Public see Rugby Park’s ‘potential’
On a cold, wet and miserable Sunday, the curious few braved conditions to have a nosy around Rugby Park.
The Invercargill City Council held an open day at Rugby Park yesterday to let the public check out the facilities and get a feel for the venue.
Those who took up the council’s invitation wandered the quiet corridors looking at the corporate boxes, First XV lounge, Supporters Club, main stand and the Stags changing room.
A visitor from Winton said it was his first time at the stadium.
The council would need to open up the stadium to everyone if it wanted to make it financially viable, he said. ‘‘These stadiums never make money. They’re a community asset.’’
Hamish Duncan, who lives just around the corner from the stadium, said he was visiting because he was a bit of a rugby fan.
He had a lot of questions when ownership of the stadium was thrown into doubt, he said.
‘‘What would have happened if council didn’t take it?’’
With the council now owning the venue, Duncan said the stadium should put on any event that comes along – as long as it did not ruin the pitch.
Invercargill City Council venues manager Kate Feaver said the people who visited gave positive feedback, with some inquiries about hiring the venue.
‘‘People are seeing the potential of the venue for hosting events other than rugby games.’’
One question that caught Feaver off guard was someone wanting to know whether the kitchen was a certified kitchen that could be used to prepare food for fundraising efforts.
Feaver said she would have to look into it, but the query highlighted another way in which the venue could be used.
At the moment, the venue team was still assessing the facilities to figure out what they could offer to clients, she said.
With the council taking ownership of Rugby Park, Feaver was now managing the venue as well as the Civic Theatre and the Scottish Hall.