General Mount Smart Stadium Home Until 2028

[Miket12]

Mount Smart Stadium home until 2028
Richard Becht

Fri 19th February, 09:49AM

Mount Smart Stadium will remain the Vodafone Warriors’ home ground until at least the end of the 2028 NRL season under a heads of agreement jointly signed by the club and Regional Facilities Auckland.

RFA CEO Chris Brooks confirmed the RFA had granted the Vodafone Warriors a 10-year extension of their existing contract which expires at the end of the 2018 season.

While both organisations still have to ratify the details of the final contract, Brooks and Vodafone Warriors managing director Jim Doyle hailed the outcome.

Brooks said the discussions with the Vodafone Warriors had been entirely constructive and were focused on finding the best solution that met the club’s needs and those of fans alongside the RFA’s goal to maximise the use of its facilities on a cost-effective basis for ratepayers.

“This agreement offers value to both parties,” he said.

“Importantly, it offers greater commercial value to the RFA and Auckland ratepayers, reflecting the council’s investments in Mount Smart Stadium and the on-going cost of maintaining the venue into the future, while also providing certainty and some enhancements for the Warriors and their fans.”

Doyle credited Brooks for opening the way for a review of the RFA’s plans for Mount Smart Stadium.

“We were in a position not so long ago where we were being told Mount Smart Stadium wouldn’t be our home beyond 2018,” he said.

“We were passionate about staying here. We have always said it is our home and we certainly appreciate the way so many people showed their support for us to remain, particularly our members, fans and, of course, our No 1 member Sir Peter Leitch.

“We’re especially grateful to Chris who was open to consultation and discussion about the stadium strategy. It’s his attitude and his willingness to listen to our views which has enabled us to reach the point we are at today.

“This is a fantastic day for the Vodafone Warriors, for our players and staff, for all our members, for the city and for rugby league.”

Vodafone Warriors ambassador Sir Peter Leitch was elated about the decision.

“This is a huge day for everyone who loves the Vodafone Warriors, for all the members and the fans,” he said.

“Mount Smart is our home. We love it here and I couldn’t be happier that this has all been sorted out.”

Doyle said the terms of the agreement feature an undertaking for significant upgrading of the stadium and its facilities.

“This will include replacement seating, refurbishment of the dressing room facilities and a community classroom while the agreement also allows for replacement floodlights, a new big screen and a facelift for various areas of the stadium,” he said.

“We’re excited about what is in store as we work with the RFA to make Mount Smart Stadium the best home it can be for the Vodafone Warriors.”

Doyle also said beyond 2028 the Vodafone Warriors were keen to see the concept of a city football stadium become a reality to bring sporting codes and fans together as one in the heart of the central city.


https://www.warriors.kiwi/news/2016/02/19/mount_smart_stadium_.html

 

[Miket12]

Warriors to stay at Mt Smart until 2028
9:58 AM Friday Feb 19, 2016

Tuimoala Lolohea of the Warriors prepares to kick a conversion at Mt Smart Stadium. Photo / Getty
Forget North Harbour Stadium. Forget Eden Park. The Warriors will remain at Mt Smart Stadium until 2028 after announcing a new agreement with Regional Facilities Auckland (RFA) today.

The new agreement replaces the existing licence which was due to conclude at the end of 2018, with some changes taking effect as soon as the 2016 season.

As reported by the Herald on Sunday in December it's a significant turnaround from earlier last year, when the Warriors fate seemed sealed and they were going to be moved from their long-time home at the end of the 2018 season potentially to North Harbour Stadium in Albany.

They were granted a stay of execution when Auckland Councillors agreed to their request in May to take another year to examine all of the options.

The Warriors are believed to be willing to contribute to the cost of upgrading the Penrose venue to bring it up to standard with other NRL club venues in Australia.

Regional Facilities Auckland Chief Executive Chris Brooks said his organisation had been involved in discussions with the Warriors and other sport and entertainment venue users and that had driven a refresh of some elements of the strategy.

"We have been engaging widely with stakeholders and those connected with our stadium facilities and listening to their needs. We have always said this process may lead us to re-consider aspects of the strategy.

"We have also widened our focus to include consideration of the longer-term needs of sporting codes, other users, and the Auckland public and how we can best utilise existing facilities as well as any enhancements that will add value. That long-term outlook and the feedback from stakeholders is helping us shape a view on what Auckland needs now and over the longer term."

Mt Smart Stadium will continue to be used as a premier outdoor concert venue for Auckland.

Brooks said other elements of the Stadiums Strategy are being worked on and discussed with relevant stakeholders.

One other change signalled as part of the process is a short-term extension for speedway to remain at Western Springs until early 2019 while work on an alternative speedway location is progressed.

The RFA's stadium strategy has had many incarnations since it was first developed in 2012. The original plan called for the Warriors to move to Eden Park, which was always going to be an ambitious idea. It remains an unpopular venue among league fans due to the distance from the action and is bereft of atmosphere unless it is more than half full. It is also, by far, the most expensive stadium to rent in the country and has cumbersome resource management act restrictions.

A subsequent favoured option called for QBE Stadium, which has major access issues and is located far from the league heartlands in West and South Auckland, to become the Warriors home, including the (surely fanciful) idea of a retractable roof at a cost of just $12 million.

The new agreement seems to make the most sense. Retain Mt Smart for the medium-term future, while investigating the long-term possibility of a rectangular stadium in central Auckland.

- Additional reporting by Michael Burgess.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11592211&ref=NZH_FBpage

 

[eudebrito]

Geez, is there anything that bloke Doyle can’t do?

 

[way2sharp]

Mr Doyle, kudos.

 

[Akkerz]

TG and everyone concerned for some common sense. This Doyle bloke is almost too good to be true and long may he reign. Absolutely stoked

 

[matiunz]

The bit that caught my attention was the comment about the central city stadium from 2028... Waterfront stadium back on the cards?

 

[Rotang]

Well done Mr Doyle. Warriors to stay at Mt Smart! Great stuff. And yeah that new stadium will be cool..... but would we have to share???

 

[gREVUS]

The bit that caught my attention was the comment about the central city stadium from 2028... Waterfront stadium back on the cards?

"Doyle also said beyond 2028 the Vodafone Warriors were keen to see the concept of a city football stadium become a reality to bring sporting codes and fans together as one in the heart of the central city."

This quote is good from my point of view, Auckland can only benefit from a central city stadium that supersedes the existing ones.
Also this decision is the only one that anyone with common sense could possibly have concluded.

YAYYYY. (and i dont even live in Auckland any more)...

 

[Lord Gnome of Howick MBE]

What happens to Eden Park and North Harbour now then?

 

[snake77]

Eden Park carries on as normal hosting Auckland NPC, Blues and All Blacks games and the occasional cricket matches. The public still complain about long queues for beverages, toilets and security being over handed.

We still play rugby on a funny shaped field. We still play cricket on a funny shaped field.

North Harbour Stadium are feeling down as they don't get their half finished stadium from 1997 completed.

 

[Jay M]

North Harbour Stadium are feeling down as they don't get their half finished stadium from the last millenium completed.

fixed that for you

 

[Johnnyray]

What happens to Eden Park and North Harbour now then?

Dude don't know. Auckland Council had any sense that could at least redeveloped Eden Park into Apartments, a Commercial Block and Retirement Village and have money they earn from that go towards building an all purpose stadium downtown just like they had any sense instead of building a tunnel under Victoria Park to ease traffic congestion onto the bridge they should of built completely brand new bridge from where Tank Farm is and turn motorway that runs at bottom of St.Mary's Bay into luxury townhouses to pay for the thing. Problem is Auckland Council doesn't think like this. We're not dealing with smart and innovative and creative people here so thank God for Jim Doyle ...

 

[Miket12]

Dude don't know. Auckland Council had any sense that could at least redeveloped Eden Park into Apartments, a Commercial Block and Retirement Village and have money they earn from that go towards building an all purpose stadium downtown just like they had any sense instead of building a tunnel under Victoria Park to ease traffic congestion onto the bridge they should of built completely brand new bridge from where Tank Farm is and turn motorway that runs at bottom of St.Mary's Bay into luxury townhouses to pay for the thing. Problem is Auckland Council doesn't think like this. We're not dealing with smart and innovative and creative people here so thank God for Jim Doyle ...

SKYCITY stadium on the waterfront - we'd only have to give them a 1000 year licence and 15,000 extra pokie machines!!!!

 

[mt.wellington]

Auckland Council had any sense that could at least redeveloped Eden Park into Apartments, a Commercial Block and Retirement Village and have money they earn from that go towards building an all purpose stadium downtown

The Auckland Council dont own Eden Park so they can only sit on there hands hoping for such things...

 

[mt.wellington]

Mt Smart could get naming rights sponsor after deal with Warriors and Council
DAVID LONG
Last updated 16:59, February 19 2016

Mt Smart Stadium could have a naming rights sponsor now than agreement has been made for the Warriors to remain there until 2028.

Regional Facilities Auckland (RFA) have agreed to pumping around $10m into the stadium to bring it up to an acceptable level and with the venus' future secure for 12 years, there's the chance it could have a new sponsor.

The venue, which hosted the 1990 Commonwealth Games, hasn't had a naming rights sponsor since the deal with Ericsson ended in 2006.

The Warriors didn't feel the need to search for a sponsor themselves, because they are the tenants and up until recently it looked like they'd be kicked out the stadium after the 2018 season.

But with the Warriors and the RFA back on good terms, they'll look for a stadium sponsor and reach a deal over the money.

"Now there is long term certainty that's something that can be looked at," Warriors managing director Jim Doyle said.

"No sponsor would be interested in having naming rights for a stadium that they know would be used regularly for two years and may not be used after that, or it could be speedway. So why would they bother?

"Now, everyone knows the Warriors are going to be there for at least the next 12 years and people might start having a look at it.

"Both us and the RFA, we'll both have said we'll have look and try to find someone. If one of us can find someone, we'll talk to the other party and see what we can do."

The RFA had wanted the Warriors to move to North Harbour Stadium, but the club were adamant they wouldn't go there and would rather play games around country than relocate to Albany.

During the discussions to keep the Warriors at Mt Smart, the club made it a non negotiable they wouldn't be going over the bridge.

"They were very clear that under no circumstances would we be going to North Harbour, we made that clear to them on numerous occasions," Doyle said.

"We told them we wouldn't got to North Harbour, so if we have got no choice but to leave here at the end of 2018, we won't be taking all of our games to Eden Park, we'll take a few there, but not all, because it's not the right size, shape, or in the right location."

Work on improving Mt Smart will happen out of season and RFA chief executive Chris Brooks they'll look at making it a more pleasurable place for spectators to visit.

"It's an area that's been under invested in quite significantly over the years," he said.

"we've got some work to do to bring it up to standards, from a health and safety aspect and also so that it can be good for the Warriors and concerts. We are thinking we'll need to spend in the vicinity of $10 million.

"we've got some seating in one of the stands that needs replacing, we've got some temporary toilet facilities that we want to turn into a permanent toilet block.

The RFA also want to improve the floodlights and have a better big screen.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/leagu...-sponsor-after-deal-with-warriors-and-council

 

[Miket12]

Mt Smart could get naming rights sponsor after deal with Warriors and Council

Stadium Stonemason?

 

[mt.wellington]

Stadium Stonemason?

Lion Red Stadium.
Spark Stadium.
Pornhub Stadium...

 

[Jay M]

Lion Red Stadium.
Spark Stadium.
Pornhub Stadium...

first one won't happen while woodstock are the sleeve sponsor

Pretty sure Spark are unlikely too given Vodafone's jersey sponsorship

Let's go with Pornhub - Konnie's homeground!

 

[mt.wellington]

Can only think of Vodafone or SKYCITY fronting the cash for it really. Vodafone would love it as it would ensure they get a mention in Australia where we are known as the NZ Warriors and not the Vodafone Warriors...

 

[Miket12]

Let's go with Pornhub - Konnie's homeground!

ShowBros Stadium?