Nick Sautner: Eden Park CEO on the All Blacks v South Africa clash

It’s world No 1 v No 2, a repeat of the World Cup final, two of the great sporting rivals squaring off once again. It might just be the biggest test for the All Blacks this year. 

Scott Robertson’s side look to continue a proud record at Eden Park stretching back to 1994, while also needing to bounce back from a defeat to Argentina. 

The All Blacks have remained undefeated at the Fortress for over 30 years – a record that could be tested tomorrow. 

Eden Park CEO Nick Sautner is nervous about the record being broken, telling Andrew Dickens that they want it to continue, and are confident it will. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Some are calling it the biggest match in rugby since
the twenty three World Cup final. Degree the All Backs
will be taking on the spring Box at Eden Park
and it's happening this Saturday. The All Backs have been
undefeated there for fifty straight test Fortress Eden Park. Last
time they lost was back in nineteen ninety four.

Speaker 2 (00:19):
Do you have the Beziers greatest moment a series win
over New Zealand France twenty three New Zealand.

Speaker 1 (00:28):
Twenty That was the very first game of All Backs
rugby ever went to and we lost from the try
from the end of the world. Next sorting as the
CEO of Eden Park Neck, gooday.

Speaker 2 (00:39):
Good morning Andrew, and thanks to your time. Nervous a
little bit the staff. Obviously we've got a full time
and casual workforce of over three thousand of the putting
together this weekend's event and things important. We acknowledged that
effort from the volunteers to the train drivers, they all
contribute to the en Field performance, but also ensuring that

(01:02):
Fortress continues.

Speaker 1 (01:04):
Oh yeah, absolutely, there's a team of five million behind
this team mate. To be fair, but you still haven't
seen whether you're nervous or not.

Speaker 2 (01:12):
I am it certainly is the CEO. I don't want
the record to be broken. And the All Blacks are
great for business. Events like the Test on the weekend
highlight the benefits and major events to the city in
the country and we want that record to continue. And
unconfident will does.

Speaker 1 (01:27):
It break the brand if they do lose? And have
you have you got a campaign ready after the unthinkable?

Speaker 2 (01:35):
Well, we do feature the Fortress signing throughout and when
teams come to play at Eden Park they play the
All Blacks or the Black Ferns, but they also played
in Park and I'm sure there's something special about our
venue as you know, and memories are created and lifelong
stories are told.

Speaker 1 (01:53):
And is the attention it's a setout that's huge. I
mean the attention is enormous. There are parties in Kings
happening as well, and this is all reinstating the fact
that this is our national stadium.

Speaker 2 (02:04):
That's correct. I was with a business yesterday. They took
a two hundred person booking for Saturday. Gates open for
corporates at four pm with public at five pm. We
want people to arrive early. We want to be part
of that atmosphere. There's a huge range of food and
beverage offers at the venue and we want to ensure
that the street to the seed experience is what people expect.

Speaker 1 (02:27):
I meanwhile, we had some news yesterday the Blues are
going to call ead And Park home for twenty six
twenty seven after flirting with Mount Smart. Now that would
have been a worrying development for you because that's your
anchor client.

Speaker 2 (02:37):
The Blues are critical to our business model and rugby.
It has been an important phase for us. We are
looking at how we can assist the Blues in their
thirtieth year to change the experience for our fans and
that was important conversation for us. But to secure six
games over the next two years was a great outcome

(02:57):
for our national stadium.

Speaker 1 (02:58):
Well good on you and good luck and of course
you've got some big events coming Metallica can't wait for
that and of course the Edinburgh Military tat too. But
here's a question for you. Could split in sell out
Eden Park?

Speaker 2 (03:09):
I think they could. I think particularly with the shortage
of content over the next music content over the next
sort of six to twelve months, people are looking for
that escapism. We also have Hot Wheels, Monster trucks and
International Rugby League. But that diversity and one off content
that make memories of something that we're focused on.

Speaker 1 (03:29):
Will split end set out Eden Park. Could that happen now?
Are You're not allowed to tell me, are you?

Speaker 2 (03:36):
That's for the promoter to consider, And what I would
suggest is since we've got our consequencent, we've had sellout
from each year and through to Coldplay, Coldplay, through to
Pink and Pink through the Metallica.

Speaker 1 (03:48):
Yeah all great. Next, Saughtner, have a great weekend. I
know you work very hard over that weekend and your
whole team. Thank you so much for making a good
venue even greater on these big days as well.

Speaker 2 (03:58):
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