1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,547 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:13,667 Speaker 1: from Newstalk zedb Rowan. 3 00:00:13,507 --> 00:00:16,587 Speaker 2: West is CEO of Tennis Auckland. Rowan, thanks for joining 4 00:00:16,627 --> 00:00:20,547 Speaker 2: us five million. That seems significant. How much will that 5 00:00:20,627 --> 00:00:24,267 Speaker 2: cash injection from the government help support your Center Court 6 00:00:24,547 --> 00:00:27,027 Speaker 2: roof project cure? 7 00:00:27,107 --> 00:00:32,227 Speaker 3: Jay five million is approximately one third of the total 8 00:00:32,627 --> 00:00:35,947 Speaker 3: amount we're needing. We're looking at just on fifteen million 9 00:00:35,947 --> 00:00:38,707 Speaker 3: dollars for the entire project. Quite a bit of that 10 00:00:38,787 --> 00:00:41,987 Speaker 3: has actually already been spent with the demolition of the 11 00:00:42,067 --> 00:00:45,867 Speaker 3: Robinson stand in, some court extension works and other enabling 12 00:00:45,907 --> 00:00:49,467 Speaker 3: works that we got going on, So yeah, it is significant. 13 00:00:49,507 --> 00:00:53,827 Speaker 3: We already had around two point one million in the pot, 14 00:00:54,107 --> 00:00:57,027 Speaker 3: so that takes us up to close to fifty percent 15 00:00:57,947 --> 00:01:00,867 Speaker 3: and with a fair wind behind us, I think we'll 16 00:01:00,867 --> 00:01:04,947 Speaker 3: be at about ten million by Christmas. So we're well 17 00:01:04,987 --> 00:01:07,347 Speaker 3: on the way. And as I say, this is a 18 00:01:07,467 --> 00:01:10,827 Speaker 3: really significant announcement and gets us well down the track. 19 00:01:11,027 --> 00:01:12,987 Speaker 2: How much is Auckland Council going to kick in. 20 00:01:14,307 --> 00:01:19,707 Speaker 3: We're still in discussions with them on the final number. Obviously, 21 00:01:20,147 --> 00:01:22,427 Speaker 3: a news article came out a couple of weeks ago 22 00:01:22,507 --> 00:01:24,547 Speaker 3: or a couple of months ago now that we were 23 00:01:24,587 --> 00:01:27,507 Speaker 3: successful in getting a one point five million dollar grant 24 00:01:27,587 --> 00:01:31,867 Speaker 3: from the Sport and Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund from 25 00:01:31,907 --> 00:01:35,187 Speaker 3: the council. So and part of that is going to 26 00:01:35,267 --> 00:01:39,507 Speaker 3: these works that are currently ongoing. So yeah, they've committed, 27 00:01:39,547 --> 00:01:42,667 Speaker 3: they're in the game and on the team. We're just 28 00:01:42,787 --> 00:01:47,387 Speaker 3: working through some other options to get to that final 29 00:01:47,387 --> 00:01:48,267 Speaker 3: fifteen mil. So. 30 00:01:48,307 --> 00:01:50,787 Speaker 2: I guess it helps, doesn't it when you approach private 31 00:01:50,827 --> 00:01:54,507 Speaker 2: investors now, and I guess local government as well. There's 32 00:01:54,507 --> 00:01:56,907 Speaker 2: a certainty now that this is going to happen. I mean, 33 00:01:57,067 --> 00:01:58,787 Speaker 2: at the start you had to get off the start line, 34 00:01:58,987 --> 00:02:01,027 Speaker 2: and I know you did that well with some private investment, 35 00:02:01,067 --> 00:02:03,627 Speaker 2: but now there's some certainty around this. 36 00:02:04,747 --> 00:02:10,547 Speaker 3: Absolutely you're did right and we're seeing that straightaway. Greg Long, 37 00:02:10,667 --> 00:02:13,787 Speaker 3: our immediate past president, who's been leading the charge on 38 00:02:13,867 --> 00:02:17,907 Speaker 3: most of our funding work outside of the grant sector, 39 00:02:18,227 --> 00:02:22,227 Speaker 3: which is my responsibility. So he's been talking to a 40 00:02:22,307 --> 00:02:25,867 Speaker 3: lot of high networth individuals and private donors, and he's 41 00:02:25,907 --> 00:02:30,587 Speaker 3: also leading the process on our nineteen fifty six Club, 42 00:02:30,627 --> 00:02:34,307 Speaker 3: which is a long term seat to venture program that 43 00:02:34,347 --> 00:02:38,027 Speaker 3: we've launched, and we've sold about sixty percent of all 44 00:02:38,067 --> 00:02:40,947 Speaker 3: the seats available for that, and that's going to be 45 00:02:41,387 --> 00:02:44,667 Speaker 3: around one point two million dollars if we sell all 46 00:02:44,747 --> 00:02:48,267 Speaker 3: the seats that we've got available. So yeah, and those 47 00:02:48,427 --> 00:02:52,547 Speaker 3: discussions are really proven very fruitful in the last twenty 48 00:02:52,547 --> 00:02:53,827 Speaker 3: four hours, so it. 49 00:02:53,787 --> 00:02:57,667 Speaker 2: Is big outstanding. So Robin, bestcase scenario, when are we 50 00:02:57,707 --> 00:02:58,547 Speaker 2: going to have a roof up? 51 00:03:00,867 --> 00:03:06,827 Speaker 3: If all the planets aligned and everything was literally track, 52 00:03:07,267 --> 00:03:09,427 Speaker 3: we could have this in place for the twenty twenty 53 00:03:09,507 --> 00:03:15,387 Speaker 3: seven ASP Classic, But we're going to be heading reality 54 00:03:15,427 --> 00:03:19,867 Speaker 3: and the realities of construction in the New Zealand environment. 55 00:03:19,947 --> 00:03:23,387 Speaker 3: So we've got building consents, we've got tender processes, we've 56 00:03:23,387 --> 00:03:31,067 Speaker 3: got building construction contracts to sign. So yeah, I certainly 57 00:03:31,107 --> 00:03:35,027 Speaker 3: expect now that there will be a roof over Manuka 58 00:03:35,067 --> 00:03:39,107 Speaker 3: Doctor Arena Center Court in the twenty twenty seven calendar year. 59 00:03:39,507 --> 00:03:42,707 Speaker 3: Whether it's in time for the ASP Classic twenty twenty seven, 60 00:03:43,387 --> 00:03:45,507 Speaker 3: all the stars are going to have to align, but 61 00:03:45,587 --> 00:03:47,667 Speaker 3: we're going to work our tails off to make sure 62 00:03:47,867 --> 00:03:50,587 Speaker 3: that we do our best to get those stars aligned all. 63 00:03:50,547 --> 00:03:53,427 Speaker 2: Right, and if not twenty twenty eight obviously, Now this 64 00:03:53,547 --> 00:03:57,507 Speaker 2: also means I think rowan increased capacity for center court, does. 65 00:03:57,347 --> 00:04:00,627 Speaker 3: It, Yes, that is part of the works that we've 66 00:04:00,667 --> 00:04:04,347 Speaker 3: got going on right now, So we demolished the Robinson stand. 67 00:04:05,147 --> 00:04:07,947 Speaker 3: The Grand Old Lady of Cender Court had come to 68 00:04:07,987 --> 00:04:12,227 Speaker 3: the end of its useful life, so we demolished that 69 00:04:12,467 --> 00:04:16,107 Speaker 3: about two months ago. We had to increase the size 70 00:04:16,107 --> 00:04:19,707 Speaker 3: of center court to meet ATP Tour standards. The game 71 00:04:19,747 --> 00:04:22,667 Speaker 3: has become so much more powerful and the players are 72 00:04:22,667 --> 00:04:26,307 Speaker 3: playing much deeper in the court these days, and they 73 00:04:26,467 --> 00:04:29,947 Speaker 3: changed their standards about two years ago, so officially we 74 00:04:29,947 --> 00:04:33,547 Speaker 3: were too short in terms of our total court area, 75 00:04:33,987 --> 00:04:37,587 Speaker 3: so we're increasing the court area by about four meters 76 00:04:37,587 --> 00:04:40,667 Speaker 3: in depth. But what that also allows us to do 77 00:04:40,747 --> 00:04:43,827 Speaker 3: is put in a new temporary grand stand for the 78 00:04:43,867 --> 00:04:47,707 Speaker 3: ASB Classic, which will go to one thousand seats instead 79 00:04:47,707 --> 00:04:50,467 Speaker 3: of eight hundred which the old Robinson had. And then 80 00:04:50,667 --> 00:04:53,747 Speaker 3: also in our northeast corner, where we used to have 81 00:04:53,787 --> 00:04:57,187 Speaker 3: a temporary corporate box stand, that's going to be converted 82 00:04:57,187 --> 00:05:00,987 Speaker 3: to grandstand seating, hiring grandstand and setting for about two 83 00:05:01,067 --> 00:05:04,027 Speaker 3: hundred and thirty, so we will end up with three thousand, 84 00:05:04,107 --> 00:05:08,627 Speaker 3: five hundred capacity, four hundred above what we had last. 85 00:05:08,467 --> 00:05:13,267 Speaker 2: Yet, without these upgrades, would the ASB Classic Fortnite have 86 00:05:13,387 --> 00:05:15,307 Speaker 2: been under serious threat. 87 00:05:16,747 --> 00:05:20,707 Speaker 3: We always are Jason. The people that aren't involved in 88 00:05:20,787 --> 00:05:25,067 Speaker 3: tennis probably don't know what the pressures are to get 89 00:05:25,107 --> 00:05:30,147 Speaker 3: these licenses and get these tournaments in countries. There is 90 00:05:30,187 --> 00:05:33,067 Speaker 3: so much wealth out there in the world that people 91 00:05:33,187 --> 00:05:37,987 Speaker 3: just don't realize, whether at a city level, country level, 92 00:05:38,267 --> 00:05:42,547 Speaker 3: or an individual investor level. So we're always being under 93 00:05:42,547 --> 00:05:47,587 Speaker 3: pressure by countries or cities or even individuals to buy 94 00:05:47,587 --> 00:05:52,747 Speaker 3: the licenses of the two tournaments we run. So if 95 00:05:52,787 --> 00:05:57,107 Speaker 3: we don't upgrade our facilities, if we don't keep improving, 96 00:05:58,067 --> 00:06:01,067 Speaker 3: one day, either an investor or a city or even 97 00:06:01,107 --> 00:06:04,867 Speaker 3: the ATP itself will tap us on the shoulder and say, 98 00:06:05,227 --> 00:06:08,867 Speaker 3: are you really serious? Is Auckland is tennis, Auckland is 99 00:06:08,907 --> 00:06:12,867 Speaker 3: tennis New Zealand? Are you really serious about improving and 100 00:06:12,987 --> 00:06:16,747 Speaker 3: being a world class tournament. If you're not, get out 101 00:06:16,747 --> 00:06:19,547 Speaker 3: of the game, and then that would be devastating for 102 00:06:20,147 --> 00:06:23,667 Speaker 3: Auckland and New Zealand and the sporting and entertainment landscape. 103 00:06:23,747 --> 00:06:27,147 Speaker 3: So we pretty much have to do this, and it's 104 00:06:27,187 --> 00:06:29,307 Speaker 3: like anything in the world. If you want to be 105 00:06:29,387 --> 00:06:32,187 Speaker 3: world class, you've got to look around and see what 106 00:06:32,187 --> 00:06:34,507 Speaker 3: your competition is, and you've got to meet that or 107 00:06:34,507 --> 00:06:35,467 Speaker 3: exceed it well. 108 00:06:35,507 --> 00:06:37,547 Speaker 2: As I understand of the ASP Classic delivered to gross 109 00:06:37,587 --> 00:06:40,947 Speaker 2: economic boost of twenty two point three million to Auckland 110 00:06:41,347 --> 00:06:43,707 Speaker 2: this year, so yeah, well worth doing. As I just 111 00:06:43,707 --> 00:06:46,387 Speaker 2: love the ambition because you're right. It would be easy 112 00:06:46,467 --> 00:06:48,707 Speaker 2: to do nothing, wouldn't it, But then you know we 113 00:06:49,067 --> 00:06:50,707 Speaker 2: would have to find something else to do in the 114 00:06:50,707 --> 00:06:52,427 Speaker 2: first couple of weeks of January every year. 115 00:06:53,227 --> 00:06:56,587 Speaker 3: Yeah, and we love being the go to sports and 116 00:06:56,667 --> 00:07:00,547 Speaker 3: entertainment event for Auckland's and New Zealanders and people kind 117 00:07:00,547 --> 00:07:03,547 Speaker 3: of forget that twenty five percent of all of our 118 00:07:03,747 --> 00:07:08,587 Speaker 3: attendees come from outside of Auckland and three percent, about 119 00:07:08,627 --> 00:07:11,627 Speaker 3: twelve hundred a year, come from overseas. So that's the 120 00:07:12,107 --> 00:07:15,387 Speaker 3: likes of five seven, eight seven Dreamline is coming into 121 00:07:15,427 --> 00:07:19,107 Speaker 3: Auckland specifically for people to come and watch the ASP Classic. 122 00:07:19,667 --> 00:07:22,547 Speaker 3: You can't undervalue that, as you say, that's twenty three 123 00:07:23,147 --> 00:07:27,147 Speaker 3: million dollars, twenty two million dollars of GDP growth GDP impact. 124 00:07:27,347 --> 00:07:31,667 Speaker 3: But what also what we also fire event throws into 125 00:07:31,667 --> 00:07:35,907 Speaker 3: the government coffers about three million dollars of tax a year. 126 00:07:36,387 --> 00:07:41,267 Speaker 3: So doing this project increasing our capacity, running more third 127 00:07:41,307 --> 00:07:44,387 Speaker 3: party events at the at the venue will increase the 128 00:07:44,467 --> 00:07:48,867 Speaker 3: tax take for the government, so everybody wins. GDP grows, 129 00:07:49,187 --> 00:07:54,307 Speaker 3: we can drive more growth in jobs and we run 130 00:07:54,427 --> 00:07:58,387 Speaker 3: more interesting and innovative events here at Minuka Doctor Arena. 131 00:07:58,427 --> 00:08:00,067 Speaker 2: Yeah, I was going to say so just tennis. Does 132 00:08:00,107 --> 00:08:01,987 Speaker 2: this open the venue up to other events as well? 133 00:08:02,587 --> 00:08:07,907 Speaker 3: Yeah? Absolutely, We've been looking to more events here over 134 00:08:07,947 --> 00:08:11,347 Speaker 3: the last few years. Some of your listeners might remember 135 00:08:11,907 --> 00:08:14,707 Speaker 3: there was a concert here court Center Court Sounds with 136 00:08:14,747 --> 00:08:17,867 Speaker 3: the New Zealand band Leisure in January this year. Went 137 00:08:17,907 --> 00:08:20,187 Speaker 3: off really well and it was almost a test case 138 00:08:20,187 --> 00:08:22,987 Speaker 3: of what we can do with a little boutique a 139 00:08:23,067 --> 00:08:27,867 Speaker 3: venue in the CBD. This coming year in twenty twenty six, 140 00:08:27,867 --> 00:08:31,507 Speaker 3: were actually going to be the host venue for the 141 00:08:31,547 --> 00:08:36,027 Speaker 3: Fever or the International Basketball Federation endorsed Death three on 142 00:08:36,067 --> 00:08:39,147 Speaker 3: three Basketball World Cup, so they're going to be playing 143 00:08:39,147 --> 00:08:41,987 Speaker 3: on Center Court in September next year, with or without 144 00:08:41,987 --> 00:08:44,907 Speaker 3: a roof over Center Court. And they're the sorts of 145 00:08:44,947 --> 00:08:49,147 Speaker 3: events and even higher level events, maybe a Fever three 146 00:08:49,227 --> 00:08:54,147 Speaker 3: on three World Series event, a World Beach Volleyball Tour event, 147 00:08:54,787 --> 00:08:59,947 Speaker 3: lots of things, more concerts, so there's just almost unlimited 148 00:09:00,947 --> 00:09:05,227 Speaker 3: range of events. Who need a boutique one to four 149 00:09:05,267 --> 00:09:10,587 Speaker 3: thousand capacity, the arena close to downtown, close to transport links, 150 00:09:10,827 --> 00:09:15,867 Speaker 3: that is accessible and affordable to rent. We think we're 151 00:09:15,867 --> 00:09:17,667 Speaker 3: going to be in a sweet spot for those sort 152 00:09:17,707 --> 00:09:18,867 Speaker 3: of events in the future. 153 00:09:18,987 --> 00:09:21,347 Speaker 2: Well it's ovi guess you've got real momentum now a 154 00:09:21,467 --> 00:09:24,787 Speaker 2: red letter day with government investment confirmed. Rolan, thanks for 155 00:09:24,827 --> 00:09:27,227 Speaker 2: your time. Did I look forward to following the progress 156 00:09:27,347 --> 00:09:30,867 Speaker 2: over the next few months to the actual green light 157 00:09:30,947 --> 00:09:32,707 Speaker 2: and then over the next couple of years for the 158 00:09:32,747 --> 00:09:34,467 Speaker 2: development of the roof. Thanks for taking the time for 159 00:09:34,507 --> 00:09:34,867 Speaker 2: a chat. 160 00:09:35,547 --> 00:09:36,227 Speaker 3: Cheers, Jason. 161 00:09:36,267 --> 00:09:39,587 Speaker 1: Thank you for more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine. 162 00:09:39,787 --> 00:09:43,027 Speaker 1: Listen live to News Talk sed B weekends from midday, 163 00:09:43,307 --> 00:09:45,347 Speaker 1: or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.