1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,639 Speaker 1: Jee we've gone stadium man. Here in Auckland, we already 2 00:00:02,640 --> 00:00:06,320 Speaker 1: have seven pretty substantial stadiums ranging from four thousand person 3 00:00:06,400 --> 00:00:09,360 Speaker 1: capacity to fifty thousand spread across the city from the 4 00:00:09,360 --> 00:00:12,400 Speaker 1: north short amount Eden Penrose to Manco, not including other 5 00:00:12,440 --> 00:00:16,560 Speaker 1: sporting and event spaces. But we can't stop suggesting we 6 00:00:16,680 --> 00:00:19,840 Speaker 1: build more while we wait for Auckland councilors to ponder 7 00:00:19,920 --> 00:00:22,880 Speaker 1: feasibility studies done by Eden Park in the proposed new 8 00:00:22,880 --> 00:00:26,079 Speaker 1: waterfront stadium in Key Park and announce who will go 9 00:00:26,200 --> 00:00:29,120 Speaker 1: on to win the title of Auckland's main stadium. Another 10 00:00:29,200 --> 00:00:32,400 Speaker 1: stadium is being pitched, this time for Western Springs. So 11 00:00:32,520 --> 00:00:36,200 Speaker 1: Western Springs Speedway has its final event on Saturday night. 12 00:00:36,680 --> 00:00:39,120 Speaker 1: Although we've heard that before and now Auckland Council is 13 00:00:39,120 --> 00:00:43,160 Speaker 1: interested in what to do with this valuable inner city site. Thought, 14 00:00:43,200 --> 00:00:46,400 Speaker 1: this really is an exciting opportunity, especially after years of 15 00:00:46,440 --> 00:00:51,040 Speaker 1: kafuffle around the speedway. Auckland might not need another entertainment 16 00:00:51,080 --> 00:00:53,479 Speaker 1: or sporting venue, but they are really nice to have, 17 00:00:53,960 --> 00:00:56,360 Speaker 1: especially when someone else is coughing up the money for them. 18 00:00:56,720 --> 00:00:59,880 Speaker 1: So Auckland has to ask itself what facilities do we need? 19 00:01:00,080 --> 00:01:02,200 Speaker 1: What would the inner city benefit? From and can these 20 00:01:02,240 --> 00:01:05,679 Speaker 1: new facilities be used by as many teams and individuals 21 00:01:05,680 --> 00:01:09,319 Speaker 1: as possible. Real estate this valuable needs to be well 22 00:01:09,520 --> 00:01:12,680 Speaker 1: utilized year round. It's why quite like the proposal from 23 00:01:12,720 --> 00:01:15,160 Speaker 1: the team behind Auckland FC. The proposal for their new 24 00:01:15,200 --> 00:01:18,720 Speaker 1: facility features a twelve thousand, five hundred seeded stadium covered 25 00:01:18,760 --> 00:01:22,520 Speaker 1: basketball courts and paddle courts. It's champion and backed by 26 00:01:22,800 --> 00:01:28,040 Speaker 1: Stephen Adams, Allie Williams, Anna Mowbray and billionaire football owners 27 00:01:28,080 --> 00:01:31,960 Speaker 1: Bill Foley and Bennett Rosenthal. The group of targeted football, 28 00:01:32,120 --> 00:01:35,560 Speaker 1: basketball and paddle because they are the fastest growing sports 29 00:01:35,600 --> 00:01:38,160 Speaker 1: in the world but lack infrastructure in Auckland, so they're 30 00:01:38,160 --> 00:01:40,680 Speaker 1: not just meeting a community need. It's also going to 31 00:01:40,680 --> 00:01:44,280 Speaker 1: be the home of Auckland FC, signaling this team is 32 00:01:44,319 --> 00:01:48,480 Speaker 1: a long term commitment, so they're all good things. I mean, 33 00:01:48,520 --> 00:01:50,600 Speaker 1: I would observe things have gone pretty well at go 34 00:01:50,680 --> 00:01:53,440 Speaker 1: Media Stadium for Auckland FC this season. But maybe not 35 00:01:53,520 --> 00:01:56,520 Speaker 1: everyone likes traveling to Penrose. Maybe it's felt an inner 36 00:01:56,520 --> 00:01:59,560 Speaker 1: city location near hospo hubs will help sustain interest in 37 00:01:59,600 --> 00:02:02,520 Speaker 1: the team. Yes, my tongue is on my cheek. According 38 00:02:02,560 --> 00:02:04,920 Speaker 1: to those who've seen the proposal. This sporting facility would 39 00:02:04,920 --> 00:02:06,760 Speaker 1: be built at zero cost to the right player. The 40 00:02:06,840 --> 00:02:09,839 Speaker 1: only downside is the existing occupants. The Pontsibly Rugby Club 41 00:02:09,840 --> 00:02:11,400 Speaker 1: would need to move and of course it need to 42 00:02:11,400 --> 00:02:14,880 Speaker 1: be supported to do this. There are two more proposals. 43 00:02:14,960 --> 00:02:17,160 Speaker 1: The Pontsib Rugby Club wants to turn it into a 44 00:02:17,200 --> 00:02:19,640 Speaker 1: bigger venue and the entertainment group wants to turn it 45 00:02:19,680 --> 00:02:23,640 Speaker 1: into a multipurpose entertainment and community sports venue. But we 46 00:02:23,760 --> 00:02:26,320 Speaker 1: yet to hear the details on those proposals. In fact, 47 00:02:26,520 --> 00:02:29,000 Speaker 1: there is a lot of information we yet to see, 48 00:02:29,160 --> 00:02:32,320 Speaker 1: but fingers crossed this process will move faster than the 49 00:02:32,360 --> 00:02:37,920 Speaker 1: decision around the speedway. Whatever plans are presented, remember the 50 00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:41,120 Speaker 1: locals are a vocal and determined lot. Win them over 51 00:02:41,240 --> 00:02:44,160 Speaker 1: and you might just have a chance for more. From 52 00:02:44,200 --> 00:02:47,440 Speaker 1: early edition with Ryan Bridge. Listen live to News Talks 53 00:02:47,480 --> 00:02:50,760 Speaker 1: thet B from five am weekdays, or follow the podcast 54 00:02:50,800 --> 00:02:51,720 Speaker 1: on iHeartRadio.