Jules Radich: Dunedin Mayor on potential loss of games to new Christchurch stadium

Festivities are kicking off in Dunedin - a day before it hosts its only All Blacks game this year.  

The first international match of 2025 against France has sold out at Forsyth Barr Stadium tomorrow night. 

But the opening of Christchurch's new stadium in April could mean Dunedin will host even fewer matches.   

Mayor Jules Radich told Heather du Plessis-Allan he isn't worried.  

He says the rugby union will continue to share games around the country. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Sports Hittle is going to be thus shortly. First though

(00:02):
done is all twenty nine thousand tickets to tomorrow's All
Blacks match at full syth Bar Stadium and to needn't
have been snatched up. This is the only All Blacks
tests in the South Island this year and the city
is pretty excited. Dunedin med Jewels Raditch is with us.
Hello Jewels, Hello? Is it pumping already?

Speaker 2 (00:18):
It is at a All Blacks party or pre game
party tonight and the place is buzzing, that's for sure.

Speaker 1 (00:26):
Is this one that the All Blacks is throwing?

Speaker 2 (00:29):
No? No, no, it's just some friend to be having
a quiet night and just resting up ready for the
game tomorrow. No, this is just at a business in
town that it's having a party.

Speaker 1 (00:39):
Oh okay, you guys are into it, eh? Is it
Chukker Block? Is it impossible to get a room? Is
it impossible to get a booking at a restaurant?

Speaker 2 (00:48):
Look? Well I haven't tried, so I don't know. But no,
we've got quite a lot of restaurants and accommodation seems
to be. I imagine it's all full. But you know,
we have means and mechanisms for people to find accommodation,
so I think I haven't heard any complaints. Put it
that way.

Speaker 1 (01:04):
Now, this seems to me like this year is your
last hurrah, isn't it before you get some competition from
the people up in christ Church.

Speaker 2 (01:13):
Well, in terms of all Black Tests, it will be
no different than what it's been for the last ten
years of having the stadium, because of course they're all black.
The Rugby Union will want to share all Black Tests
around just as they do now. So it's not as
though all all the Tests are played at Eden Park,
which would be the best financial return for the rugby Union,

(01:34):
that they don't do that because they want you think
players to come from all around the country.

Speaker 1 (01:39):
Do you think that if if there's a match, you know,
at Dunedin and then followed by a match in christ
you you'll still have the Cantabrians coming to the Dunedin
match as well.

Speaker 2 (01:48):
Oh yeah, well people follow the all Blacks around the world.
I mean it's worth what's one in Paris and then
the next one in London?

Speaker 1 (01:55):
No trouble, Yeah, brilliant stuff. All right? Well listen, best
of like, do you want to have a punt at
who takes now tomorrow.

Speaker 2 (02:01):
Oh look, I think the All Blacks will manage it.
I think they'll manage to get the job done by
a marginal absolutely. Oh well, I'd like to save five
or ten points, but I think it's more like twenty
to twenty five.

Speaker 1 (02:18):
I like that. That is confidence Jill's got on. You
go out, that's Jill's and enjoy your party this evening
in town. Jills Raddich, Dunedin's mayor. For more from Hither
Duplessy Allen Drive, listen live to news talks.

Speaker 2 (02:29):
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