Hard News by Russell Brown

Read Post

Hard News: A solution in search of somebody else's problem

211 Responses

First ←Older Page 1 3 4 5 6 7 9 Newer→ Last

  • Russell Brown,

    Reasonable people could disagree on the suitability of the stadium, and sightlines were obviously an issue, but I think the was that the outside of the stadium would be more or less public, with restaurants, conference rooms and viewing platforms. So it's completely different from the Wellington stadium in that respect.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    If this is incorrect please state where in the world a waterfront stadium works as public space on the waterfront.

    The new stadium in Dunedin is supposed to fulfil this, in theory at least.

    RWC was bid for by the country, not by any region. Eden Park isn't even owned by the local council, unlike many of the other stadiums around the country, which makes it that much more offensive that McCully is demanding Auckland ratepayers' money to subsidise the do-up.

    Wait, you want us to pay for our stadia, and all of yours too? That didn't seem a bit greedy when you typed it?

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    Kingsland station can only take one train every five minutes and I'll believe that frequency when I see it.

    I second being rather skeptical about the dent our rail system will make in the crowd moving problem.

    And I second an ongoing disappointment that we never got it together to build an actual stadium for the RWC, which is likely to be the biggest sporting event NZ will see in decades. It could have been on the waterfront. It could have been in a lot of places. Instead it was in no place. Fair enough 6 years is not enough time for NZers to build such a thing. But why did we bid for the RWC then? It's not like it makes actually getting into a live game easier, the barrier still being the cost of the tickets. It's not like we made any real effort to show off to the world about how we can really put on a good show. It's not like it's going to make us any money. Well ok, retailers, particularly of piss, will do well for a couple of weeks, but the rest of us (I refer to Aucklanders since the rest of the country was instrumental in not fronting up with shit too, but they don't have to put up with having their city thrown into chaos for a month) look like we'll just be picking up the tab.

    Now it looks like the extent of our putting in will be to erect some tents on an old wharf for a sausage sizzle.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    Kingsland Train Station has been extended.

    We need to have a dedicated bus lane AND trains AND close the Kingsland Strip AND a walking bus to move people in an efficient way.

    Like any other game at Eden Park. They close Sandringham Road at the moment when a game is on, so more of that I guess.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Alien Lizard (anag),

    Too much, the Walking Bus...

    Just can't imagine what anyone was thinking applying the term to an unruly bunch of drunk sports fans.

    Inglorious BusTurds, then?

    The Arrrgh Complex • Since Jan 2010 • 158 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    I knew it had something to do with Wellington
    ;)

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Jimmy Southgate,

    Wait, you want us to pay for our stadia, and all of yours too? That didn't seem a bit greedy when you typed it?

    Its probably ungracious of me I know, but this is the kind of sentiment I have about the whole mess.

    The appearance to me (which is certainly unfair of me) is that everybody else is stumping up cash and having a good shake at getting this thing done, but the Auckland lot aren't.

    I'm probably far too gloriously uninformed to helpfully comment :-)

    Wellingtown • Since Nov 2006 • 103 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    but the Auckland lot aren't.

    Not needed

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz,

    Eden Park will only have 25% more people to get in and out than for a full-house before the upgrade. It's not like the capacity is being trebled or anything?

    Has anyone ever been to Twickenham? 82,000 capacity, and to get to the station you walk several blocks through residential streets before packing onto South West Trains legendary scheduled services.

    If people get tired of waiting for a train, they could always walk. They have been to a "sporting" event after all - as in, active, athletic, non-sedentary. Just place one foot in front of the other for half an hour and you'll find yourself in the vicinity of Auckland.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole,

    The appearance to me (which is certainly unfair of me) is that everybody else is stumping up cash and having a good shake at getting this thing done, but the Auckland lot aren't.

    Oh, you mean like the tens-of-millions that Auckland is spending on upgrading roads and public transport facilities around Eden Park? Eden Park is private property, not a council facility, so whatever public money goes into it gains the city nothing. Central Government bid on it, they can fund it. I have no problem with taxpayer money going into stadia in other centres that've been allocated as venues, for the same reason, but I'm heartily pissed off at the demands/expectations that Auckland spend ratepayer money on a private venue.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Y'all may be interested that I have a new post containing some useful information -- such as is available -- on the activities of the Auckland Transition Agency.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    but they don't have to put up with having their city thrown into chaos for a month

    I believe they will - pool games and competing teams are dispersed around the country so we all share the joy.

    Worth noting that Michael Barnett is also the deputy chair of the Auckland Regional Council, drives its economic development work including major events and so is hardly impartial.

    The poor performance of North Harbour Stadium last Friday suggests North Shore Mayor Andrew Williams should look closer to home when discussing Auckland's stadiums and the need to rationalise, says ARC Councillor Michael Barnett.

    ...

    "Andrew Williams needs to take a good look at his home stadium's ability to perform. Friday's effort was an embarrassment. The stadium was not equipped to cope and is obviously inexperienced in managing sell-out crowds of 23,000," says Mr Barnett.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    I have a new post

    Damn I wish I'd read that before that last comment - might cross post if relevant.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Jimmy Southgate,

    Eden Park is private property, not a council facility, so whatever public money goes into it gains the city nothing.

    Nothing? Im guessing the gain of nothing is the same reason Auckland & Dunedin are keen to get the 7s into town as well. Of course the city gains something when a few extra thousand people turn up for the weekend.

    Wellingtown • Since Nov 2006 • 103 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Walls,

    As people have mentioned previously, it's not going to be that different to an existing match. What will be different, especially in the final few weeks, is that there will be a large number of visitors in major centres who don't have tickets to the match They won't be walking to Eden Park, they'll be filling the bars in town - all day.

    I'm staying in Auckland this week on business and every hotel in the CBD is full tonight (except for youth hostels and the Duxton at $799). I asked what was going on this week as I was being ejected from my hotel (well, checking out) and I was told that a cruise ship was coming in. A, as in single, one, cruise ship.

    I'm quite frightened at the prospect of the CBD overflowing with drunken English tourists...

    Brisvegas/Melbourne • Since May 2007 • 13 posts Report Reply

  • Jimmy Southgate,

    As people have mentioned previously, it's not going to be that different to an existing match.

    I'm not sure about that, Eden Park's current capacity is 47,500, the World Cup capacity is supposed to be 60,000 - so that's a pretty decent jump in numbers just there.

    When you figure that apart from ABs games the current capacity is rarely reached its an even bigger jump. I don't know where to find the stats, but i'm pretty sure that Super rugby crowds usually average in the mid to late 20,000s (if that) - so a Rugby World Cup final is going to be twice the size.

    Let alone that there will be 4 games (ok, probably only 3 unless people really want to watch the 3rd / 4th playoff) in 8 days that size.

    Wellingtown • Since Nov 2006 • 103 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    Another view. He has a point.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Of course the city gains something when a few extra thousand people turn up for the weekend.

    Private businesses certainly gain something. Those citizens uninterested in attending or carousing, not so much.

    Oh, except a larger rates or rent bill.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    FRom the Kevin Clarke link:

    The America's Cup festivities proved that the Viaduct site comfortably accommodates huge crowds. Additionally, anyone thinking that the precinct cannot comfortably host very large crowds in party mode could not have attended the recent Melbourne Cup festivities.

    For that event, the Viaduct Basin hosted thousands for an afternoon of fine dining and festivities, in unmistakably high style.

    So it hosted an upscale crowd of a few thousand locals for a few hours, one day. That's not what this is going to be. We're talking about a shitload of foreign visitors who'll be parking their campervans up the road and looking for fun -- at night. I really don't think the Viadact is going to cater for that for a month.

    The bars and restaurants at the Viaduct and Princes Wharf will do handsomely whatever the case, but having some more space a few hundred metres up the road seems sensible to me.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Private businesses certainly gain something. Those citizens uninterested in attending or carousing, not so much.

    Gawd. Must you be such a grinch about it?

    I'm not remotely interested in yachting, but the America's Cup hoo-ha made for a great, vital time in Auckland. It was, y'know, fun having a major event in the city.

    This is going to be a remarkable event too, with visitors from many countries. It'll be fun if you let it.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    I'm quite frightened at the prospect of the CBD overflowing with drunken English tourists...

    A cost-effective way of dealing with that would be to import a busload of Sardinians. They have a proven track record when it comes to that particular problem.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    I'm quite frightened at the prospect of the CBD overflowing with drunken English tourists...

    A cost-effective way of dealing with that would be to import a busload of Sardinians. They have a proven track record when it comes to that particular problem.

    Let's not get carried away, for heaven's sake. We're not talking about football thugs here. The British rugby fans who followed the Lions tour here four years ago were in general perfectly decent people who looked to get on with the locals.

    (Exception: that whining prick Stephen Jones.)

    I do find this negativity about visitors to our country odd.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    Personally I wasn't being dramatic, and Sardinians really can be quite lovely.

    (And if anybody needs me at the time, I plan to be drunk but in Christchurch, so North Islanders need not fear.)

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • George Darroch,

    I'm not remotely interested in yachting, but the America's Cup hoo-ha made for a great, vital time in Auckland. It was, y'know, fun having a major event in the city.

    I didn't like it. On the other hand, the Commonwealth Games, way back when, were quite fun. Mainly because I was a kid and got to watch the opening ceremony.

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report Reply

  • Rich Lock,

    The problem with Auckland is that the politicians are the Rich

    Well, if you're dumb enough to leave me in charge, there's no point moaning when it all goes pear-shaped.

    Or did you mean Rich of Obs?

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report Reply

First ←Older Page 1 3 4 5 6 7 9 Newer→ Last

Post your response…

Please sign in using your Public Address credentials…

Login

You may also create an account or retrieve your password.