General Mt Smart Stadium

I wonder if people in the future will look back at us and wonder,

About using taxpayer money to provide stadium,

That billionaires charge us to attend,

To watch millionaires play games,

To distract us from paying so much taxes…
It does sound silly when you put it like that hey 😂
 
I wonder if people in the future will look back at us and wonder,

About using taxpayer money to provide stadium,

That billionaires charge us to attend,

To watch millionaires play games,

To distract us from paying so much taxes…
That idea has been around for a few thousand years.....

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Victoria Park test cricket proposal revealed
NZ Herald
8 Mar, 2024 07:31 AM

A proposal is in place to turn Auckland’s Victoria Park into an international cricket venue, according to a report.

Dylan Cleaver from The Bounce reports that the group behind the pitch for the 55,000-seater Wynyard Point Stadium proposal also have plans to bring test cricket to the CBD.

While Eden Park, for now at least, remains a short-format host for international cricket, its compromised dimensions and concrete-jungle status make it unsuitable for tests. This is why Auckland last staged a test when the Black Caps defeated England by an innings and 48 runs in the day-night affair in 2018.

Colin Maiden Park has been identified as Auckland’s preferred test cricket venue. The first step is underway, with Auckland Cricket intent on moving away from Eden Park. Those plans include installing a Cravo training facility that features a retractable roof and greenhouse system to cultivate a variation of pitches at Colin Maiden.

Cleaver reports the Victoria Park proposal includes a capacity of up to 21,000 and offers a test venue on the doorstep of CBD workers and residents.

Last year, senior National MP Chris Bishop, in the early stages of assuming the Minister for Sport portfolio, was reluctant to wade into the Auckland stadium saga but as a self-confessed cricket tragic, he could not resist the urge to push the case for an exclusive test venue.

“I’ve followed the debates over the years going all the way back to Trevor Mallard’s ill-fated pitch for the waterfront stadium. I am keen on learning more about the issue. In due course I want to sit down with the relevant bodies in Auckland, including the council, and have a chat about that,” Bishop told the Herald.

“I’ve always liked the idea of a specific test cricket ground in Auckland. Test cricket in our biggest city tends to miss out these days because of the smaller audience and the five-day affair, you need the slightly more picturesque facilities.

“New Zealand Cricket seems much more interested in places like University Oval, the Basin, which I’m a huge fan of being a Wellingtonian, but it would be nice to see a dedicated test cricket venue in Auckland.

“That’s down the track, but there’s been proposals in the past and people are still keen on it so let’s have a look.”


 
Victoria Park test cricket proposal revealed
NZ Herald
8 Mar, 2024 07:31 AM

A proposal is in place to turn Auckland’s Victoria Park into an international cricket venue, according to a report.

Dylan Cleaver from The Bounce reports that the group behind the pitch for the 55,000-seater Wynyard Point Stadium proposal also have plans to bring test cricket to the CBD.

While Eden Park, for now at least, remains a short-format host for international cricket, its compromised dimensions and concrete-jungle status make it unsuitable for tests. This is why Auckland last staged a test when the Black Caps defeated England by an innings and 48 runs in the day-night affair in 2018.

Colin Maiden Park has been identified as Auckland’s preferred test cricket venue. The first step is underway, with Auckland Cricket intent on moving away from Eden Park. Those plans include installing a Cravo training facility that features a retractable roof and greenhouse system to cultivate a variation of pitches at Colin Maiden.

Cleaver reports the Victoria Park proposal includes a capacity of up to 21,000 and offers a test venue on the doorstep of CBD workers and residents.

Last year, senior National MP Chris Bishop, in the early stages of assuming the Minister for Sport portfolio, was reluctant to wade into the Auckland stadium saga but as a self-confessed cricket tragic, he could not resist the urge to push the case for an exclusive test venue.

“I’ve followed the debates over the years going all the way back to Trevor Mallard’s ill-fated pitch for the waterfront stadium. I am keen on learning more about the issue. In due course I want to sit down with the relevant bodies in Auckland, including the council, and have a chat about that,” Bishop told the Herald.

“I’ve always liked the idea of a specific test cricket ground in Auckland. Test cricket in our biggest city tends to miss out these days because of the smaller audience and the five-day affair, you need the slightly more picturesque facilities.

“New Zealand Cricket seems much more interested in places like University Oval, the Basin, which I’m a huge fan of being a Wellingtonian, but it would be nice to see a dedicated test cricket venue in Auckland.

“That’s down the track, but there’s been proposals in the past and people are still keen on it so let’s have a look.”


I like this idea. Has the potential to transform the area further & possible even become an iconic cricket ground.

It would have a pretty severe impact on community sports as the fields are pretty much always in use for cricket and league.

Maybe Eden Park 2 should be sold off to cover some of their debt if this happens?
 
I like this idea. Has the potential to transform the area further & possible even become an iconic cricket ground.
until a 6 is hit on to the motorway 🏏

I like it too, as long as there is easy access for everyone.

Would also be needed for 20/20 or one dayers to make it viable I would think?
 
I drive over every day and theres always new balls on the flyover each Monday.
Yet to have a cracked windscreen.
In my younger days I managed to hit a very nice shot for six. low and flat. It smacked in to a passing Mercedes just below the drivers side window. Made a great noise and left a massive dent. The driver wasn't happy and went off their nut. The opposition said it was covered under the car insurance as an act of god. I had a bit of a chuckle over that. I was good but not sure act of god is how many would describe my batting.
 
Victoria Park test cricket proposal revealed
NZ Herald
8 Mar, 2024 07:31 AM

A proposal is in place to turn Auckland’s Victoria Park into an international cricket venue, according to a report.

Dylan Cleaver from The Bounce reports that the group behind the pitch for the 55,000-seater Wynyard Point Stadium proposal also have plans to bring test cricket to the CBD.

While Eden Park, for now at least, remains a short-format host for international cricket, its compromised dimensions and concrete-jungle status make it unsuitable for tests. This is why Auckland last staged a test when the Black Caps defeated England by an innings and 48 runs in the day-night affair in 2018.

Colin Maiden Park has been identified as Auckland’s preferred test cricket venue. The first step is underway, with Auckland Cricket intent on moving away from Eden Park. Those plans include installing a Cravo training facility that features a retractable roof and greenhouse system to cultivate a variation of pitches at Colin Maiden.

Cleaver reports the Victoria Park proposal includes a capacity of up to 21,000 and offers a test venue on the doorstep of CBD workers and residents.

Last year, senior National MP Chris Bishop, in the early stages of assuming the Minister for Sport portfolio, was reluctant to wade into the Auckland stadium saga but as a self-confessed cricket tragic, he could not resist the urge to push the case for an exclusive test venue.

“I’ve followed the debates over the years going all the way back to Trevor Mallard’s ill-fated pitch for the waterfront stadium. I am keen on learning more about the issue. In due course I want to sit down with the relevant bodies in Auckland, including the council, and have a chat about that,” Bishop told the Herald.

“I’ve always liked the idea of a specific test cricket ground in Auckland. Test cricket in our biggest city tends to miss out these days because of the smaller audience and the five-day affair, you need the slightly more picturesque facilities.

“New Zealand Cricket seems much more interested in places like University Oval, the Basin, which I’m a huge fan of being a Wellingtonian, but it would be nice to see a dedicated test cricket venue in Auckland.

“That’s down the track, but there’s been proposals in the past and people are still keen on it so let’s have a look.”


A lot of people like the cricket facility at Hagley Park in Christchurch and think it would be possible to replicate that at Victoria Park. But, there's a huge difference in the size of the park's.... at over 400 acres, Hagley Park is over seventeen times the size of Victoria Park (23.4 acres) which also has the rather tempting target for batsmen of the Southbound lanes of the Motorway running over it.... if you hit a lorry or bus, you get an "eight", SUV's and vans are worth "ten", cars "twelve" and motorcycles "14". Give the motorway and shape of the park, it would be interesting to see how they intend to accommodate a cricket ground and 21,000 fans. That said, there would be a lot of workers who would probably love leaving the office early and walking to the last session of a test match there.

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There’s an article in this mornings Herald about Bill Foley, his sporting empire and the new Auckland based soccer team. The only mention of a new stadium is nothing more than we already know so I’ve only posted that paragraph:

Any stadium updates...?

We will be at Mt Smart for a few years. The best solution would be to own a stadium, modest in size, 17,500 seats or so. If we could figure out some council land that might be available - but that won’t be immediate. We need to get organised first, get our women’s and academy team up and going, and have a successful first team. Nick has his work cut out.

 
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