If we don’t build arena, they won’t come

If you had no furniture you wouldn’t expect people to come over for a dinner party. Similarly, if our city has no appropriate stadium then why should we expect to host big events and famous acts? Dotted around our city are lots of empty plots of land occupied only by rubble, one of which represents a huge forward step for Christchurch.

A dishevelled plot of land on Madras St was picked out as the location of the ‘‘multi-purpose arena’’.

Following Megan Woods’ announcement last week, one could be mistaken for thinking the idea of an arena or the specific location for it were recent decisions.

Unfortunately, there have always been plans for an arena in the CBD.

The issue is they’ve remained just that – plans. If Christchurch wants to be taken seriously as a modern city, as a leading example of a truly modern metropolis in New Zealand – one that functions well – then we need to actually start building it as opposed to just talking about it.

This is most definitely the view held by Canterbury’s university students.

In their submission to the Christchurch City Council’s Long Term Plan the University of Canterbury Students’ Association (UCSA) urged council to fast-track decision making and construction of the Arena.

‘‘The Multi-Purpose Arena is a priority for us and we seek the acceleration of the planned intention to build a multi-purpose arena (MPA) in the designated area in Christchurch CBD.’’

The association also went a step further, requesting a set of criteria be met. At the top of this criteria was that the arena ‘‘must be roofed’’.

On Tuesday morning a vocal aspect was added to the submission, with UCSA President Josh Proctor presenting to the City Council on the submission.

Proctor urged that the council hurry up and start building the arena with a roof or don’t bother at all, describing the roof as ‘‘non-negotiable’’.

Debate has been raging on whether or not an addition of a roof should be added to the multipurpose arena.

At a cost of approximately $70-80 million, some are questioning its necessity.

Old Cantabrians who don’t want to fork out any extra money and go to bed at night dreaming about the old, grey concrete jungle that they so desperately want back are questioning it.

Frankly it’s money that is worth spending. The arena is an investment in the future of Christchurch, the addition of a roof gives this stadium durability and flexibility to be a host to just about anything, and therefore become a vocal point for expressing our local culture.

The price of a roof is a hard pill to swallow, but it’s going to be even harder to swallow in a decade when people start realising how desperately it was needed.

Without a roof there is no multi-purpose stadium, it is just another stadium for some nice outdoor sports, its ‘‘multi-purposes’’ are greatly restricted.

A ‘‘couple-of-purposes arena’’ doesn’t have the same ring to it.

Because we currently have nothing like the multi-purpose arena, Christchurch has watched big events, famous acts, and potential revenue knock on the doors of other neighbouring cities, most notably our fellow South Island city, Dunedin.

Christchurch has missed out on musical acts such as Adele, Elton John, Tinie Tempah, Robbie Williams, and Ed Sheeran.

And sporting events including Wellington Phoenix games, Lion’s test matches, the Red Bull sponsored Jib-Jam, and even equestrian events that Forsyth-Barr in Dunedin has held.

As Cantabrians, we will continue to miss these opportunities in our city for as long as we do not have the appropriate facilities to showcase them.

The UCSA, which represents 15,000 students and those next in line to work and manage this city, want to see this crucial puzzle-piece put in place.

For what would be a huge revenue booster for Christchurch, the UCSA sees an opportunity that cannot be wasted.

Old Cantabs ... don’t want to fork out any extra money and go to bed at night dreaming about the old, grey concrete jungle.