Mike Gray: Go Media Stadium boss on two sold out games this weekend and the prize for the best stadium atmosphere

Another huge weekend is in store for Go Media Stadium with two sold out games.

Auckland FC’s second semifinal's on Saturday, before the Warriors take over on Sunday.

The stadium’s just won the prize for the best stadium atmosphere by the football players association.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Now, it's a huge weekend this week ad Go Media
Mount Smarts Stadium. You got two sold out games, the
Auckland FC second semi Final which is happening tomorrow and
then the Warriors on Sunday. The stadium has also just
been given the prize for the best Stadium Atmosphere by
the Football Players Association. Now Mike Gray is the managing
director at Go Media, who sponsor the stadium, is with
us now, Mike.

Speaker 2 (00:19):
Hallo, Hi here, They're lovely to talk to you again.

Speaker 1 (00:22):
It's lovely tools you congrats on that award. Listen how
much work is it going to be for these guys
having to turn around what too sold out games in
two days?

Speaker 2 (00:30):
Well, the ground staff they are pretty impressive, to be honest,
so they've got quite seasoned at this. I was over
in Sydney with the Crusaders last weekend and I was
looking at the state of the ground at the Aliens
and it wasn't good. So I think they do an
incredible job at Go Media.

Speaker 1 (00:46):
What do they actually have to do to the turf
to keep it up to scratch?

Speaker 2 (00:52):
Oh, they just make sure people don't go on it
as little as they can. They're mowing it constantly, all
those sorts of things. But it's just it's it's a
great purchase. It's just looked after.

Speaker 1 (01:01):
Will you ever watch what they do between games, Like
they're going to have to do something on Sunday morning
to make sure that the turf is okay for Sunday afternoon.

Speaker 2 (01:10):
Yeah, well they have to remark it. They look, they
have to get the rugby posts up, soccer GOLs down.
So I have actually watched it taking place after games
where they've got to get ready for the next day.
So yeah, the night do they sometimes they do? Yep,
they're literally mowing it to get rid of the paint
lines and they start straight away.

Speaker 1 (01:31):
So game one has to have a little bit longer
in terms of the grass than game.

Speaker 2 (01:35):
Two, depending on the sport. But yes, they do like
different cuts and yeah.

Speaker 1 (01:40):
Which game are you more invested in? I'm not gonna lie,
I'm more invested in the football. Well by margin, that
tiny margin, Well, no i am.

Speaker 2 (01:49):
I am specifically tomorrow because I want them to get
to the final. I think they deserve it. They've been
outstanding and it'd be so cool to have them to
have a final which will be in Auckland. But you know,
the where is the two on the table? And I'm
going to call it. I think it's going to be
the year. I think they're going to go the whole
way this year.

Speaker 1 (02:06):
Do you think so?

Speaker 2 (02:08):
Yes? I do.

Speaker 1 (02:08):
Well it it's easy to it's just words, Mike. What
are you going to put behind those words?

Speaker 2 (02:14):
My adolha, that's not a lot, is it. Hey?

Speaker 1 (02:18):
Now, how are you feeling about that situation with the
boutique stadium that's going to be built potentially at Western Springs,
because that's going to rip these guys away from you?

Speaker 2 (02:28):
Oh well, I've got relationships with both of the bidders,
so it's a bit hard for me to comment. But
I think at the end of the day, what Auckland
needs is the right type of stadiums for the community
and as long as the whatever's developed there because it's
at public consultation now, as long as it's fit for purpose,
I think that's the key thing.

Speaker 1 (02:48):
Yeah. Well, hey, listen, have a lovely weekend. Thank you
very much for your time. Hope you have a wonderful time.
That's Mike Grave, managing director at GO Media, naming rights
obviously for Mount Smart and Honey For more from Heather
duplessy Ellen Drey.

Speaker 2 (03:00):
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