Good to see the Breakers establishing themseleves in the NBL, lets hope they get good crowds and get higher up on the NBL ladder. It seems alot of money invested on an indoor stadium. It seems the capacity just is a tad low, 7000 would have done nicely for Auckland, although you guys can't complain. Now when will the PEC be ready I wonder....
Breakers move to new home
Wednesday, March 24, 2004 - 03:10PM
Nz Breakers
The $26 million Trusts Stadium at Waitakere will be the new home of the Harvey Norman NZ Breakers.
Breakers chairman, Dallas Fisher, said while the club had taken its time to commit to Waitakere it was a decision he believed would shape the future of the franchise.
“I know of 10 NBL clubs in Australia who would die for the same opportunity to have been presented to them,” he said.
“The Trusts stadium will be a showcase for basketball not only in Auckland, but for the entire country. We are delighted that the stadium’s management worked with us to get a deal done.”
While Waitakere will be the Breakers administrative and home court base, the Breakers will also play a five-game series at the North Shore Events Centre next season, complementing the 11 games at Waitakere.
It means the Breakers will play their entire season in Auckland unlike their first year when they ventured to Hamilton, Christchurch and Wellington for games.
The new Trusts Stadium increases the crowd capacity for Breakers games to more than 5000 and a 500-capacity hospitality lounge overlooking the court also brings with it new and exciting marketing opportunities for the Breakers.
"When you look at it we couldn’t have designed it any better ourselves,” Fisher said.
“From kiosk, parking, seating to merchandising facilities, Waitakere shapes up as first class.”
“Some stadiums you go to provide seating so far away from the action that you need binoculars. That’s not the case here as every one of the 5000 seats offers a great view.
“The size of the corporate lounge also gives us some great pre-game hospitality opportunities.
“It even means we can now host an after-match meet the players and best and fairest presentation to which we can invite everyone.
“It will provide fans with the perfect chance to get that prized autograph or to take a picture shaking hands with one of their heroes. All in all it’s a wonderful opportunity that we would have been crazy to turn down,” Fisher said.
Chairman of the Waitakere Regional Sports Trust, Ross Dallow, said the project is the culmination of years of intensive investigation and planning.
“We have created the country’s leading example of an indoor sports stadium. I don’t believe there is another facility that can continue to operate as a community sports centre, while at the same time hold a large corporate function and a major event,” Dallow said.
"We are excited about our partnership with the Harvey Norman NZ Breakers who are the leading indoor sports team in this country and they have obviously recognised the value presented by the stadium.”
Waitakere City Mayor, Bob Harvey, said the presence of the Breakers will be a fantastic draw card for the city.
“Basketball is a major sport in this city, particularly among young people," Mayor Harvey said.
"Now, thanks to the Breakers, fans will be able to see their heroes up close and live in our new stadium."
"Better still is that this is a long-term deal which signifies our commitment and that of the Breakers to grow the game even more,” Mayor Harvey said.
The Breakers are already working on their season ticket offers for the 2004/2005 Australian NBL season.
At this stage there will be two packages, one featuring the 11-game Waitakere season and the other the five-game Pak 'n Save series at the NSEC.
Those purchasing a season ticket for Waitakere will be given a free voucher to attend an NSEC match and vice versa.
The Trusts Stadium forms the major part of a comprehensive sporting precinct incorporating two new sports fields, an all weather athletics track around the current Waitakere Stadium Douglas Field and a parkland setting for community use.
Funding for the project has come from the Waitakere City Council, ASB Charitable Trust, Waitakere Licensing Trust, Portage Licensing Trust, Lion Foundation, Douglas Pharmaceutical, Century Foundation, Genesis Energy, Wattyl Paints, Perry Foundation, Waitakere Regional Sports Trust and Bryan Heron, a long time philanthropist of sport in Waitakere City.
New Zealands finest for the Breakers
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Egan
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Well, its been a long time coming, but Auckland is going to get an inner city indoor stadium.
I wonder if the Breakers will end up moving here in the future?
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay. ... on=general
$80m Auckland arena gets go-ahead
30.04.2004
By MATHEW DEARNALEY
Aucklanders can at last look forward to glittering sports and entertainment events in the shelter of an indoor arena - but must dig deeper than expected to pay for it.
The Auckland City Council, in a confidential but clear-cut vote last night, approved plans for a 12,000-seat arena at Quay Park between the waterfront and the former central railway station.
But the cost has jumped from $68 million to $80 million, with ratepayers to cough up the lion's share for a project which three successive councils have agonised over since the city bought the site eight years ago.
This will amount to $66.5 million - an increase of $8.5 million in the council's contribution to an Australian and American joint venture operating company, Quay Park Arena Management, which will provide $11 million.
A further $2.5 million will come from interest on funds invested when a deal is signed for construction to start in June, and for the arena to be open for next year's Christmas festivities.
Another sweetener for the joint venture, in what is touted as New Zealand's first major public-private partnership for a public facility, will be a 15-year rates holiday followed by heavily discounted rates for 25 further years.
Ownership of the arena will then revert to the council which will in the meantime receive 20c for every ticket sold, and royalties once profits reach a level yet to be disclosed.
The joint venture, basing its calculations on the similarly sized Brisbane Entertainment Centre, expects about $15 million in annual takings from 500,000 spectators of 120 events.
A contractual clause will require the arena to be kept in good working order at all times.
Mainzeal Construction has agreed to a guaranteed maximum price to guard against any further escalation of costs to the council, which will be fully refunded any savings on what recreation and events committee chairman Scott Milne said would be a landmark building.
Mr Milne acknowledged disappointment at the extra cost, but said it would have only kept rising with any further delays.
He also noted refusals by neighbouring councils, as well as the Auckland Regional Council and Government, to contribute to the project.
But he insisted the deal was the most cost-effective way to provide a world-class arena at minimal risk to ratepayers, with depreciation and maintenance expenses transferred to an experienced private partner.
"It is cause for great celebration - it is a great deal for Auckland."
Quay Park Arena Management is owned by Sydney-based Jacobsen Venue Management, as senior partner, and Miami promotion company Jack Utsick Presents.
Last night was the second occasion on which the council agreed to increase its contribution, having in November raised a pledge from $50 million to keep the project alive with Jacobsen.
A more ambitious $89 million arena plan was scaled back to $68 million in August after another Australian company, Abigroup, failed to come up with a $30 million share.
The lack of a large indoor arena in rainy Auckland has prompted many international acts to shun the city, and was a reason David Bowie chose Wellington for his sole New Zealand summer concert.
Last night, Mr Milne mused at the possibility of enjoying an Elton John concert under cover the same week as a Silver Ferns or Tall Blacks match or schools' musical extravaganza.
He expected the arena to enhance Auckland's reputation as a place to live and visit, and reinforce it as "the cultural capital of New Zealand".
Auckland City Mayor John Banks said the arena would be a great boost to a metropolis striving "to become an internationally competitive city with heart and soul".
Jacobsen executive director Amber Jacobsen, whose family operates facilities such as the Sydney Entertainment Centre and has promoted acts such as Barbra Streisand, the Bee Gees and Michael Jackson, described Auckland as a "hot" destination.
"It is so exciting for Auckland ... you deserve to have world-class facilities," she said.
She said many American acts were keen to come here en route to Australia and hinted that Elton John, whom her company has previously promoted, may be among the first to appear at the new venue.
The stadium is the latest in a series of big spending council decisions. It is investing $23 million upgrading Queen St and has earmarked $46 for Westhaven marina.
Councillor Richard Northey was the only one to vote against the arena.
After the meeting he said he feared other projects would be sidelined because of the extra cost.
He also said he was concerned the arena would not be financially viable.
- Additional reporting Stuart Dye
New arena
Location: Quay Park
Seats: 12,000
Cost: $80m
Council contribution: $66.4m
Private company contribution: $11m
Interest: $2.5m
Start date: June 2004
Open by: December 2005
Potential uses: Silver Ferns' matches, Rock concerts, school music events.
12,000 is a bit small I think. It would have been good to have an indoor arena that could seat around 16,000 so we dont have to build another in the near future when the population demands it.
I wonder if the Breakers will end up moving here in the future?
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay. ... on=general
$80m Auckland arena gets go-ahead
30.04.2004
By MATHEW DEARNALEY
Aucklanders can at last look forward to glittering sports and entertainment events in the shelter of an indoor arena - but must dig deeper than expected to pay for it.
The Auckland City Council, in a confidential but clear-cut vote last night, approved plans for a 12,000-seat arena at Quay Park between the waterfront and the former central railway station.
But the cost has jumped from $68 million to $80 million, with ratepayers to cough up the lion's share for a project which three successive councils have agonised over since the city bought the site eight years ago.
This will amount to $66.5 million - an increase of $8.5 million in the council's contribution to an Australian and American joint venture operating company, Quay Park Arena Management, which will provide $11 million.
A further $2.5 million will come from interest on funds invested when a deal is signed for construction to start in June, and for the arena to be open for next year's Christmas festivities.
Another sweetener for the joint venture, in what is touted as New Zealand's first major public-private partnership for a public facility, will be a 15-year rates holiday followed by heavily discounted rates for 25 further years.
Ownership of the arena will then revert to the council which will in the meantime receive 20c for every ticket sold, and royalties once profits reach a level yet to be disclosed.
The joint venture, basing its calculations on the similarly sized Brisbane Entertainment Centre, expects about $15 million in annual takings from 500,000 spectators of 120 events.
A contractual clause will require the arena to be kept in good working order at all times.
Mainzeal Construction has agreed to a guaranteed maximum price to guard against any further escalation of costs to the council, which will be fully refunded any savings on what recreation and events committee chairman Scott Milne said would be a landmark building.
Mr Milne acknowledged disappointment at the extra cost, but said it would have only kept rising with any further delays.
He also noted refusals by neighbouring councils, as well as the Auckland Regional Council and Government, to contribute to the project.
But he insisted the deal was the most cost-effective way to provide a world-class arena at minimal risk to ratepayers, with depreciation and maintenance expenses transferred to an experienced private partner.
"It is cause for great celebration - it is a great deal for Auckland."
Quay Park Arena Management is owned by Sydney-based Jacobsen Venue Management, as senior partner, and Miami promotion company Jack Utsick Presents.
Last night was the second occasion on which the council agreed to increase its contribution, having in November raised a pledge from $50 million to keep the project alive with Jacobsen.
A more ambitious $89 million arena plan was scaled back to $68 million in August after another Australian company, Abigroup, failed to come up with a $30 million share.
The lack of a large indoor arena in rainy Auckland has prompted many international acts to shun the city, and was a reason David Bowie chose Wellington for his sole New Zealand summer concert.
Last night, Mr Milne mused at the possibility of enjoying an Elton John concert under cover the same week as a Silver Ferns or Tall Blacks match or schools' musical extravaganza.
He expected the arena to enhance Auckland's reputation as a place to live and visit, and reinforce it as "the cultural capital of New Zealand".
Auckland City Mayor John Banks said the arena would be a great boost to a metropolis striving "to become an internationally competitive city with heart and soul".
Jacobsen executive director Amber Jacobsen, whose family operates facilities such as the Sydney Entertainment Centre and has promoted acts such as Barbra Streisand, the Bee Gees and Michael Jackson, described Auckland as a "hot" destination.
"It is so exciting for Auckland ... you deserve to have world-class facilities," she said.
She said many American acts were keen to come here en route to Australia and hinted that Elton John, whom her company has previously promoted, may be among the first to appear at the new venue.
The stadium is the latest in a series of big spending council decisions. It is investing $23 million upgrading Queen St and has earmarked $46 for Westhaven marina.
Councillor Richard Northey was the only one to vote against the arena.
After the meeting he said he feared other projects would be sidelined because of the extra cost.
He also said he was concerned the arena would not be financially viable.
- Additional reporting Stuart Dye
New arena
Location: Quay Park
Seats: 12,000
Cost: $80m
Council contribution: $66.4m
Private company contribution: $11m
Interest: $2.5m
Start date: June 2004
Open by: December 2005
Potential uses: Silver Ferns' matches, Rock concerts, school music events.
12,000 is a bit small I think. It would have been good to have an indoor arena that could seat around 16,000 so we dont have to build another in the near future when the population demands it.
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Egan
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Is Aucklands populations rising much?
Two new indoor stadiums. Over 100 million dollars invested.
5000
12000
Sounds like Aucklanders have an oversupply of indoor stadiums.
Probably the Breakers will use it if they get to the NBL finals. Im sure Kiwis and Aucklanders will enjoy that.
How far is Waikatere from the CBD of Auckland.
I like that new design, it looks something like the Burswood Dome in Perth. The grandstand looks very much like Burswood Dome. That tennis tournament that also is played before the Aussie Open can be played thei.
So if thats costing 80 million, we in Perth could get something similar. With the 50 million the State Government is giving to a private company.
Hmm interesting, well done New Zealanders looks like a great indoor stadium, designed by Aussies.
Two new indoor stadiums. Over 100 million dollars invested.
5000
12000
Sounds like Aucklanders have an oversupply of indoor stadiums.
Probably the Breakers will use it if they get to the NBL finals. Im sure Kiwis and Aucklanders will enjoy that.
How far is Waikatere from the CBD of Auckland.
I like that new design, it looks something like the Burswood Dome in Perth. The grandstand looks very much like Burswood Dome. That tennis tournament that also is played before the Aussie Open can be played thei.
So if thats costing 80 million, we in Perth could get something similar. With the 50 million the State Government is giving to a private company.
Hmm interesting, well done New Zealanders looks like a great indoor stadium, designed by Aussies.