June 7, 2025 • 6 mins
Auckland Cricket is looking to make some changes and take the first steps towards leaving Eden Park.
The cricket association will seek permission from the Ōrākei Local Board to get Colin Maiden Park in St Johns redeveloped - and if approved, they'll leave Eden Park.
Auckland Cricket CEO Ian Francis joined Piney to discuss.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from newstalk z b K.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Local Board has supported a proposal to reinforce Colin Maiden
Park in Auckland as a regionally significant sporting precinct and
the home of cricket in our biggest city. The proposal
underpinned by a twenty two point three million dollar investment
that'll see Colin Maiden Park host Auckland Aces and Auckland
(00:33):
Hearts matches. The development will also feature modern all weather
training facilities, broadcast infrastructure and the refurbishment of existing buildings
to serve as Auckland Cricket's new offices. Auckland Crickets CEO
is Ian Francis. He joins us now Ian the seams
very significant. How significant is it having local board support
(00:56):
for a move to Colin Maiden Park.
Speaker 3 (00:59):
Yeah, thanks very much, Jason. Yeah, we're pretty excited to
get their approval from the RF local boards that've been
very support of this move. And yeah, to build a
domestic venue for and modern facility as you outlined there
for Auckland Cricket will be great for us.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
Tell us a bit more about the vision for the
sporting hub. At Colin Maiden I outline as I say,
training facilities, but a broadcast your officers obviously, what is
the vision for for Colin Maiden Park.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
Yes, so for Auckland Cricket, this will mean a modern
domestic facility that we can run our high performance teams off,
but also have the local community sport, which is really
important to the Iraqi Local Board. So the facilities that
the facility at Colin Maiden Park is a multi multi
sport facility will be one of a number of sports
(01:48):
there and so it's quite exciting to think that, you know,
we'll be based there.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
Are we looking at something similar to what's you know
already on off at Mount Montngnerby Bay Oval at Seddon
Park and Hamilton have we Oval in christ You are
they kind of the blueprints for what you're looking at? Correct?
Speaker 3 (02:05):
Yes, So Local Board are very keen to remain retain
the community feel, so we will support that and in
terms of the facility, the facility will be available for
community usage as well, so yeah, have a similar feel
to those men news.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
Obviously, people in Auckland will be familiar with where Colin
Maiden parkers, but those outside of the city may not
be it's in the eastern suburbs. How easy is it?
I know Auckland traffic can be can be challenging the
best at times, but how easy is Colin Maiden Park
to get to from other parts of the city.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
Yeah, so you are right, or traffic can be can
be an issue anywhere Right're located in the Eastern Suburbs
has been the home of Auckland University Creit Club for
close to fifty years now, so it is accessible to Aucklanders.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
And in terms of player feedback, presumably they have been
across this news. Are they in a positive frame of
mind about having a new home, a new official, permanent home.
Speaker 3 (03:09):
So we've we've probably long signaled our intentions to develop
facilities that allow the game to grow and try it
and that includes modern facilities for our players and for
our community. So we believe this protects us for the
for the growth of the game now and also into
the future, for our players and for the community usage
(03:30):
as well.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
What sort of discussions did you have to have with
Eden Park and the powers that be there about about
the move away, because obviously the Aces and the Hearts play,
you know, play your your games at the outer Oval there.
What sort of conversations did you have with with Eaton Park?
Speaker 3 (03:46):
Yeah, so they are ongoing, Jason, so Eden Park is
New Zealand's premier sporting and then you're the only stadium
in Auckland capable of hosting international cricket. So yeah, in
terms of that, we've been clear with counsel and local
board that this is a domestic venue only. So yeah,
we're some discussions will be on going with Edon Park
(04:07):
around the terms of our exit for the domestic side
of the game.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
And so there's no plans. The venues I mentioned before
have all hosted international games. Is there the desire at
some point to have international cricket at Colin Maiden Park?
Speaker 3 (04:23):
We've been Yeah, like I said before, we've been very
clear with council and the local board that this is
a domestic venue only and the international cricket will remain
in Eden Park.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
So what are the next steps and what sort of
time frame we're talking about here? When will we see
the Hearts and the and the Aces playing at Colin Maiden.
I mean we know they played there already, but what
are the next steps in terms of the development of
the venue.
Speaker 3 (04:47):
Yeah, so their approval on Thursday came with some clear
conditions for us to meet by thirtieth September, so we
will be working hard to meet those and with a
view to playing at the facility in twenty six twenty
seven season and then with the move complete late in
twenty Evan as well.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
I hope you've got yourself a corner office, have you
have you have you staked out where you're going to be.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
I haven't got into that levelge and approval, so that'll
be the next step.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
Surely, be the chief executive must give you some sort
of preference as far as where you want to be,
although knowing you, I think you'll probably rather be in
with the rest of your team. Hey, Ian, terrific news
this week. Thanks for joining us mate. We'll look forward
to seeing the progress and I'll have to pay a
visit to Colin Maiden Park once you're up and running.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
Okay, Thanks ver much, Jason, appreciate your support.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
Thank you, I appreciate your time. Ian. Thanks to need
Ian Francis, CEO of Auckland Cricket. So they're off to
Colin Maiden Park, a big investment there. Auckland Aces and
Hearts matches will be there, new training facilities, good broadcast infrastructure,
refurbishment of some existing buildings and that's where Auckland Cricket
will be based, Colin Maiden Park. Good move, I think.
Speaker 1 (05:59):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to news Talk zed B weekends from midday or follow
the podcast done iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from newstalk z b K.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Local Board has supported a proposal to reinforce Colin Maiden
Park in Auckland as a regionally significant sporting precinct and
the home of cricket in our biggest city. The proposal
underpinned by a twenty two point three million dollar investment
that'll see Colin Maiden Park host Auckland Aces and Auckland
(00:33):
Hearts matches. The development will also feature modern all weather
training facilities, broadcast infrastructure and the refurbishment of existing buildings
to serve as Auckland Cricket's new offices. Auckland Crickets CEO
is Ian Francis. He joins us now Ian the seams
very significant. How significant is it having local board support
(00:56):
for a move to Colin Maiden Park.
Speaker 3 (00:59):
Yeah, thanks very much, Jason. Yeah, we're pretty excited to
get their approval from the RF local boards that've been
very support of this move. And yeah, to build a
domestic venue for and modern facility as you outlined there
for Auckland Cricket will be great for us.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
Tell us a bit more about the vision for the
sporting hub. At Colin Maiden I outline as I say,
training facilities, but a broadcast your officers obviously, what is
the vision for for Colin Maiden Park.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
Yes, so for Auckland Cricket, this will mean a modern
domestic facility that we can run our high performance teams off,
but also have the local community sport, which is really
important to the Iraqi Local Board. So the facilities that
the facility at Colin Maiden Park is a multi multi
sport facility will be one of a number of sports
(01:48):
there and so it's quite exciting to think that, you know,
we'll be based there.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
Are we looking at something similar to what's you know
already on off at Mount Montngnerby Bay Oval at Seddon
Park and Hamilton have we Oval in christ You are
they kind of the blueprints for what you're looking at? Correct?
Speaker 3 (02:05):
Yes, So Local Board are very keen to remain retain
the community feel, so we will support that and in
terms of the facility, the facility will be available for
community usage as well, so yeah, have a similar feel
to those men news.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
Obviously, people in Auckland will be familiar with where Colin
Maiden parkers, but those outside of the city may not
be it's in the eastern suburbs. How easy is it?
I know Auckland traffic can be can be challenging the
best at times, but how easy is Colin Maiden Park
to get to from other parts of the city.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
Yeah, so you are right, or traffic can be can
be an issue anywhere Right're located in the Eastern Suburbs
has been the home of Auckland University Creit Club for
close to fifty years now, so it is accessible to Aucklanders.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
And in terms of player feedback, presumably they have been
across this news. Are they in a positive frame of
mind about having a new home, a new official, permanent home.
Speaker 3 (03:09):
So we've we've probably long signaled our intentions to develop
facilities that allow the game to grow and try it
and that includes modern facilities for our players and for
our community. So we believe this protects us for the
for the growth of the game now and also into
the future, for our players and for the community usage
(03:30):
as well.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
What sort of discussions did you have to have with
Eden Park and the powers that be there about about
the move away, because obviously the Aces and the Hearts play,
you know, play your your games at the outer Oval there.
What sort of conversations did you have with with Eaton Park?
Speaker 3 (03:46):
Yeah, so they are ongoing, Jason, so Eden Park is
New Zealand's premier sporting and then you're the only stadium
in Auckland capable of hosting international cricket. So yeah, in
terms of that, we've been clear with counsel and local
board that this is a domestic venue only. So yeah,
we're some discussions will be on going with Edon Park
(04:07):
around the terms of our exit for the domestic side
of the game.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
And so there's no plans. The venues I mentioned before
have all hosted international games. Is there the desire at
some point to have international cricket at Colin Maiden Park?
Speaker 3 (04:23):
We've been Yeah, like I said before, we've been very
clear with council and the local board that this is
a domestic venue only and the international cricket will remain
in Eden Park.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
So what are the next steps and what sort of
time frame we're talking about here? When will we see
the Hearts and the and the Aces playing at Colin Maiden.
I mean we know they played there already, but what
are the next steps in terms of the development of
the venue.
Speaker 3 (04:47):
Yeah, so their approval on Thursday came with some clear
conditions for us to meet by thirtieth September, so we
will be working hard to meet those and with a
view to playing at the facility in twenty six twenty
seven season and then with the move complete late in
twenty Evan as well.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
I hope you've got yourself a corner office, have you
have you have you staked out where you're going to be.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
I haven't got into that levelge and approval, so that'll
be the next step.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
Surely, be the chief executive must give you some sort
of preference as far as where you want to be,
although knowing you, I think you'll probably rather be in
with the rest of your team. Hey, Ian, terrific news
this week. Thanks for joining us mate. We'll look forward
to seeing the progress and I'll have to pay a
visit to Colin Maiden Park once you're up and running.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
Okay, Thanks ver much, Jason, appreciate your support.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
Thank you, I appreciate your time. Ian. Thanks to need
Ian Francis, CEO of Auckland Cricket. So they're off to
Colin Maiden Park, a big investment there. Auckland Aces and
Hearts matches will be there, new training facilities, good broadcast infrastructure,
refurbishment of some existing buildings and that's where Auckland Cricket
will be based, Colin Maiden Park. Good move, I think.
Speaker 1 (05:59):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to news Talk zed B weekends from midday or follow
the podcast done iHeartRadio
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