Delay over decision on contractor for stadium

The stadium’s roof could cost $67.2m alone – just $20m less than the main structure itself, documents suggest.

Choosing a preferred contractor to design and build Christchurch’s new stadium has been delayed until March after companies asked for more time to submit proposals.

The Christchurch City Council had intended to announce a preferred contractor in December, after making a request for proposals in early October.

Alistair Pearson, the council’s manager of capital delivery of major facilities, said it was considered ‘‘in the best interest of the project’’ to give contractors more time.

Pearson said the contractor would be announced as soon as they were selected. Despite the extension, the project remained on track to be finished by the end of 2024 as planned.

The request for proposals is the first of three stages in securing a contractor for the stadium project.

In the second stage, the chosen contactor and the council will sign an agreement to develop the design and submit a final price bid. The parties sign a final contract in the third stage.

The 25,000-seat covered central city arena is projected to cost a total $473 million plus GST, with the Crown to contribute $220m and the council providing the remaining $253m.

Up to 5000 temporary seats will be able to be added. The building will hold 35,000 people for concerts, including standing room.

The stadium’s roof could cost $67.2m alone – just $20m less than the main structure itself, documents suggest.

Last month, the council permanently closed two stretches of road that run through the stadium site – Cashel and Lichfield streets between Madras and Barbadoes streets – so services such as lights, power and water could be removed or rerouted before early works begin.