Hosting ABs may cost $1.2m
The man overseeing the design and construction of Christchurch’s new stadium has left the job, as it emerges that securing a major All Blacks test match could cost up to $1.2 million.
The city council will hold an extraordinary meeting today to discuss changing the preliminary design after it emerged the original concept – with a seating capacity of 30,000 – would blow the budget by $131.4m. A venue with 5000 fewer seats is now being mooted.
Adding to the woes, Murray Strong, chairman of the stadium’s project management company, resigned on Friday, it has been confirmed.
Council chief executive Dawn Baxendale said a review of the project’s governance was under way and a new chairperson would be appointed once completed in September.
Councillors will consider a new stadium concept with 25,000 seats. Designers have been asked to find efficiencies to get the capacity to 27,500.
The Press understands that by adopting the new stadium design concept, securing a major test match – against the likes of Australia, South Africa and the Lions – would require the city to pay an incentive fee, up to about $1.2m.
With 30,000 seats, it is understood the fee could be closer to $800,000.
New Zealand Rugby (NZR) has told the council 25,000 seats would be too few for major matches unless the ‘‘substantial’’ incentive fee was provided.
NZR professional rugby and performance general manager Chris Lendrum said a range of factors were taken into account when allocating test matches.
‘‘Capacity of a stadium is a factor, but it definitely isn’t the only one,’’ he said.
In 2018, Nelson spent $1m on an All Blacks test against Argentina. It had a 21,000-person sellout crowd and was estimated to have produced $9.9m for the local economy.
The council’s head of recreation sport and events, Nigel Cox, told The Press on Tuesday it might be far smarter to attract major games by paying a larger fee, instead of building to a capacity that would only be filled once a year.
Christchurch’s proposed stadium is smaller than those in other major cities in New Zealand.
Auckland’s Eden Park can seat just fewer than 50,000, Wellington’s Sky Stadium has 34,500 seats and Dunedin’s Forsyth Barr stadium seats nearly 31,000.
Strong had been chair of the stadium’s project management company, CMUA Project Delivery Ltd, since the role was established in May last year. The council-owned company was overseeing the design and delivery.
The Press understands there were disagreements between senior council staff and CMUA. The company employed a project
director for the stadium – a role since disestablished by mutual agreement, a council spokeswoman said. Three people remain on the board of the project management company – property developer Richard Peebles, professional board member Steve Reindler and Nga¯ i Tahu Farming chairman Barry Bragg.
In a statement, Baxendale thanked Strong for his contribution. She did not say why he had resigned.
Strong declined to answer questions from The Press yesterday.
It would be up to the council to decide if a further statement was needed, he said.
Some councillors support the newly proposed concept and others do not want the project delayed.
Councillor Aaron Keown said the stadium needed to have an All Blacks game each year.
Cr Sam MacDonald would have preferred a 30,000 capacity, but said he just wanted the stadium built.
‘‘I would hate to see the whole thing turn on its head because we’re disputing 5000 seats.’’
Cr Tim Scandrett and deputy mayor Andrew Turner have both said they were comfortable with the new design concept.