1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,507 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport Podcast with Jason Vine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:12,907 Speaker 1: from newstalksb Or. 3 00:00:12,947 --> 00:00:16,507 Speaker 2: Nearly a decade and a half, Apollo Projects Stadium and 4 00:00:16,547 --> 00:00:20,507 Speaker 2: its various geysers, with its various sponsor names, has been 5 00:00:20,507 --> 00:00:23,427 Speaker 2: so much more than just a rugby ground built as 6 00:00:23,467 --> 00:00:27,667 Speaker 2: a temporary home after the christ Church earthquakes. It became 7 00:00:27,707 --> 00:00:30,387 Speaker 2: a fortress for the Crusaders and a place where a 8 00:00:30,467 --> 00:00:34,947 Speaker 2: city came together through sport during its rebuilt Last night 9 00:00:35,107 --> 00:00:38,387 Speaker 2: marked the end of that chapter, with the Crusaders fairwelling 10 00:00:38,427 --> 00:00:41,627 Speaker 2: the venue that's been their home since twenty twelve before 11 00:00:41,667 --> 00:00:43,907 Speaker 2: their move to the brand new, one New Zealand Stadium 12 00:00:43,947 --> 00:00:49,307 Speaker 2: at Takaha in three weeks time. Crusaders' CEO, Colin Mansbridge 13 00:00:49,507 --> 00:00:52,187 Speaker 2: is with us. It must have been a fairly emotional 14 00:00:52,307 --> 00:00:54,587 Speaker 2: night there last night, Colin. What did that venue come 15 00:00:54,627 --> 00:00:58,667 Speaker 2: to mean to the Crusaders and to the christ Church community? 16 00:00:59,707 --> 00:01:02,507 Speaker 3: Parney? Just listening to your little intros there and the 17 00:01:03,587 --> 00:01:06,267 Speaker 3: heirs on the I've just wanted to need the hairs 18 00:01:06,387 --> 00:01:11,067 Speaker 3: on the knee all prackling up. It means very very much. 19 00:01:11,107 --> 00:01:14,387 Speaker 3: It's interesting, you know that I've been reading a bit 20 00:01:14,427 --> 00:01:18,787 Speaker 3: about general artificial intelligence recently, and you sort of get 21 00:01:18,787 --> 00:01:22,707 Speaker 3: this concern that on the one side it's an existential 22 00:01:23,027 --> 00:01:26,347 Speaker 3: threat to humanity. On the other side, it's transformative and 23 00:01:26,747 --> 00:01:29,667 Speaker 3: changes the community a lot. And you think about that stadium. 24 00:01:30,147 --> 00:01:34,427 Speaker 3: That stadium arose from a transformative, destructive event, and it 25 00:01:34,707 --> 00:01:38,587 Speaker 3: was for fourteen years it's been a place where a 26 00:01:38,627 --> 00:01:40,827 Speaker 3: couple of tribes could go out there and play in 27 00:01:40,907 --> 00:01:44,907 Speaker 3: good spirit, a bit of combat, not fighting over resources. 28 00:01:44,907 --> 00:01:47,787 Speaker 3: So we all sit around as humans afterwards and connect 29 00:01:47,827 --> 00:01:52,227 Speaker 3: and enjoy each other's company and chair and high five 30 00:01:52,307 --> 00:01:56,147 Speaker 3: and clap, and you know, for our community at that time, 31 00:01:56,187 --> 00:01:59,347 Speaker 3: it's exactly what we needed. And so it's always going 32 00:01:59,427 --> 00:02:01,267 Speaker 3: to be. It's going to be a place every time 33 00:02:01,267 --> 00:02:04,027 Speaker 3: I walk past it, no matter what shape or form 34 00:02:04,027 --> 00:02:05,707 Speaker 3: it takes in the future, it's going to be a 35 00:02:05,707 --> 00:02:07,907 Speaker 3: place that just the heart every time you walk past. 36 00:02:08,187 --> 00:02:10,427 Speaker 2: Very Well said mate, very Well said, how proud are 37 00:02:10,467 --> 00:02:13,747 Speaker 2: you of the role the Crusaders have played in helping 38 00:02:13,787 --> 00:02:15,907 Speaker 2: to bring and keep the city together. 39 00:02:17,307 --> 00:02:20,347 Speaker 3: It's one of those things, Piney, I've every time I 40 00:02:20,387 --> 00:02:24,947 Speaker 3: talk to people and they tell me about why they 41 00:02:25,187 --> 00:02:28,387 Speaker 3: love the Crusaders, and it's actually not got much to 42 00:02:28,387 --> 00:02:33,067 Speaker 3: do with winning or titles or all blacks or players 43 00:02:33,187 --> 00:02:35,627 Speaker 3: or has got something to with the players, But it's 44 00:02:35,747 --> 00:02:40,387 Speaker 3: very much around getting out of bed after the earthquakes, 45 00:02:40,387 --> 00:02:44,587 Speaker 3: when things were driving people down, that the aftershocks were 46 00:02:44,667 --> 00:02:50,187 Speaker 3: chugging away, and then you know Karen and his crew 47 00:02:51,187 --> 00:02:53,907 Speaker 3: inspiring people to get up and that game in Brisbane, 48 00:02:54,627 --> 00:02:57,467 Speaker 3: that that final in Brisbane, I mean, man, that's emotional. 49 00:02:57,787 --> 00:03:00,107 Speaker 3: And yes it didn't go our way, but man, that's 50 00:03:00,147 --> 00:03:02,627 Speaker 3: an emotional thing. And I think that was just a 51 00:03:02,747 --> 00:03:07,547 Speaker 3: indication of how the community was able to connecting coalesce 52 00:03:07,627 --> 00:03:11,307 Speaker 3: around around a course. And we've been able to use 53 00:03:11,347 --> 00:03:14,147 Speaker 3: that to do some community work since you know, I 54 00:03:14,187 --> 00:03:16,827 Speaker 3: know we've got our crusade with Heart Foundation, we're try 55 00:03:16,827 --> 00:03:19,347 Speaker 3: and do stuff in the community because I think those 56 00:03:19,387 --> 00:03:23,747 Speaker 3: events have taught us how important what we do is 57 00:03:23,787 --> 00:03:25,467 Speaker 3: for the community. It's not just a game of footy, 58 00:03:26,267 --> 00:03:28,667 Speaker 3: that's what they do, what the lads do, but it's 59 00:03:28,787 --> 00:03:33,907 Speaker 3: actually giving people something to belong to and be involved with. 60 00:03:33,987 --> 00:03:37,107 Speaker 3: So I think it's vitally important. Sport's got a role 61 00:03:37,107 --> 00:03:39,707 Speaker 3: to play and all the little tribes that we have 62 00:03:39,787 --> 00:03:42,387 Speaker 3: in all of our teams are really really important to 63 00:03:42,427 --> 00:03:43,267 Speaker 3: pull people together. 64 00:03:43,827 --> 00:03:46,187 Speaker 2: No member of the current Crusader squad has ever played 65 00:03:46,187 --> 00:03:49,147 Speaker 2: anywhere else in terms of their home matches other than 66 00:03:49,627 --> 00:03:53,307 Speaker 2: at Addington. What do you think it's legacy will be 67 00:03:53,347 --> 00:03:56,747 Speaker 2: among the players? How do you think they'll remember their 68 00:03:56,827 --> 00:03:59,907 Speaker 2: time playing on this patch of grass. 69 00:04:01,267 --> 00:04:03,507 Speaker 3: You've knowed it Pine. I think most of those guys, 70 00:04:03,987 --> 00:04:08,747 Speaker 3: well all of them, Well, it'll be special for them. 71 00:04:09,107 --> 00:04:11,347 Speaker 3: I use the example of you know, you live with 72 00:04:11,427 --> 00:04:13,427 Speaker 3: your parents at home, and then you leave and then 73 00:04:13,467 --> 00:04:16,067 Speaker 3: they sell their house on you or move somewhere else, 74 00:04:16,627 --> 00:04:19,627 Speaker 3: and then suddenly you go back and there's something that 75 00:04:19,787 --> 00:04:23,147 Speaker 3: was foundational and it's just disappeared. And I think this 76 00:04:23,187 --> 00:04:25,827 Speaker 3: will be a little bit like that for those players. 77 00:04:25,867 --> 00:04:29,787 Speaker 3: So it was awesome to see not only Cody's one fiftieth, 78 00:04:29,827 --> 00:04:32,267 Speaker 3: but Mitch Drummond got out there and I'm pretty sure 79 00:04:32,787 --> 00:04:36,707 Speaker 3: Drummy is the most capted Crusader on that ground, and 80 00:04:36,747 --> 00:04:38,747 Speaker 3: so he got to add one more to that. So 81 00:04:39,147 --> 00:04:42,827 Speaker 3: so very very special, very very special for those players. 82 00:04:42,827 --> 00:04:46,187 Speaker 3: But I think I think it'll always be like our 83 00:04:46,227 --> 00:04:48,667 Speaker 3: folks home. You know, it'll always be that thing that 84 00:04:49,227 --> 00:04:51,027 Speaker 3: you hope they don't sell it. We can go back 85 00:04:51,067 --> 00:04:52,027 Speaker 3: and visit occasionally. 86 00:04:52,427 --> 00:04:54,707 Speaker 2: I'm sure that will be that will be on the cards. 87 00:04:54,747 --> 00:04:57,627 Speaker 2: But now a flash new home. The parents have bought 88 00:04:57,627 --> 00:05:01,667 Speaker 2: a new home. It's massive, it's brand new. It's amazing 89 00:05:01,707 --> 00:05:06,027 Speaker 2: how much anticipation is there internally about finally having that 90 00:05:06,107 --> 00:05:08,747 Speaker 2: more purpose built home ground. 91 00:05:09,827 --> 00:05:13,347 Speaker 3: Well, I think we've been so consumed with preparation, both 92 00:05:13,387 --> 00:05:15,067 Speaker 3: on the field and off the field. Off the field, 93 00:05:15,067 --> 00:05:18,507 Speaker 3: there's been a lot of work around getting super around 94 00:05:19,027 --> 00:05:21,987 Speaker 3: nailed in for super Rogi Pacific, and there's been a 95 00:05:22,027 --> 00:05:24,067 Speaker 3: lot of work and effort put into that. There is 96 00:05:24,107 --> 00:05:26,547 Speaker 3: a lot of transitional stuff from one venue to the other. 97 00:05:26,587 --> 00:05:29,627 Speaker 3: Normally you do it out of season, so that that's 98 00:05:29,667 --> 00:05:31,827 Speaker 3: been quite time consuming. But every now and then when 99 00:05:31,827 --> 00:05:35,147 Speaker 3: you pop into the place and you walk around it 100 00:05:35,467 --> 00:05:38,227 Speaker 3: and I gest, you know me at the New Zealand's 101 00:05:38,267 --> 00:05:41,787 Speaker 3: National Stadium, there's no way they ain't. You know. You 102 00:05:41,867 --> 00:05:44,707 Speaker 3: get in there and it's just cathedral like and it's 103 00:05:45,227 --> 00:05:48,147 Speaker 3: and it's grandeur and it just it takes the breath away. 104 00:05:48,187 --> 00:05:51,347 Speaker 3: And that the official opening the other day, a lot 105 00:05:51,347 --> 00:05:54,547 Speaker 3: of punters walked in for the first time and everyone 106 00:05:54,707 --> 00:05:57,907 Speaker 3: to a person said to me, oh my goodness, I 107 00:05:57,907 --> 00:06:00,627 Speaker 3: walked in and I actually felt short of breath as 108 00:06:00,667 --> 00:06:04,067 Speaker 3: I walked through the walk through the entrance. So, I 109 00:06:04,067 --> 00:06:05,947 Speaker 3: mean they use different words, but that was the theme 110 00:06:05,947 --> 00:06:09,787 Speaker 3: from every single person. So we're really really excited a 111 00:06:09,827 --> 00:06:14,507 Speaker 3: little bit nervous because it's different, but very very excited. 112 00:06:14,227 --> 00:06:16,827 Speaker 2: Brilliant, And just to finish, what would you say to 113 00:06:16,907 --> 00:06:20,227 Speaker 2: your loyal fans who who've had to you know, had 114 00:06:20,267 --> 00:06:22,987 Speaker 2: to make do with what was supposed to be a 115 00:06:23,027 --> 00:06:25,667 Speaker 2: temporary stadium colin and has lasted nearly a decade and 116 00:06:25,707 --> 00:06:28,747 Speaker 2: a half. They've come along, they've they've they've filled it, 117 00:06:28,827 --> 00:06:32,147 Speaker 2: and they've watched on as the Crusaders continued, you know, 118 00:06:32,187 --> 00:06:34,147 Speaker 2: to play magnificent rugby. What would you say to your 119 00:06:34,187 --> 00:06:38,307 Speaker 2: loyal fans who created such a stronghold there over the 120 00:06:38,427 --> 00:06:41,707 Speaker 2: last fourteen fifteen years or so, well. 121 00:06:41,547 --> 00:06:45,067 Speaker 3: I think on behalf of the whole organization, And I 122 00:06:45,147 --> 00:06:49,667 Speaker 3: feel this very deeply personally. I just can't express enough gratitude. 123 00:06:49,747 --> 00:06:54,827 Speaker 3: It's sort of like, I'm just so grateful that they 124 00:06:54,987 --> 00:06:58,547 Speaker 3: have invested so much in being part of the tribe, 125 00:06:58,587 --> 00:07:02,307 Speaker 3: being part of the community, and willing these chaps on. 126 00:07:02,747 --> 00:07:05,067 Speaker 3: But I think even more than that as well, it 127 00:07:05,147 --> 00:07:08,147 Speaker 3: has felt like fun. You know, there are you know, 128 00:07:08,187 --> 00:07:11,107 Speaker 3: I've got lots of friends that I've made who are 129 00:07:11,147 --> 00:07:15,187 Speaker 3: members or who are associated with the team, who come 130 00:07:15,227 --> 00:07:19,987 Speaker 3: along every week and and they've become really close friends. 131 00:07:20,027 --> 00:07:23,427 Speaker 3: And you know, the number of hugs I got last 132 00:07:23,547 --> 00:07:26,547 Speaker 3: night from people who have been around it was actually 133 00:07:26,947 --> 00:07:30,627 Speaker 3: it's lot with my family. It's just it's just so special. 134 00:07:30,667 --> 00:07:34,347 Speaker 3: So so to make me feel part of that family, 135 00:07:34,387 --> 00:07:38,187 Speaker 3: to make the organization feel part of that family. Yeah, yeah, 136 00:07:38,427 --> 00:07:41,107 Speaker 3: I don't think we'll ever forget it, and it'll leave 137 00:07:41,187 --> 00:07:42,707 Speaker 3: memories for for a long long time. 138 00:07:42,867 --> 00:07:44,587 Speaker 2: I bet it well. I bet it well. On to 139 00:07:44,707 --> 00:07:46,747 Speaker 2: the next Colin. Look forward to seeing you at super 140 00:07:46,827 --> 00:07:48,947 Speaker 2: Round and less than three weeks time. 141 00:07:49,867 --> 00:07:51,307 Speaker 3: Cheers Piney, looking forward to that mate. 142 00:07:51,387 --> 00:07:55,987 Speaker 2: Yes, I'm Colin. Thanks indeed, Colin Mansbridge, CEO of the Crusaders. 143 00:07:56,627 --> 00:07:59,827 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Paine, listen live 144 00:07:59,907 --> 00:08:03,307 Speaker 1: to News Talk ZB weekends from midday, or follow the 145 00:08:03,347 --> 00:08:04,867 Speaker 1: podcast on iHeartRadio.