Where should you watch footy? Not AMI Stadium that’s for sure
OPINION: On the back of an unpleasant Saturday night experience for all, Crusaders coach Scott Robertson has declared enough is enough, and that Christchurch needs a new rugby stadium.
‘‘It has got to be someone that shows true leadership, like they did in Dunedin,’’ Robertson said after a wintry match against the Sunwolves.
‘‘Right now we have the chance to do something special. It is a decision that should be made for now. Money will work itself out over a long period of time.’’
With that in mind we take a close-up look at New Zealand’s five main rugby stadiums, and assess their suitability for the big match.
Eden Park (Auckland) The skinny: New Zealand’s national stadium ticks one important box. With its 50,000 capacity and vast corporate facilities it generates comfortably the biggest revenue when the house-full signs go up. But for the average punter, the selling points are decidedly more limited.
The atmosphere is excellent when the stands are full, but quickly dissipates with the vast, cavernous empty spaces during Super Rugby.
With its situation in suburban Sandringham it is not the easiest place to get to and from, especially on a Friday night in peak traffic.
And because it is (sort of) a cricket oval, many seats are a fair way from the action. Getting in, out and around is better with some layout improvements, and if you can afford the prices, that halftime pie and beer is reasonably easy to get at.
The score: Too big, too far away and too tricky to access to be described as anything near ideal for your weekly dose of Super Rugby. 6/10
FMG Stadium Waikato (Hamilton)
The skinny: Possibly the best of our outdoor footy stadiums. A good size (25,800 capacity) for Super Rugby and because of its tight rectangle design, wherever you are, you have an excellent view of the action.
Well situated in centre Hamilton, with plenty of parking around, and relatively easy to get in and out of.
Atmosphere is generally good, providing you don’t mind the ringing of cowbells, and though it can be a bit of a trek to get to the concessions, it’s a small price to pay for the upside of being in such a snugly intimate boutique stadium. Only real downside: if it rains, it can be a rather wet experience.
The score: Just the right size for a provincial New Zealand footy mecca, and with the best vantage points to boot. Best avoided in mid-winter. 7/10
Westpac Stadium (Wellington)
The skinny: The 36,500-capacity Cake Tin isn’t perfect by any means.
But it has two very important advantages when it comes to getting to the big rugby match in a major New Zealand city. It is situated perfectly, right on the Wellington waterfront, and just a short stroll from the CBD and train station. And it is delightfully easy to get in and out of with its direct walkway from the city side and wrap-around concourse.
Downside: It’s another cricket oval (sort of) and as such lacks a little in intimacy and atmosphere. And with the prevailing conditions often involving fair lashings of wind and rain it can be a little on the unpleasant side.
The score: They got a lot right when they built this thing, except the lack of a roof. 7/10
AMI Stadium (Christchurch) The skinny: This is a temporary facility that has become more of a permanent one because of the protracted nature of Christchurch’s rebuild. So any criticism has to be tempered with that knowledge.
That said, this is a sad, cold, poorly appointed and dispiriting place, and the people of Christchurch, and their outstanding rugby teams, deserve better.
On a perfect night when the stands are packed you could make the case that it’s a good place to play Super Rugby with a tight atmosphere and closeness to the action.
But winter in Christchurch seldom obliges with user-friendly conditions and then you’re left with an unpleasant, uncomfortable experience sitting in an exposed temporary stand with limited access to refreshments. Plus, a long, dark walk back to your car.
The score: Temporary fixes are not designed to be fulltime solutions. This one has outlived its usefulness. 3/10
Forsyth Barr Stadium (Dunedin)
The skinny: The newest of New Zealand’s rugby venues and the only roofed one, those two factors give it a major leg up.
Guaranteed dry (if not warm) conditions are a huge plus in a New Zealand winter, as is designing a proper rectangular footy stadium that puts fans right on top of the action.
An ideal size. Not too big, yet large enough to throw in a temporary stand and get it up to test match requirements, and with the enclosed nature provides as good an atmosphere as any in the country.
Also walking distance to the city and a stone’s throw from the scarfie constituency who add so much to the colour of the venue in the perfectly named ‘Zoo’ stand.
The score: Not the perfect design, and a wee bit draughty. But pretty damn good, given the cost constraints. 8/10