Auckland’s search for a new premium stadium has been streamlined to two main contenders: an upgraded Eden Park and a fresh waterfront development at Quay Park.
The decision follows Auckland Council’s extended evaluation of four potential sites, influenced by Mayor Wayne Brown’s initiative to conceptualise a multi-purpose “Auckland Main Stadium.” Both remaining bids, one endorsing a revamped Eden Park with a 60,000-seat capacity and added features like a retractable roof, and the other proposing a waterfront stadium integrated with an All Blacks-themed hotel, now move forward to a six-month feasibility study phase. The studies will be funded by the bidders themselves, focusing on outshining the other and proving superiority over the current stadium setup without imposing financial burdens on the ratepayers.
The process initiated by the council aims to foster innovative proposals for a stadium that would incur minimal costs to the public while offering substantial economic benefits to the city. While the proposals for stadiums at Wynyard Quarter and Bledisloe Wharf were discarded due to existing development plans for those areas, the focus remains on ensuring the selected stadium can host at least 30 major events yearly to be financially viable. The ultimate decision will significantly impact Auckland’s sports and entertainment landscape, with the future stadium needing to accommodate major sports franchises and potentially large-scale concerts, making its economic success crucial.
This is just another way to waste taxpayer money.
Eden park had a revamp 14 years ago. Sort out the waste and stormwater first