$1m on loan for floodlights at Hagley Park

The Christchurch City Council has confirmed it will lend $1 million to the Canterbury Cricket Trust to help pay for six new sports floodlights at Hagley Oval, but says it will not cost ratepayers anything.

A council statement said the new lights would allow the city to host Women’s World Cup cricket matches next year and would put the city in pole position to bid for a range of upcoming national and international event opportunities.

Christchurch has been awarded hosting rights for eight Women’s World Cup matches, including the final, but the deal depended on new floodlights being installed at Hagley Oval to meet international broadcasting standards.

‘‘Estimates suggest it will add $5m to the economy and generate 15,000 visitor nights,’’ the council’s finance and performance committee chairman, councillor Andrew Turner, said.

‘‘It will also give Christchurch enormous international exposure, which is very important for our tourism industry, particularly following on from Covid-19 and its impacts.’’

The event is expected to reach a global television audience of at least 180 million people – seven times more than the 2019 men’s Rugby World Cup.

The council agreed in March to lend up to $1.5m to the Canterbury Cricket Trust, but the trust had since secured a better deal for the floodlights and had lowered its loan request to $1m, Turner said.

The trust will have four years to repay the loan and will be charged interest to ensure the loan comes at no cost to ratepayers.