Hugh Martyn (pictured) endorsed Auckland Mayor Phil Goff's waterfront option.GETTY IMAGES
Proposals for a new Auckland sports stadium "have received glowing endorsements" from major sports organizations, according to Jackson Thomas of STUFF. New Zealand Cricket, New Zealand Rugby, National Rugby League side New Zealand Warriors, New Zealand Football, Super Rugby side Blues, the NRL and the Australian Football League "have all come out in support" of Auckland Mayor Phil Goff's Venue Development Strategy (VDS), "aimed at tackling" Auckland's aging stadium infrastructure. Exactly "what that will look like," however, remains to be seen as controversy over a NZ$1M ($690,000) pre-feasibility report from PwC into a waterfront stadium "continued to swirl." A downtown stadium is estimated to cost about NZ$1.5B ($1.04B). An alternative which the VDS recommended was to "shift the speedway from Western Springs to allow the development" of an int'l-quality oval sports field. New Zealand Cricket CEO David White said that Aucklanders are "missing out on being allocated fixtures" because existing stadium options are not "friendly for users." NZF "fully supported" Regional Facilities Auckland's approach and strategy. NZRL acting CEO Hugh Martyn "endorsed Goff's waterfront option," and said that a "downtown stadium solution was long overdue." Martyn: "Other cities around the world have made central city stadiums real success stories and we don't see Auckland's situation being any different" (STUFF, 5/21).
