The watefront stadium debate...

It occured to me that, having been to Sensation White this year and numerous big events at stadiums overseas, I am one of the few Aucklanders who can comment on the waterfront stadium based on anything other than my imagination of what it would look like an be like to have.

Many in here have been to large stadia offshore and have seen with their own eyes what they can an cannot look like and achieve.

What say the Nexus crew about waterfront stadiums?

I think its a fantastic idea. Look what the Westpac Trust stadium has done for the capital.

New Zealand needs a new national venue easpecially for the World Cup in 2011.
I'm not really in favour of a Eden Park revamp.

As an article I read in the TNT this morning, the government is behind it, its really up to Aucklanders to decide wether they want it or not.

Pretty much my thoughts exactly Baynesy.

It will be awesome... *but* they've really got to get thier shit together and make sure it's not late... look at Wembly... what a joke

hopefully it means they'll have to build a decent cricket ground in Auckland too...

They have made the right decision to have Fletcher as the sole bidder.

The reason Wembley went off track is because of arguements over liabilities for getting the job done. The construction of Terminal 5 at Heathrow is bangf on track because BAA took all liability for getting the job done, taking all pressure off the contractors so they could focus on just getting it done, managed by a strong team of people overseeing the project.

If the same happens with this, it should be fine. The only concern is how much land needs to be reclaimed for the stadium and the construction of the foundations but that has to be done first, so we'd know 2-3 years out if it would hit or miss the target for being ready in time. They would need at least 6 months to use if in rehersal mode too, you can't open it on the day of the match!

Some good points there Greenie, you seem to know what your talking about.

Its interesting seeing the results from a poll on stuff.co.nz this morning.

Its neck and neck.

Defn for the idea, it would defn benefit auckland greatly to have it situated downtown.
Many posivtives in regards to public transport and access to nightlife for afterwards. Not to mention use of rooms during the week for extra office space (ie hiring out for meeting rooms / conferences etc..)

My major concern would be the timeframe, think they would be cutting it very close and is not the sort of thing that should be rushed.
However I personally don't think it will happen especially now that it is down to the council. Too many small minded negative people will just stuff it up for everyone else as has happened so many times in the last 10 years

I guess another concern would be transport and parking.... Auckland is still a massive car culture, and the public transport sucks serious ass (two problems that feed on each other).

I'd love them to sort out Auckland's transport.. it's one of the reasons I don't think I'd live there again... but I don't know that they ever will.. the only way for transport to work in a big, first world city is to have a reliable, comprehensive rail network. Buses don't cut it.

Ok, somewhat off topic, but had to be said

Bang on the money Mutant.

A transport system close to the stadium is critical.

britomart is amazing, the trains entering it are disgracefull. it wouldnt take much to run a line into the stadium grounds for use when matches are on.

$5 to the match auckland wide via train.

The new port exit on the motorway was specifically designed to flow heavy trucks and the like down to the port facility. This should be ample to get traffic to the matches. parking is another story....

staduim is a great idea. Eden park is a logistical nightmare transportwise.

It will never happen.