Facility Notes: Super Rugby Side Blues Supports Idea Of Stadium In Auckland's CBD

Super Rugby side Blues, one of Eden Park's "core tenants," supports the "idea of a stadium in Auckland's CBD and would be happy to leave" its spiritual home. The Blues' board considered the issue at its meeting last week and decided it would "support in principle the construction of a football-specific stadium in the central city" in favor of continuing at the suburban ground where the team has played for 20 years. The "main issue is one of size." This season the Blues have attracted crowds of just over 20,000 to both their matches at 50,000-seat Eden Park (NEW ZEALAND HERALD, 3/29).

Northern Premier League club Hyde United on Monday secured £400,000 ($576,000) in funding from Tameside Council. The investment will help fund a program to transform the ground and its connections with the local community. A media and community event will be held on April 9 to unveil the club’s plans for the ground as well as its academy and community outreach projects (Hyde United).