Mt Smart to be shared with Blues ?

[Beavers Headgear]

Stuff

www.stuff.co.nz

Logistically can see that being diabolical, this TAU outfit are idiots and the mayor and council are complete morons, and have been caught out in a web of lies too.
Absolute disgrace how Western Springs Speedway has been treated after 95 years at the venue, hope their legal action takes the dodgy mayor to the cleaners

 

[Rich102]

Wayne Brown is a moron.

 

[Thatwasnthighref]

Stuff

www.stuff.co.nz

Logistically can see that being diabolical, this TAU outfit are idiots and the mayor and council are complete morons, and have been caught out in a web of lies too.
Absolute disgrace how Western Springs Speedway has been treated after 95 years at the venue, hope their legal action takes the dodgy mayor to the cleaners

Yea man the speedway situation looks dodgy as fk. And the fact it clears the way for billionaire Mowbray and hubby Ali's 'boutique' stadium proposal for Auckland FC puts an even uglier spin on it.

That said, given AFC is averaging 18k crowds so far this season, they're selling themselves short by proposing a 10k stadium as their new home ground.

Laughed out loud at this too...

The main stadium would be used for large concerts, All Blacks tests, Super Rugby and Warriors playoff games, Black Caps ODI/T20 games and high-profile international football fixtures.

So that's what.... 2 AB tests a year, 2 T20/ODIs a year, 4 Warriors and Blues playoff games every 4-6 years and 1 high profile international football game every 10 years, All for the low low price of $1b.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

Honestly not a bad result for the Warriors, we get an upgrade to our home ground more or less for free. I reckon it’d be shithouse for the Blues though and I suspect it’ll cost them in support from the snobbier end of the union crowd who won’t want to slum it at Mt Smart.

 

[Blair]

Honestly not a bad result for the Warriors, we get an upgrade to our home ground more or less for free. I reckon it’d be shithouse for the Blues though and I suspect it’ll cost them in support from the snobbier end of the union crowd who won’t want to slum it at Mt Smart.

You're right about the snobs. Here in Sydney, moving the Wallabies to Homebush was OK. It's the national team, and Homebush has a precinct, but they would never move the Waratahs from the Eastern Suburbs.

I've never been to Mt Smart (this year might be the year) but there's not much to do before and after the game, is there? Eden Park isn't great but it's not an 'industrial' area!

 

[SpaceMonkey]

You're right about the snobs. Here in Sydney, moving the Wallabies to Homebush was OK. It's the national team, and Homebush has a precinct, but they would never move the Waratahs from the Eastern Suburbs.

I've never been to Mt Smart (this year might be the year) but there's not much to do before and after the game, is there? Eden Park isn't great but it's not an 'industrial' area!

Yep that’s definitely the worst thing about Mt Smart, nothing much in the way of pre-post match entertainment. On the upside it’s very easy to get to and the sight lines and atmosphere at the ground are great.

 

[LeagueNut]

The Blues to Mt Smart story continues... https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360756857/auckland-blues-consult-fans-moving-home-games-away-eden-park

Got me wondering though - does anyone know why the Warriors chose Mt Smart over Eden Park for their entry into the comp? Was there ever a choice or did Eden Park not want Rugby League ruining their ground?

 

[Penrose Warrior]

The Blues to Mt Smart story continues... https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360756857/auckland-blues-consult-fans-moving-home-games-away-eden-park

Got me wondering though - does anyone know why the Warriors chose Mt Smart over Eden Park for their entry into the comp? Was there ever a choice or did Eden Park not want Rugby League ruining their ground?

I imagine it had something to do with cricket, and ground sharing? The NRL season starts in March, when Eden Park used to host cricket Tests. Or maybe rugby league had always had that favour for 'boutique' rugby-league centric grounds like Carlaw Park? Good choice, either way. Warriors at Eden Park is not the same experience.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

Can we get some investment into Mt Smart then? It could use an other 5K capacity and some permanent development at the south end and on the northern hill. It could really be a great 25-30K stadium without spending a lot in stadium terms.

 

[Thatwasnthighref]

Can we get some investment into Mt Smart then? It could use an other 5K capacity and some permanent development at the south end and on the northern hill. It could really be a great 25-30K stadium without spending a lot in stadium terms.

Well given Ali and his billionaire buddies have given up trying to privatise Western Springs, maybe they can spare some of the 300m they were going to spend there on flashing Mt Smart up.

Unless Penrose is too low brow for the billionaire set... maybe its too close to the airport and they cant get helipad permits.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

Well given Ali and his billionaire buddies have given up trying to privatise Western Springs, maybe they can spare some of the 300m they were going to spend there on flashing Mt Smart up.

Unless Penrose is too low brow for the billionaire set... maybe its too close to the airport and they cant get helipad permits.

Seriously though imagine this

permanent south stand that wraps around to the eastern stand and the steps on the southwest corner with a concourse along the top.
Terracing built above the northern hill, leaving fanzone area as as but allowing an extra few K to be seated at the northern end above it
Would transform Mt Smart into a really nice arena with proper enclosed feel to it whilst preserving its historical landmarks and unique points (the tunnel, the staircases, the fanzine area) and still make it really easy to set up for concert mode.
And would probably be doable for a fraction of what the Western Springs plan would’ve cost.

 

[Beavers Headgear]

Well given Ali and his billionaire buddies have given up trying to privatise Western Springs, maybe they can spare some of the 300m they were going to spend there on flashing Mt Smart up.

Unless Penrose is too low brow for the billionaire set... maybe its too close to the airport and they cant get helipad permits.

They got their private helipad out of Wayne Brown just before pulling out of the Springs debacle, so they’ve probably achieved all they wanted

 

[Thatwasnthighref]

Seriously though imagine this

permanent south stand that wraps around to the eastern stand and the steps on the southwest corner with a concourse along the top.
Terracing built above the northern hill, leaving fanzone area as as but allowing an extra few K to be seated at the northern end above it
Would transform Mt Smart into a really nice arena with proper enclosed feel to it whilst preserving its historical landmarks and unique points (the tunnel, the staircases, the fanzine area) and still make it really easy to set up for concert mode.
And would probably be doable for a fraction of what the Western Springs plan would’ve cost.

Yea man, upgrading the south stand and connecting it east and west would be awesome.

Eden Park is pretty good when its absolutely chocker, but I reckon 30k in an enclosed Mt Smart would easily top 50k at Eden Park for atmosphere.

I really hoped the whole stadium debate would end in a new waterfront stadium, something that could be reconfigured for smaller crowds. But it seems we weren't happy with ballsing that up before the 2011WC so we're doing it again. FFS.

 

[Thatwasnthighref]

They got their private helipad out of Wayne Brown just before pulling out of the Springs debacle, so they’ve probably achieved all they wanted

Ah yes. The timing was a little suspect wasn't it... the shenanigans of the ultra rich.

Meanwhile I feel like a winner if I can sneak an extra stamp on my coffee card.

 

[RHYTHM AND STEALTH]

Blues can f**k off to North Harbour stadium

 

[SpaceMonkey]

Blues can f**k off to North Harbour stadium

The prospect of the Blues at Mt Smart and Moana Pasifika at NH seems totally arse backwards

 

[Penrose Warrior]

North Harbour Stadium is the greatest white elephant of our time.

I remember when it was going to be an international cricket ground, an international rugby ground, just a Mecca in our modern times. And it's rubbish.

The only thing of any note that happened there was Billy Bowden overtaking me at high speed literally in the carpark (with his face sign-written on his car) after he'd given a run out that was a metre in, so he could go home early

 

[Penrose Warrior]

Seriously though imagine this

permanent south stand that wraps around to the eastern stand and the steps on the southwest corner with a concourse along the top.
Terracing built above the northern hill, leaving fanzone area as as but allowing an extra few K to be seated at the northern end above it
Would transform Mt Smart into a really nice arena with proper enclosed feel to it whilst preserving its historical landmarks and unique points (the tunnel, the staircases, the fanzine area) and still make it really easy to set up for concert mode.
And would probably be doable for a fraction of what the Western Springs plan would’ve cost.

It's gotta be done. This team, our team, is going to be here for the rest of our lives. In 10 years, 20 years, Mt Smart will be so far beyond suitable it's nuts. So when is the time to do it? Now. It's got a lot in its favour now, the atmosphere is great, it just needs to be brought into the 21st century and at SOME STAGE the Council is actually going to have to spend some money. God, we keep getting the same crap with stadiums. It's like me with my kids - 'Dad can we have burgers'...'no we have burgers at home' then I give them the same boring rubbish burgers we make every Friday.

 

[Blair]

They got their private helipad out of Wayne Brown just before pulling out of the Springs debacle, so they’ve probably achieved all they wanted.

That sounds like something you'd hear about in Africa or South America, where corruption is just 'the way they do things'.

 

[Blair]

The Blues to Mt Smart story continues... https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360756857/auckland-blues-consult-fans-moving-home-games-away-eden-park

Got me wondering though - does anyone know why the Warriors chose Mt Smart over Eden Park for their entry into the comp? Was there ever a choice or did Eden Park not want Rugby League ruining their ground?

I specifically recall an 'indoor, space-age stadium' in South Auckland being part of the Warriors earliest plans for entry into the NSWRL. Then the main guy behind the stadium went broke. It was planned for Manukau and was a tremendous concept.

Despite this failure (and by the time the official bid went through it wasn't part of it) I believe the Warriors always wanted to be based in South Auckland. Mt Smart was ideal, as it had a lot of government money spent on it for the highly successful 1990 Commonwealth Games.