Nick Sautner: Eden Park CEO on the Blues reportedly looking to play two Super Rugby games at Mt Smart Stadium

The Blues are poised to head across town to Mt Smart for two Super Rugby games next year. 

They're reportedly still planning to play most of their games at their usual Eden Park base, but are looking closely across town. 

Eden Park CEO Nick Sautner told Mike Hosking that having the right event in the right venue is important. 

He says the Blues negotiations probably highlight the need for a broader conversation regarding the Auckland stadium network, along with what’s best for Auckland when optimising and utilising the network. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Under the business of Sport. The Blues and their Super
Rugby team are moving to Go Media for a couple
of games next year. Go Media Stadiums of course the
home of the Worries in Auckland FC. Now next saught
is the CEO of Eden Park and is with us
on this Nick morning.

Speaker 2 (00:13):
Good morning Mike, thanks for your time.

Speaker 1 (00:14):
No Worries.

Speaker 2 (00:15):
Is this a gut punch, Well, we're still working closely
with Auckland Rugby, Auckland Unlimited and the Blues to finalize
the twenty twenty six Super Rugby schedule. But having the
right event and the right venue is important and the
Blues negotiation probably highlights the need for a broader conversation
regarding the Auckland stadium network. And then you a best
fit along with what's best Auckland When we optimize and

(00:38):
utilize our stadium methsets, do you.

Speaker 1 (00:40):
Lose money or do the Blues lose money every time
they go to Eden Park? Is that the problem they
go to a smaller stadium.

Speaker 2 (00:46):
Now every time they come to eden Park they make
money before a balls kicked. The commercial terms with the Blues,
meaning that they are significantly advantaged by our programs like
our membership program, but also a number of the initiative
we've implemented over the last two years to assist with
their ongoing viability.

Speaker 1 (01:04):
Well, do they make more money going to Go Media.

Speaker 2 (01:06):
Then I'm not privy to the arrangements. Obviously, Go Media
as a council of control venue Eden Parks a charitable trust,
and we do work closely with Auckland Unlimited. And I
do think as I mentioned this whole utilization of starting
infrastructure in Auckland, maximizing attendances, but also what's best of
the city. Given that Eden Park is the national stadium

(01:28):
with the curl opening will be seven minutes to town.
We need to get more people back to rugby and
we want to work with both ends Are and also
the Blues to ensure that that's the case.

Speaker 1 (01:37):
What if it goes really well and they go there's
six games the following season at Go Media, then what happens.

Speaker 2 (01:43):
Well, we'll have to look for new content and that's
been a focus at ours over the last five years
where we've diverspired our content. We've got events like Art
in the Park, the Hot Wheels, Monster Trucks, International League,
Metallica International Cricket, the Edinburgh tattoo. But rugby is critical
for us, Mike. As you can imagine, next year is
the thirty anniversary of Super Rugby, so for us we

(02:04):
want to be celebrating with the.

Speaker 1 (02:06):
Boos thirty years of Super Rugby. That's another one of
those weird things where I go, how long Super Rugby
have been going? I reckon I'd say fifteen anyway, Nick,
appreciate it. Nick Saortaner, who's the CEO of Eden Park.
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