[mattygs]

The new board for the delivery of the Rugby World Cup has now officially been formed, it is to be known as *Rugby New Zealand 2011 ltd (RNZ2011)*.
The board contains the NZRU chairman Jock Hobbs, CEO Chris Moller. The boards two representatives from the Crown are Sparc chairman John Wells and Alan Isaac, former chairman of KPMG.
The 2 independent directors of the board are former chairman of BECA Group ltd - Sir Ron Carter, and Lois Appleby - boardmember of the Victorian Major Events company and CEO of the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games.

[url=http://xtramsn.co.nz/rugby/0,,12416-6097297,00.htmlFull Story[/url]

[micheal_warren]

mattygs, on Jul 31 2006, 01:25 AM, said:

The new board for the delivery of the Rugby World Cup has now officially been formed, it is to be known as *Rugby New Zealand 2011 ltd (RNZ2011)*.
The board contains the NZRU chairman Jock Hobbs, CEO Chris Moller. The boards two representatives from the Crown are Sparc chairman John Wells and Alan Isaac, former chairman of KPMG.
The 2 independent directors of the board are former chairman of BECA Group ltd - Sir Ron Carter, and Lois Appleby - boardmember of the Victorian Major Events company and CEO of the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games.

[url=http://xtramsn.co.nz/rugby/0,,12416-6097297,00.htmlFull Story[/url]

thanks for that

[Mo Rush]

Dunedin Plans $180m Roofed Stadium
Carisbrook Stadium - ©Getty Images / Dean Treml
View larger image
Carisbrook Stadium
©Getty Images / Dean Treml
11/08/2006
NewstalkZB & XtraMSN
Dunedin is poised to become the first New Zealand city to have a sports stadium with a retractable roof after news emerged of a new $180 million development to replace the 130-year-old Carisbrook.

Plans for a new state-of-the-art multi-purpose stadium to replace Carisbrook, the home of Otago rugby for over a century, were unveiled in Dundein, although the designs are yet to be drawn up.

The famous Dunedin stadium is set to be replaced by a new ground in the city's north near Logan Park, close to Otago University.

The project would be a joint venture between the university and the Carisbrook Stadium Trust. The university plans to move its renowned School of Physical Education to the new venue and it could also become a home for a national high performance centre.

Carisbrook Trust chairman Malcolm Farry says if they can have a retractable roof it will be the best stadium in the country and will be able to hold concerts or test matches without having to worry about the weather.

The estimated cost for the new stadium is between $150 and $180 million, though there are predictions that figure could rise to nearer $200m.

Farry says the ground would cater for up to 32,000 people, and the design brief is for the playing arena to shrink down to the size of a basketball court if needed.

"It will revolutionise our city and create a new vibrancy to our region," he told reporters at Wednesday night's launch of the project.

But, as ever, funding will be a major issue. Farry conceded the final decision on going ahead with the new venue would depend on the availability of funding.

He named likely sources as the university, naming right sponsors, ground members, Community Trust of Otago, corporate sponsors, shares, bonds, and the Dunedin City Council and Otago Regional Council.

[arwebb]

32,000 seems a bit on the small side. What's the capacity at Carisbrook?

[mattygs]

Perhaps, but Dunedin isn't exactly huge, it only has a population of around 120,000 - and a chunk of that population leaves between university semesters.
As awesome as it would be, I dont know if Otago could sustain an overly large stadium. Carisbrook has something like 35k.

[Alexjc88]

32 000 is about right for Dunedin it is a small city of only 108 000 , and has been mentioned, the city empties out at the end of the unversity year. As for a roof, I hope so as Carisbrooke can be VERY cold and with the now regular night time rugby fixtures can't come soon enough.

[micheal_warren]

Alexjc, on Aug 13 2006, 08:23 PM, said:

32 000 is about right for Dunedin it is a small city of only 108 000 , and has been mentioned, the city empties out at the end of the unversity year. As for a roof, I hope so as Carisbrooke can be VERY cold and with the now regular night time rugby fixtures can't come soon enough.

yea i agree i think 32000 is a good size stadium

[arwebb]

OK, that makes it seem more logical. I just think they could probably fill a bigger stadium initially for 2011, before scaling back. But, having said that, they've already got the bigger grounds in Wellington, Auckland and Christchurch.

[Alexjc88]

arwebb, on Aug 15 2006, 01:01 PM, said:

OK, that makes it seem more logical. I just think they could probably fill a bigger stadium initially for 2011, before scaling back. But, having said that, they've already got the bigger grounds in Wellington, Auckland and Christchurch.

Dunedin would join Hamilton, North Habour and Yarrow Park as part of the second tier selection of RWC11 Stadia for the lesser games.

[stevie]

Oh my god, can it be true?

Eden Park not a certainty for 2011

Quote

Eden Park not a certainty for 2011
The head of the Eden Park Trust Board has confirmed that the government is looking at other Auckland options to host the 2011 World Cup.

John Alexander says there is no guarantee that Eden Park will be redeveloped for the competition.

Trevor Mallard, Minister for the Rugby World Cup, is evaluating the potential of using downtown waterfront sites for developing a world-class stadium in addition to considering the proposed $350 million redevelopment of Eden Park.

The Rugby New Zealand 2011 Ltd Chairman Jock Hobbs responded to the news saying that the organisation is supportive of the Government's initiative to explore all options and would also continue to support the Eden Park redevelopment proposal as both initiatives will be critical in determining the major venue for Rugby World Cup.

Quote

Government may ditch Eden Park in favour of new stadium

6.00pm Tuesday September 12, 2006


The Government is investigating a downtown waterfront site for a stadium to host the Rugby World Cup final in Auckland.

It wants to evaluate a proposed $320million upgrade of Eden Park against building a whole new stadium in a better position.

In a statement at 5.30pm today, Minister for the Cup Trevor Mallard dropped the bombshell when he confirmed that it wanted to know if there were better options than upgrading Eden Park.

"The government wants an assurance that there is no alternative better option to the Eden Park proposal, given the considerable size of the potential investment required," he said.

Mr Mallard said a waterfront stadium could have lasting social and economic benefits.

Among them, he listed being close to:

* good transport hubs
* bars and clubs
* hotels
* better parking
* the CBD

Eden Park, on the other hand, is in a suburban setting with little parking and is surrounded by houses.

To host the Cup in 2011, The New Zealand Rugby Union and the Government gave a commitment to the International Rugby Board that Eden Park would be expanded from 47,500 to 60,000 seats. The upgrade through a combination of temporary and permanent upgrades was expected to cost around $160 million.

Since then, the Eden Park Trust Board has developed a much grander "legacy" option, blowing out the cost to $320 million.

But Mr Mallard said today: "We see an opportunity to work with the councils and regional authorities to explore what Auckland believes would best achieve a world-class facility which compliments and enhances the city's conference and event-hosting strategies and which, I would hope, also drives Auckland's aspirations to be a world class city."

He said the government would assist with raising the funding necessary, on top of the $20 million commitment it had made.

But decisions would be made after the two proposals are evaluated.

"The evaluations of the Eden Park and alternative waterfront option requested by the government are due in mid-October and until cabinet has considered them, there will be no further comment."

Rugby New Zealand said in a statement it supported the Government's decision to explore all options.

But RNZ 2011 chairman Jock Hobbs said it would continue to support the Eden Park redevelopment as critical for the World Cup.

Eden Park Development Committee chairman Rob Fisher said Eden Park offers nine hectares of land and $200 million worth assets, including the ASB and West Stands and a world-class turf surface.

Mr Fisher said he was told four weeks ago that the Government wanted to investigate alternatives.

"We are on a tight timeframe, with 48 months to go until the new stadium needs to be fully operational. Minister Mallard has asked the Eden Park Trust Board to proceed with the resource consent process while other options are considered," he said.

- NZHERALD STAFF

I'm not going to get my hopes up becasue I know Aucklanders and people are going to have to move mountains to get the gerneral public on side with this. But can you imagine a world class national stadium on the auckland waterfront....i mean it would bring the city and sporting events in this country into a new era.

This post has been edited by nzolympic: 12 September 2006 - 02:36 AM