Nick Sautner: Eden Park CEO on the Government pushing for the venue to allow more concerts

The debate over Eden Park events has reignited, as the Government has proposed letting it almost triple its annual concerts from 12 to 32.

It's also recommending more timing flexibility, with the park currently unable to host events on a Sunday - and it's asking Auckland Council for feedback.

Eden Park CEO Nick Sautner says they've engaged with the residents in the area to get their views, and they're hoping for a positive outcome.

"There's a variety of events that are impacted by our regulations - last Sunday night, we had to apply to Auckland Council at a cost of $15,000 to get an extension to the operating so we could have the league fixture." 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Heather Duplicy Ellen.

Speaker 2 (00:06):
Nine nine two is the text number standard tech spees
apply now. The government wants eden Park to be able
to host twenty more medium sized concerts on top of
the twelve large events that they already have. It's also
recommending more timing flexibility for events. Auckland Council will have
twenty days to respond to this proposal from the government,
but RMA Minister christmer Ship says he wants to make

(00:26):
these changes before the end of the year. We have
done by Christmas, so council's got twenty working days to
respond and then there's a bit of a cabinet process
to go through after that, but that's a matter of weeks.
Nick Saughton, it is eden Park's chief executive and with
us hallo Neick.

Speaker 1 (00:40):
Good afternoon here, thanks for your time.

Speaker 2 (00:41):
Is this what you want?

Speaker 1 (00:44):
Well?

Speaker 3 (00:44):
Isn't it a beautiful day in Auckland And this is
a very pleasing outcome that the government has proactively undertaken
this investigation. We all know the impact these rules are
having on our ability to operate and the potential impact
that it's having on Heckon on benefit for.

Speaker 2 (00:59):
This and are they going to get any pushback do
you think from council.

Speaker 3 (01:04):
Well, we've gone out proactively to the residents already. We've
engaged with the Hood, the Residents Association. We want to
hit their views. But we're not surprised that the positivity
that has been received is consistent with the feedback we've
received over the last five years.

Speaker 2 (01:18):
What's the urgency. Is there something that you want to
host at the starter next year?

Speaker 3 (01:23):
There's a variety of events that are impacted by our regulations.
Last Sunday night we had to apply to Auckland Council
at a cost of fifteen thousand dollars to get an
extension to the operating so we could have the League fixture. Now,
I don't think there's a person that wouldn't acknowledge that
that was one of the most memorable sporting events that
we've held at the park. So these opportunities are coming

(01:43):
at a cost, but it's also a barrier and we
want to be able to operate. We want to have
the flexibility and enabled to go out proactively to promoters
both in sport and entertainment and bring their content to
our national stadium.

Speaker 2 (01:56):
Do you reckon that you could even fill this up
twelve big events and twenty smaller events.

Speaker 3 (02:01):
This is where we look at it and say we're
looking at opportunities. It might be five thousand people a
picnic on the park. We can't currently compromise our vent
consent for six artists up to twelve shows by hosting
that event, So we're passing on opportunities that otherwise would
be able to fill a calendar. We have over three
hundred and thirty vacant days here at the park. Yes,

(02:21):
we have a function business. I have a whole variety
of other activities, one thousand people a week on our
tour program. But what we need to see is people
coming to the park and investing both at the park
but also in the local businesses. I spoke to a
local business today. He said, one big event at Eden
Park pays his rent for the month. That's the impact
that our major events have on the local area but

(02:42):
also New Zealand.

Speaker 2 (02:43):
Do we run the risk of actually having too many venues?
Because we were chatting last night to the guys who
are running the International Convention Center, which is going to
open next year. They are going to bring artists over
as well. I mean, there is there enough? Is there enough? Artists.
Are there enough artists, are there enough events to actually
we fill up everything in the city, including you.

Speaker 3 (03:03):
Well, I think part of the challenge is ensuring that
we compliment each other. So it's a scheduling piece. We
don't want to have concerts on the same night. I
can recall a couple of years back where there was
a concert on at Eden Park and a sports event
at Mount Smart. Now that's seen the city work better
together and that's a focus for us. We want to
see a venue of best fits, strategy and what's best
for Auckland. Ultimately, we see the convention center has been

(03:26):
complementary to Eden Park. We'll have a CRL that opens
seven minutes from the CBD to the park. We know
that Eden Park is a global brand that a number
of those guests attending that convention center will be looking
to come here and experience. Whether our rooftop to us
are glamping or and d our event calendar.

Speaker 2 (03:43):
Nick, Now, you have been for the longest time trying
to convince me that you need a retractable roof, and
I've not been convinced. But I went to Marvel Stadium
in Melbourne over the weekend for Oasis and they had
a retractable roof, and I think maybe I'm coming round
to this idea.

Speaker 3 (03:58):
Well, it's a venue that I know well, and their
number one revenue is actually the car park underneath. But
when you look at correct, well, it certainly was when
I was there for thirteen years.

Speaker 1 (04:08):
But you look at that as a case study.

Speaker 3 (04:10):
And we've got staff here that work in the industry
are traveling to Sydney for oasis. You earn money in
New Zealand and you're spending it in Australia the GST
revenue alone.

Speaker 1 (04:20):
So what we need to do is make.

Speaker 3 (04:21):
Sure that we're giving every opportunity for promoters to be
able to bring artist to New Zealand.

Speaker 1 (04:26):
I'm delighted with the event fund.

Speaker 3 (04:28):
Unfortunately it's probably twelve months too late, but we now
have an event fund and we know the financial impact
that likes of Coldplay. Sometimes they are six to eight
years lead time. I look at some of the sports
content that we're talking about. This is twenty seven, twenty
eight and twenty nine that we're planning for now.

Speaker 2 (04:45):
Hey, listen, before I let you go, how the ticket
sales for tonight because you've got the cricket.

Speaker 3 (04:48):
On well, We're hoping for a big walk up. We've
got strong corporate and membership. Public is soft. The game
starts at seven fifteen. If you look out the window,
surely coming to Eden Park to night and seeing the
black Caps in action is a good option.

Speaker 1 (05:02):
We've got a.

Speaker 3 (05:02):
Couple of swing pools on the side and we've also
got the fixture tomorrow night. So if you can't make
it tonight, please make sure you buy a ticket and
support our national team absolutely.

Speaker 2 (05:11):
What a day for the cracket. Hey, thank you. Nick
is always Nick sort In to Eden Parks Chief Executi.
I'm going to the cracket. I'm actually going to I'm
going to knickbox. I'm going to see Nick at the cracket.
I want to see you at the cracket. It's going
to be a good time tonight. For more from Hither
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