and beyond?
There is a chance it could be an ongoing stoush between two South Island cities and their respective glossy stadiums, both bidding to attract events and deliver promised riches to the local economy.
In the blue and gold corner is Forsyth Barr Stadium, which will be going on 13 by that stage and entering its uncertain teenage years after a difficult gestation and a few hairy moments in the early years but a generally rosy childhood in Dunedin.
And in the red corner will be the brash new contender, the asyetunnamed stadium in Christchurch that has finally been signed off nearly a decade after the earthquakes wrecked Lancaster Park.
It travelled under the radar somewhat this week — understandable in the middle of a global pandemic and the final countdown to a delayed election — when the major funding parties signed off on their joint agreement to build Christchurch’s new stadium.
It will cost $473 million, more than twice Dunedin’s stadium. The Christchurch City Council will contribute $253 million and the Crown will stump up a whopping $220 million.
Yes, for those counting at home, that means the Government is giving the small matter of $205 million more to Christchurch for its stadium than it gave Dunedin for the Glasshouse.
There does not seem to be quite the levels of public angst surrounding the Christchurch stadium that so dominated the Dunedin debate — though, presumably, there are plenty of people still rebuilding shattered lives who question why so much is being spent on a sport/music venue.
We wonder, though, if there will be some disquiet ahead for the operators and supporters of Dunedin’s stadium.
This has been coming a long time, but there will still be some wondering about the implications of the Christchurch development for this city.
It will mean two very similar, covered stadiums just a few hours apart bidding for many of the same events, including major sporting fixtures and music concerts.
It will, surely, mean organisers and promoters weighing up the respective merits of the South Island’s two major cities and associated infrastructure, and where more money can be made or logistical issues can more easily be overcome.
Dunedin and Forsyth Barr Stadium have a few things in their favour.
They have a good head start, a sound reputation as the hosts of major events — which contributed more than $77 million to the Dunedin economy in 2019 — and a smart person at the helm in Terry Davies.
A period of grace — obviously now massively disrupted by Covid19 — and that proven record should be enough to keep Dunedin in the hunt for years to come.
Christchurch will doubtless also face challenges as it seeks to avoid a budget blowout (almost inevitable with a project of this size) and delivering on some bold promises.
Eventually, as so often the case when the Crusaders play the Highlanders, will the northerners be able to flex muscle that the South may struggle to match?