Rugby League Park - Christchurch

[ozenzud]

Whats the go with Christchurch Council allocating RL Park to the Crusaders? What is the CRL saying about this? Is the long term payoff an upgrade for Rugby League or is it a dispossession? I heard the RU has a 6 year lease.

The Hurricanes stole Rugby League Park off Wellington Rugby League. WCC have given nothing back to RL at all.

Is CCC offering something back to RL in Christchurch? I've heard the media reports about the Crusaders and All Blacks today getting the ground, but nothing about what will happen to RL in Christchurch.

Any Christchurch RL people out there in the know?

 

[Te Kaha]

Whats the go with Christchurch Council allocating RL Park to the Crusaders? What is the CRL saying about this? Is the long term payoff an upgrade for Rugby League or is it a dispossession? I heard the RU has a 6 year lease.

The Hurricanes stole Rugby League Park off Wellington Rugby League. WCC have given nothing back to RL at all.

Is CCC offering something back to RL in Christchurch? I've heard the media reports about the Crusaders and All Blacks today getting the ground, but nothing about what will happen to RL in Christchurch.

Any Christchurch RL people out there in the know?

The CRL are all for it... The crusaders pay for upgraded stands until a replacement for AMI stadium is built.. then the crusaders give RL park back to the CRL upgraded at no cost...

And the Hurricanes didnt steal RL park from the WRL at all.

 

[Meth]

It will be good for our city to have the Crusaders back and playing at home. Some things are bigger than a code rivalry.

 

[kiwileaguefan]

Canterbury Rugby League, the existing tenant at the council-owned property, will sub-lease the ground to the Canterbury Rugby Football Union for up to six years.
League and Canterbury ITM Cup matches will be played at the ground and it is hoped that All Blacks, NRL, Wellington Phoenix football matches and concerts could be staged there as well.



The Crusaders also contemplated playing at Riccarton Racecourse and Rugby Park, but Addington's car parking and existing facilities ensured it was the preferred option.
The Crusaders' first home match is against the Chiefs on March 9.

 

[ozbash]

good move imo.

 

[playdaball]

Great move for CRL

 

[ozenzud]

No sooner had I posted the question I got a press release from the NZRL. Its a lot better result than WRL got from WCC on Rugby League Park. Mind you, WCC said as part of their deal that RL could still be played there. That lasted 5 minutes and it was ALL rugby.

Still not sure where RL will be played in Christchurch, but presume the CRL have got that in hand.

The New Zealand Rugby League (NZRL) has welcomed the announcement that a new temporary stadium will be constructed at Christchurch's Rugby League Park to host the Canterbury Crusaders during the 2012 Investec Super 15 season.
In addition to Crusaders home games, the 17,000-seat stadium will host Rugby League games, Phoenix football matches, and other major sporting and cultural events. The Canterbury Rugby League will maintain a long-term lease of Rugby League Park.
NZRL Chief Executive Jim Doyle said the proposal to build a temporary stadium made sense to the NZRL right from the start.
"As a sport, Rugby League's all about community," said Mr Doyle. "We saw this as a chance not only to work for the long-term benefit of League, but also to assist the sporting community in Canterbury, which has suffered so much as a result the earthquakes."
Mr Doyle paid tribute to the Government, the Christchurch City Council, the New Zealand Rugby Union and corporate sponsors for their backing of the new stadium.
"This is a case of all stakeholders working together and coming up with a solution that suits everyone," he said. Mr Doyle's comments were echoed by Canterbury Rugby League Chairman Ian Jenkins.
"Having lost our facilities at Rugby League Park in the February earthquake, and with no immediate solution in sight, we're delighted with this outcome," said Mr Jenkins.
"Though we'll lose access to our facility in the short term, there will be big benefits for our game in the long term. Rugby League's been played on this ground for 60 years, and this stadium means it will be played there for many years to come."

Details provided to NZRL include:
* The new temporary stadium will be built on Rugby League Park in Addington and will have seating for 17,000, including undercover seating for 8500 people and corporate hosting facilities.
* Temporary food and beverage facilities will also be built. Additional temporary seating can be added, to enable 25,000 capacity.
* The $20 million cost for the temporary stadium will be underwritten by the Government with funding support from the Canterbury Earthquake Appeal Trust, the Christchurch City Council, the New Zealand Rugby Union, and through corporate sponsorship. Facilities will be up to Super Rugby standard with television broadcasting facilities, lighting, and facilities for players and officials.
* Construction will start on the Rugby League Park next week (w/c 14 Nov 2011) and it is expected to be completed by March next year, in time for the 2012 Super 15 rugby season.
* The new temporary stadium will allow Cantabrians to experience the excitement of Crusaders homes games again as well as Phoenix football matches, rugby league games, other major sporting events, concerts and festival events.
* It was decided a few months ago that the badly damaged AMI Stadium would be closed for all of 2012 as engineering assessments continue.
* The new temporary stadium will be run by a trust and will have a lifespan of three to five years. The new temporary stadium will have access to parking at nearby Addington Raceway and CBS Canterbury Arena.

 

[ozenzud]

And the Hurricanes didnt steal RL park from the WRL at all.

We can agree to disagree on that point. What access does league get to RL park now? You can argue that WRL didn't own it yes, it was Council's ground. But they took away league's access to a ground named RL park.

The justification was that the Hurricanes would pay for the upgrade.

 

[Te Kaha]

We can agree to disagree on that point. What access does league get to RL park now? You can argue that WRL didn't own it yes, it was Council's ground. But they took away league's access to a ground named RL park.

The justification was that the Hurricanes would pay for the upgrade.

Had you played on the ground or been to it pre upgrade? it was terrible.. the stands and gates were rusted and falling over.. an upgrade was needed.. the WRL couldnt afford to do it, the council didnt want to pay for it... the Hurricanes said they would pay for the upgrade as long sa they could use it for training.. the council said yes.. League still has access and still uses the ground... hardly being "stolen" from them.

 

[ozenzud]

the council said yes.. League still has access and still uses the ground... hardly being "stolen" from them.

Sorry mate. Your facts are wrong. There has not been a game of league on that ground for years. We got a few games in 2004, one or two in 2005. Virtually none since.

 

[Te Kaha]

Sorry mate. Your facts are wrong. There has not been a game of league on that ground for years. We got a few games in 2004, one or two in 2005. Virtually none since.

Well then things have changed... Im sure i saw the Kiwis training there during their world cup build up...

 

[Micistm]

It's a win/win for both codes...the only loser are the fans in regard to the ANZAC test that was supposedly here.

 

[Penrose Warrior]

A great boost for the region, nothing but good to come out of this. As if Christchurch residents hadn't suffered enough in February, they were robbed of most of their rugby for the rest of the year.

Here's praying for a 2012 with nothing but positivity.

 

[Sam_the_man]

The CRL are all for it... The crusaders pay for upgraded stands until a replacement for AMI stadium is built.. then the crusaders give RL park back to the CRL upgraded at no cost...

And the Hurricanes didnt steal RL park from the WRL at all.

The Hurricans did steal RL park from the WRL. The Holmes show had an extended interview with the lady on the ticket both and how the ground had been taken from the WRL despite the WRL protests.

 

[Sam_the_man]

Looks like the Wellington council are trying to force rugby league out of rugby league park.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/4370612/Name-change-bumped-into-touch-by-league-fans

A move to change the name of Rugby League Park to Kaharoa has been shelved after opposition from fans and officials – and accusations of interference from the International Rugby Board.
Rugby league stalwart and PR man Gerry Morris believes the IRB has pulled strings on the name change ahead of next year's Rugby World Cup.
"I am just pissed off that the archaic pink gin-drinking IRB have dictated to New Zealand when rugby and league in Wellington have a very sophisticated and respectful relationship.
"The IRB don't want teams training on a field called Rugby League Park. How Noah's Ark is that?"
But Wellington City Council's Rugby World Cup director Derek Fry denied any IRB involvement in the proposed name-change.
"It's not a condition of the IRB in any way."
The name Kaharoa – meaning place of hard work – was suggested to the council by the Wellington Tenths Trust. The name would also be used for the council's artificial turf pitch at Te Whaea.
Wellington Rugby Union took over Rugby League Park after the 1999 closure of its former home at Athletic Park. The union spent $2.7 million improving the park.
Wellington Rugby League general manager Jason Hemson said the deal agreed at the time with the council was for the name of the park to remain, and for it to be a shared facility between the two codes. If the conditions were changed, then a compensation claim to the council would be part of any settlement process, Mr Hemson said.
"The park was set up and funded through the hard work of rugby league people."
Competitive league hasn't been played at the park since 2000 but it has been used as a training venue, most recently by the Kiwis ahead of their Four Nations clash last month against England.
While WRL had played a part in the demise of competition games held on the park, Hemson said he had tried to rectify the situation.
"During my 18 months in the role we have been given the option [by the council] to play one game, over one weekend, with one week's notice," Hemson said.
Council sports portfolio leader John Morrison confirmed that the name change was shelved because "rugby league wasn't happy".
"There are real grievances they hold but they also acknowledge that they drifted away from the park themselves.
"But they have to realise that things have moved on from 10 years ago and the park is now heavily used by the Hurricanes, Wellington Lions and the All Blacks."
Ad Feedback
A solution suggested by Morrison is that Wellington Rugby League investigates other facility and resource options and comes back to the council with a proposal.
The council would take another look at the renaming issue in the new year, he said.

 

[mean]

I've seen over the years on this forum and other league forums fans complaining about the state of RUGBY LEAGUE PARK. Yes it's in capitols because that's what it is. And I'm sure the CRL complained to the Christchurch City Council about the shame of the state of those grounds on numerous occasions, but to no avail.

It takes a fricken rugby team to become homeless before they get off their arse and pull out their cheque books to build a new stadium. While they're at it, they should do up all the fricken mediocre league grounds around their city.

Let's name and shame some city league grounds; Jubilee Park, Whangarei (are they making hay there this summer); Davies Park, Huntly (need I say more); Resthills, Hamilton (how far out of the city do you want league to play at); Carlaw, (RIP).

The point I'm making is where is the equity in the provision of funding to ALL sports? This country is not only about rugby, cricket, rowing, cycling and other elitism, private schooled, and white collar sporting.

Hope the CRL have some balls and are wearing the pants. I would expect a gym built with indoor training facilities, they should be able to negotiate the catering contracts at the grounds, security contracts, bar facilities and anything else that they had control of at their grounds. Because after all it is still the CRL's RUGBY LEAGUE PARK!

 

[Sam_the_man]

I wonder if this could be the catalyst for an NRL team bid in a few years?

 

[playdaball]

I've seen over the years on this forum and other league forums fans complaining about the state of RUGBY LEAGUE PARK. Yes it's in capitols because that's what it is. And I'm sure the CRL complained to the Christchurch City Council about the shame of the state of those grounds on numerous occasions, but to no avail.

It takes a fricken rugby team to become homeless before they get off their arse and pull out their cheque books to build a new stadium. While they're at it, they should do up all the fricken mediocre league grounds around their city.

Let's name and shame some city league grounds; Jubilee Park, Whangarei (are they making hay there this summer); Davies Park, Huntly (need I say more); Resthills, Hamilton (how far out of the city do you want league to play at); Carlaw, (RIP).

The point I'm making is where is the equity in the provision of funding to ALL sports? This country is not only about rugby, cricket, rowing, cycling and other elitism, private schooled, and white collar sporting.

Hope the CRL have some balls and are wearing the pants. I would expect a gym built with indoor training facilities, they should be able to negotiate the catering contracts at the grounds, security contracts, bar facilities and anything else that they had control of at their grounds. Because after all it is still the CRL's RUGBY LEAGUE PARK!

Nice well said.

 

[Dr Crane]

i just can't believe that decidedly beaten up condemned stand hasn't collapsed during any of the earthquakes.

i mean seriously, that thing looked like a death trap when i saw it in 2007.

 

[nadera78]

So if this is a temporary lease for up to six years, and they are erecting temporary stands, what exactly will be left at the end of this when they move out? Will there be a stadium left for the CRL to use or will it be a couple of pitches and a car park?