August 19, 2025 • 6 mins
The Blues are looking to join fellow Auckland based teams the Warriors and Auckland FC in hosting fixtures at Mount Smart Stadium in 2026, with as many as two of their home fixtures been held at the ground.
The Blues have looked for feedback from fans to see if they would still come and watch matches if they were hosted there, as opposed to their spiritual home Eden Park.
D'Arcy spoke with former Blues and All Black prop Craig Dowd about the incoming change.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Wildergrave
from News Talks Be.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Great Doubt, former Auckland Blues and All Black prop he
played in the halcyon days Park was aving grounds will
full super Rugby? Was they go to entertainment for Auckland City.
That was then though this is now. Craig welcome into
the show. Well, the Blues actually take super games away
from Eden Park to the industrial Penrose paddocks of Mount Smart.
(00:37):
I mean, gee, super sad. And is it that rugby
is maybe slowly starting to drift away from the garden
of Eden?
Speaker 3 (00:45):
Yeah, and New Zealand Rugby two I suppose, But look,
I suppose it's the way of the future. You know,
we can't keep you know, so looking back over our
shoulder or what used to be. I mean, they've got
to look at financially, what's what's been official for the Blues.
You know, what's the fan experience going to be the
game to experience And hopefully they've consulted the players about
you know, taking what is a home game somewhere else
(01:09):
and whether or not that could become a second home.
But ultimately I'd like to know, keep eating parks as
their main venue.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
Eaten part. When it's not full, isn't the best place
to play, you'd remember that. But when it is full,
it's probably peerless, isn't it.
Speaker 4 (01:25):
Yeah, that's right, and I suppose that. Well.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
I'd had some fond memories when the Super Rugby first
started and it was new. We'd have a full eating
park and it was just an most incredible experience of
play in front of a crowd like that. But you know,
it can be quite sad when you look at sort
of the way it is now when you get half
not even half court, maybe maybe five seven, eight, ten
thousand people there, it's a bit of an empty sort
(01:49):
of the stadium, and it won't create a great sort
of environment.
Speaker 4 (01:54):
It's a plan of blues Super Rugby.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
It lefts for the players when the place is stacked
with punters. Conversely, how does it feel as a player
when all you can see is empty stands in empty seats?
Speaker 3 (02:08):
Yeah, and that's it's not a good feeling.
Speaker 4 (02:11):
I mean, you want to hear the roar of the crowd.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
You want to hear them getting behind you when you're
playing your home ground, sort of playing for your fans,
you know, and and they they're giving you, they're all
for you as well, So it's it's a it's a
real special experience and you know it's maybe they can
get that at go Media. We've seen with what Warriors
can provide and you know, hey, maybe may even look
(02:34):
for future do a double banger with with the Warriors
could be on the cads.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
When you look at the facilities, eating part compared to
the facilities though at Go Media marke a difference. Look,
the place is more apt for a game of rugby
because you're closer, there's no doubt about that. But when
you look at the changing rooms and the media facilities
and the concourse and the food, that also is a
(03:01):
pretty good reason to stay there, is it not?
Speaker 3 (03:04):
Yeah, but if you can, can you afford that? If
you're not get the numbers along to full stadium, you know,
there's the cost of the lights, is the cost of security,
there's the cost of the staff that have to run
the size of Eden Park, and you're not getting the
people coming up to watch the game. So yeah, I
suppose the accounting side of it of running a professional sport,
(03:26):
you've got a way up.
Speaker 4 (03:27):
Shall we take.
Speaker 3 (03:28):
Fifteen twenty thousand people to go media, but have it shocker,
you know, and have the environment, but you have your
cost is not so high.
Speaker 4 (03:36):
You've got less less outlay.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
In case of building, and they will come. And if
I say build, I mean blue success. The team is successful,
you're going to get bodies, but you're probably not going
to get bodies right the way through regular season. The
attraction of rugby union or super rugby simply isn't there anymore,
is it, Craig.
Speaker 4 (03:56):
It's a two way street, Darcy.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
You know it's the fans go along to support, but
then again they want the players to deliver what they
want to see, which is you know, winning rugby and
a siding rugby.
Speaker 4 (04:07):
You know, it's a great spectacle.
Speaker 3 (04:10):
And you know if we've seen it with with the
other sports, you know it's with the Warriors the ending
of this year and Aukland f C. You put on
a good experience, you put on a good game and
the fans just get them behind you.
Speaker 4 (04:22):
And whether that's even park or whether that's go media.
Speaker 3 (04:25):
Yeah, if it's only two games and they're going to
try it, you know, I'm sure they've they've they've gone
through the what if and hopefully they've consulted the players too,
because you know, they're their input's pretty important.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
Accessibility Eden Park. Everyone knows where it is, what it provides,
how to get there, maybe going all the way to
go media. Is there a streets rom I just being lazy.
Speaker 4 (04:48):
No, you're just being lazy.
Speaker 3 (04:49):
That's just I mean the end of the day, that
you know there is a fan base, Orcan is a
big place.
Speaker 4 (04:53):
Doesn't matter. You've got to get it from Oney into
the other.
Speaker 3 (04:57):
You've got to get in the car and you're going
to have to deal with that traffic. That's just you know,
it's what Orcan has to face. But they've done up
to North Harbor. They've taken two games up there and
played them up there, so it's you know, it's.
Speaker 4 (05:06):
No different going going south than it is going north south,
and it is going north.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
I suppose when you look at Mowana Passifika and the
joy they had, no one would have thought they would
bet in in the north of Auckland, but it actually
worked out pretty well for them. Again, it's because of
what they were putting on the park.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
Yeah, and then that's it and their fan base. They're
pretty passionate a bunch, and you know they'll they'll follow
them anywhere.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
As far as Eden Park is concerned. There's moves afoot
and we hope it does happen sooner rather than later.
They'll actually slap a roof on the place. How much
of a difference would that make for people attending games?
Speaker 3 (05:40):
Do you think, yeah, I look at that, may do
it may not. Look you don't sign up on the
day and check the weather to go to the game.
You're pretty much planned whether you're going to go or not.
You know, so days after weeks in advance. Hey, it
might be a luxury nice to have, but at the
end of the day, you know, the fans want to
turn up and watch their team. It comes down to
(06:01):
if you haven't got the numbers there and the cost
of just turning on the lights, you're not making any money.
Speaker 4 (06:07):
They're going to have to look at options and I
guess this is just the cost of doing business.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
And last, but certainly not least, Craig, if this works
for the Blues, do you see maybe the Auckland MPC
side going across because watching them play at Eden Park
it's gut wrenching.
Speaker 3 (06:24):
In fact, the gift of hindsight, that's probably what they
should have done first. They should have moved the NPC
there as a trial, see how that panned out, and
then the Blues follow in. But I guess they're both
different organizations. But yeah, I do see something like that happening.
I can't see Eden Park being a place where I'd
want n PC rugby been played because you're never going
to get the numbers.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
You're still a sure cout, aren't you? Would you go
down to Mount Smart to watch?
Speaker 3 (06:50):
Depending on the game, you know, if it's a big
game like a Crusaders or you know the Chiefs.
Speaker 4 (06:56):
Well. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
For more from Sports Talk, listen live to News Talks.
They'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Wildergrave
from News Talks Be.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Great Doubt, former Auckland Blues and All Black prop he
played in the halcyon days Park was aving grounds will
full super Rugby? Was they go to entertainment for Auckland City.
That was then though this is now. Craig welcome into
the show. Well, the Blues actually take super games away
from Eden Park to the industrial Penrose paddocks of Mount Smart.
(00:37):
I mean, gee, super sad. And is it that rugby
is maybe slowly starting to drift away from the garden
of Eden?
Speaker 3 (00:45):
Yeah, and New Zealand Rugby two I suppose, But look,
I suppose it's the way of the future. You know,
we can't keep you know, so looking back over our
shoulder or what used to be. I mean, they've got
to look at financially, what's what's been official for the Blues.
You know, what's the fan experience going to be the
game to experience And hopefully they've consulted the players about
you know, taking what is a home game somewhere else
(01:09):
and whether or not that could become a second home.
But ultimately I'd like to know, keep eating parks as
their main venue.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
Eaten part. When it's not full, isn't the best place
to play, you'd remember that. But when it is full,
it's probably peerless, isn't it.
Speaker 4 (01:25):
Yeah, that's right, and I suppose that. Well.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
I'd had some fond memories when the Super Rugby first
started and it was new. We'd have a full eating
park and it was just an most incredible experience of
play in front of a crowd like that. But you know,
it can be quite sad when you look at sort
of the way it is now when you get half
not even half court, maybe maybe five seven, eight, ten
thousand people there, it's a bit of an empty sort
(01:49):
of the stadium, and it won't create a great sort
of environment.
Speaker 4 (01:54):
It's a plan of blues Super Rugby.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
It lefts for the players when the place is stacked
with punters. Conversely, how does it feel as a player
when all you can see is empty stands in empty seats?
Speaker 3 (02:08):
Yeah, and that's it's not a good feeling.
Speaker 4 (02:11):
I mean, you want to hear the roar of the crowd.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
You want to hear them getting behind you when you're
playing your home ground, sort of playing for your fans,
you know, and and they they're giving you, they're all
for you as well, So it's it's a it's a
real special experience and you know it's maybe they can
get that at go Media. We've seen with what Warriors
can provide and you know, hey, maybe may even look
(02:34):
for future do a double banger with with the Warriors
could be on the cads.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
When you look at the facilities, eating part compared to
the facilities though at Go Media marke a difference. Look,
the place is more apt for a game of rugby
because you're closer, there's no doubt about that. But when
you look at the changing rooms and the media facilities
and the concourse and the food, that also is a
(03:01):
pretty good reason to stay there, is it not?
Speaker 3 (03:04):
Yeah, but if you can, can you afford that? If
you're not get the numbers along to full stadium, you know,
there's the cost of the lights, is the cost of security,
there's the cost of the staff that have to run
the size of Eden Park, and you're not getting the
people coming up to watch the game. So yeah, I
suppose the accounting side of it of running a professional sport,
(03:26):
you've got a way up.
Speaker 4 (03:27):
Shall we take.
Speaker 3 (03:28):
Fifteen twenty thousand people to go media, but have it shocker,
you know, and have the environment, but you have your
cost is not so high.
Speaker 4 (03:36):
You've got less less outlay.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
In case of building, and they will come. And if
I say build, I mean blue success. The team is successful,
you're going to get bodies, but you're probably not going
to get bodies right the way through regular season. The
attraction of rugby union or super rugby simply isn't there anymore,
is it, Craig.
Speaker 4 (03:56):
It's a two way street, Darcy.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
You know it's the fans go along to support, but
then again they want the players to deliver what they
want to see, which is you know, winning rugby and
a siding rugby.
Speaker 4 (04:07):
You know, it's a great spectacle.
Speaker 3 (04:10):
And you know if we've seen it with with the
other sports, you know it's with the Warriors the ending
of this year and Aukland f C. You put on
a good experience, you put on a good game and
the fans just get them behind you.
Speaker 4 (04:22):
And whether that's even park or whether that's go media.
Speaker 3 (04:25):
Yeah, if it's only two games and they're going to
try it, you know, I'm sure they've they've they've gone
through the what if and hopefully they've consulted the players too,
because you know, they're their input's pretty important.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
Accessibility Eden Park. Everyone knows where it is, what it provides,
how to get there, maybe going all the way to
go media. Is there a streets rom I just being lazy.
Speaker 4 (04:48):
No, you're just being lazy.
Speaker 3 (04:49):
That's just I mean the end of the day, that
you know there is a fan base, Orcan is a
big place.
Speaker 4 (04:53):
Doesn't matter. You've got to get it from Oney into
the other.
Speaker 3 (04:57):
You've got to get in the car and you're going
to have to deal with that traffic. That's just you know,
it's what Orcan has to face. But they've done up
to North Harbor. They've taken two games up there and
played them up there, so it's you know, it's.
Speaker 4 (05:06):
No different going going south than it is going north south,
and it is going north.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
I suppose when you look at Mowana Passifika and the
joy they had, no one would have thought they would
bet in in the north of Auckland, but it actually
worked out pretty well for them. Again, it's because of
what they were putting on the park.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
Yeah, and then that's it and their fan base. They're
pretty passionate a bunch, and you know they'll they'll follow
them anywhere.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
As far as Eden Park is concerned. There's moves afoot
and we hope it does happen sooner rather than later.
They'll actually slap a roof on the place. How much
of a difference would that make for people attending games?
Speaker 3 (05:40):
Do you think, yeah, I look at that, may do
it may not. Look you don't sign up on the
day and check the weather to go to the game.
You're pretty much planned whether you're going to go or not.
You know, so days after weeks in advance. Hey, it
might be a luxury nice to have, but at the
end of the day, you know, the fans want to
turn up and watch their team. It comes down to
(06:01):
if you haven't got the numbers there and the cost
of just turning on the lights, you're not making any money.
Speaker 4 (06:07):
They're going to have to look at options and I
guess this is just the cost of doing business.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
And last, but certainly not least, Craig, if this works
for the Blues, do you see maybe the Auckland MPC
side going across because watching them play at Eden Park
it's gut wrenching.
Speaker 3 (06:24):
In fact, the gift of hindsight, that's probably what they
should have done first. They should have moved the NPC
there as a trial, see how that panned out, and
then the Blues follow in. But I guess they're both
different organizations. But yeah, I do see something like that happening.
I can't see Eden Park being a place where I'd
want n PC rugby been played because you're never going
to get the numbers.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
You're still a sure cout, aren't you? Would you go
down to Mount Smart to watch?
Speaker 3 (06:50):
Depending on the game, you know, if it's a big
game like a Crusaders or you know the Chiefs.
Speaker 4 (06:56):
Well. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
For more from Sports Talk, listen live to News Talks.
They'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
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