Francesca Rudkin: Why can't we get sports stadiums right?

As the All Blacks took to the field at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin last night to stagger over the line against the French, I thought about the calls I had on Marcus Lush Nights on Friday, talking about the future of our large stadiums - and in particular of Forsyth Barr Stadium and Wellington’s Sky Stadium.

It doesn’t seem to matter which city you’re in across the country, stadiums are problematic.

Auckland continues its decade-old debate about whether we need a new multipurpose waterfront stadium and now, what to do with Western Springs.  

Christchurch rate payers are unhappy about the cost blowouts for their new stadium, Te Kaha - although when it opens I reckon they'll be won over and pretty happy.  

Wellington has a stadium that’s not well designed for rectangle sports - rugby or football - suffers for the city’s inclement weather and rarely looks full.  

Te Kaha has them all spooked.  

As fans took their seat at Forsyth Barr last night they may have wondered how likely, after Christchurch’s shiny new stadium opens next year, they will be to see concerts from artists such as Pink and Ed Sheeran, or All Black tests, in their city again.  

And they are right to be worried.  

There is only so much sport to go around, and with more global acts skipping New Zealand, competition is only going to get tougher.  

We tend to think of large outdoors stadium as a must for a city of a certain size - a required piece of civic infrastructure like a library, theatre or art gallery - but perhaps we’re more ambitious than we need to be. Does the South Island really need two covered stadiums? Perhaps not. But if you live in Christchurch you’re thinking about Christchurch, not contemplating what it means for the stadium down the road.  

Forsyth Barr was conceived before the Christchurch Earthquake, opening in time for the 2011 Rugby World Cup. So Forsyth Barr always expected to compete with Christchurch, and obviously there was confidence it could. You could say Dunedin has had an unexpected advantage over the last 14 years. But now with competing stadiums, it’s on the council and stadium management to step up and find a way to ensure the stadium remains an asset for the city and not a white elephant.  

The saying ‘built it and people will come’ doesn’t apply to stadiums. You need to convince people to choose your stadium and your city to perform in, and then convince the locals to attend. Everyone has a role in making stadiums work.  

Look at Eden Park. The recent change to allow up to 12 concerts a year to be held there has seen a surge in fondness for the place - even if it’s mind-blowing how long it’s taken to happen. The benefit are obvious on show weekends.  

Last night looked like a great night in Dunedin. The crowd in full voice, clearly enjoying the entertainment - both the stadium and the All Blacks got the job done. Gee, I hope it lasts. It’s going to be really difficult, but hopefully Dunedin will find a way to make sure Forsyth Barr remains a source of pride. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sunday Session podcast with Francesca Rudkin
from News Talks ab or SO.

Speaker 2 (00:13):
As the All Blacks took to the fields at full
Soyth Bar Stadium and an Eden last night to stagger
over the line against the French. I thought about the
calls that I had on Marcus lash Nights on Friday
talking about the future of our large stadiums and in
particular the Forsyth Bar Stadium and Wellington sky Stadium. To
be honest, it doesn't really seem to matter which city
you're in. Across the country, stadiums are problematic. Auckland continues

(00:37):
to debate. It's old, decade old debate about whether we
need a new multi purpose waterfront stadium and now what
to do with Western Springs. Christ Church rate payers are
unhappy about the cost blowouts for their new stadium, Takaha,
although when it opens, I reckon they'll be one over
and pretty happy. Wellington has a stadium that's not well

(00:57):
designed for rectangle sports like rugby or football and suffers
from the cities in clement weather and really looks full
and Takaha has the All spooked. As fans took their
seat at Forsyth Bial last night. They may have been
wondering how likely after christ Church's shiny new stadium opens
next year they will be able to see concerts from
artists such as Pink and Edgeran or All Blacks Tests

(01:20):
in their city again. And they are right to be worried.
There is only so much sport to go around, and
with more global acts skipping New Zealand, competition is only
going to get tougher. We tend to think of large
outdoor stadiums as a must for a city of a
certain side, a requie size, a required piece of civic infrastructure,

(01:41):
like a library of theater or an art gallery. But
perhaps we're more ambitious than we need to be. Does
the South Island really need two covered stadiums? Perhaps not,
But if eleven christ Church, you're thinking about christ Church,
not contemplating what it means for the stadium down the road.
Forsyth Bile was conceived before the christ Church earthquake, opening
in a time opening in time for the twenty eleven

(02:02):
Rugby World Cup, so they always expected it to peak
with christ Church, and obviously there was confidence it could
you could say that Dunedins had an unexpected advantage over
the last fourteen years. But now with competing stadiums, it's
on the council and stadium management to step up and
find a way to ensure the stadium remains an asset

(02:22):
for the city and not a white elephant. The saying
build it and people will come doesn't apply to stadiums.
You need to convince people to choose your stadium and
your city to perform it, and then convince the locals
to attend. Everyone has a role in making a stadium work.
Look at ittin Bug. The recent change to allow up
to twelve concerts a year to be held there has

(02:43):
sent a huge surge and fondness for the place. Even
if it is mind blowing how long it has taken
to happen, the benefits are obvious on show weekends. Last
night it looked like a great night in Dunedan, the
crowd and full voice clearly enjoying the entertainment. Both the
stadium and the All Blacks got the job done. Yeah,

(03:03):
I hope it lasts. It's going to be really difficult.
Hopefully Dunedin will find a way to make sure a
full Soyth band remains a source of.

Speaker 1 (03:10):
Pride for more from the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin.
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