General Mt Smart Stadium

[Kestrel84]

I much prefer watching actual games at Mt Smart, but I'd probably end up physically attending more games if they regularly played at Eden Park, just due to access and general stuff nearby.

Never thought I'd say that.

Still holding out for a downtown stadium though.

 

[Spence]

Can't tell if this is rage bait

I guess if people can't tell, that makes you a master baiter

If you do genuinely like the idea, I'd be interested to hear why lol

Location - so much easier to drive and public transport to for more people.

I hate everything else about it though.

I love Mt Smart and hate Eden Park - but would attend more games at Eden Park (even as a season ticket holder some games are just too much effort to get out to Mt Smart and get back home near midnight).

 

[mrblonde]

Won't ever forgive the Auckland City Council - under Len Brown, IIRC - magically being able to arrange buses from several points of the city to take us Warriors fans to the 3 Eden Park games that were arranged for 2014 but, gee, sorry, Warriors fans, can't do that for Mt Smart...
I could live with Eden Park if the Eden Park Trust or whatever it's called had the brains to turn the park into a rectangular stadium (I'd have thought the ICC announcing - or if not actually saying it, implying it - that Tests wouldn't be held at Eden Park any more would have pushed them over the line, but no...).
But I Like Mt Smart for it's size, really. 2024 - as crappy as it was for what actually happened onfield - was a season of great atmosphere at the stadium. Not entirely sure if moving to a bigger stadium will mean significantly bigger crowds on a regular basis. 28 years of going to Mt Smart as a regular tells me No. It. Will. Not. Last year, the cost of living etc and of course the Warriors' consistant inconsistancy pretty much guarantee that. Last year was something that will probably never happen again in terms of A Season Of Sellouts For Mt Smart.

 

[mrblonde]

ABs record goes all the way back to 94 albeit could be under threat from the Boks this year.
Cricket can’t fill a stadium so shouldn’t really have a say on Eden park, the fact they still use it despite its embarrassing size is another factor

The reason the All Blacks last to France is because I WAS THERE.
And it was the the day after Mr Cobain met Mr Shotgun. So maybe it's his fault....

 

[Makasene]

I think warriors mgmt want warriors games at eden park they bought a bar/pub in Mt eden

Been there done that got the picture.

In 2012 and 2013 we opened our home season at Eden Park. In 2014 we played our first 3 home games at Eden Park.

We were moving, MSS was out, Eden Park was in, except.... the club lost money playing at Eden Park.

What's changed?

 

[snake77]

Been there done that got the picture.

In 2012 and 2013 we opened our home season at Eden Park. In 2014 we played our first 3 home games at Eden Park.

We were moving, MSS was out, Eden Park was in, except.... the club lost money playing at Eden Park.

What's changed?

I don't know what has changed but I would point to a few things listed when the club was previously being pressured to move. Back when the club was really get pushed to move to Eden Park some of the articles that came out had the following.

Average Crowd: The Warriors would have had to increase their average crowd from 15k to 19k to make Eden Park feasible. Sure, the club is pulling more than that now. But, how much of that is due to returning from covid and the results of 2023. The club would be in a better bargaining position now.

Corporate Boxes: There was an article referencing how the club would lose all of their corporate box revenue. Something along the lines of Eden Park controls it instead and they have existing corporates. It was a significant amount the club would lose.


The other thing was if the club moved the public transport would be free. The club is currently playing at a Auckland Council owned stadium, but if they move to a non Auckland Council owned stadium the Council would subsidise the transport. That is a good indication of the mess Auckland is in in terms of stadiums. Other entities have provided a lot of money to Eden Park who can't service their loans.

This article for Blues games shows that even if the club moved the transport is not guaranteed. Sure, the article states the clubs (Blues, Warriors) status on paying part of the transport costs. The club playing part was never stated before it was it would be taken care of. If the club did move to Eden Park how long until any of the incentives change?

Stuff

www.stuff.co.nz

Most clubs playing out of Eden Park struggle to make it financially feasible. Can the same arguments be applied to a new build? Yes. But a new purpose built stadium would be more appealing to the public.

A cities public transport system should be directed to the city. Not towards a suburb.
Then the benefit to the central city as people file out of the stadium to the bars and restaurants. The central city by all accounts isn't doing to well so the stadium would also help in that regard.

 

[MM51]

I think warriors mgmt want warriors games at eden park they bought a bar/pub in Mt eden

I mean they weren’t going to purchase a bar and put it on O’Rourke or Beasley Ave were they

 

[1995warriorsfan]

At Mt Smart for the AFC game today.
There are now new blue seats in both stands.
Also they are installing ticketing machines instead of having security scanning tickets.

 

[Makasene]

At Mt Smart for the AFC game today.
There are now new blue seats in both stands.
Also they are installing ticketing machines instead of having security scanning tickets.

So investment in the ground would seem like a move (while possible) is not likely in the short term

 

[El Chuckie]

The reason the All Blacks last to France is because I WAS THERE.
And it was the the day after Mr Cobain met Mr Shotgun. So maybe it's his fault....

Loving the nostalgia, bro, but Cobain met his maker in April 94 and ABs/France was June or July. However, I get the sentiment: at a certain age, the past is kind of an amorphous blob of time. I still think of 1990 as about 20 years ago.

 

[Matiunz]

Looking at catching a game when I’m in NZ, to be honest haven’t been to Mt Smart since the BDO days so little rusty and had a couple of questions for the regulars;
1. Seat recommendations?
2. Parking situation?
3. Anything much in the way of eating options? Looks like it’ll be an 8pm

 

[Horriors2013]

I mean they weren’t going to purchase a bar and put it on O’Rourke or Beasley Ave were they

Arthur's bar or the Trident just around the corner.

 

[Makasene]

Looking at catching a game when I’m in NZ, to be honest haven’t been to Mt Smart since the BDO days so little rusty and had a couple of questions for the regulars;
1. Seat recommendations?
2. Parking situation?
3. Anything much in the way of eating options? Looks like it’ll be an 8pm

1. Can't really go wrong with any seat in the upper bays. Lowers bays between the 20m is good.

2. Theres a heap of cash parking in the surrounding businesses. You can also park further away and walk 15mins or so to the ground

3. Quite a lot of food options at the ground, lots of carts etc. Nothing at all outside the ground

 

[Playdaball]

Arthur's bar or the Trident just around the corner.

The trident got bowled down last year

 

[Matiunz]

1. Can't really go wrong with any seat in the upper bays. Lowers bays between the 20m is good.

2. Theres a heap of cash parking in the surrounding businesses. You can also park further away and walk 15mins or so to the ground

3. Quite a lot of food options at the ground, lots of carts etc. Nothing at all outside the ground

Thanks bud appreciate it

 

[Zaggo]

2. Theres a heap of cash parking in the surrounding businesses. You can also park further away and walk 15mins or so to the ground

Be careful with this though - there's been a huge increase in teens wearing hi-vis, filling up a businesses carpark, then vanishing. Lots of miffed people when they've paid $20 and end up getting towed.

Can anyone who has been to the AFC games speak to whether the toilet facilities have been improved? They're pretty dire when it's anywhere near a full house.

 

[mrblonde]

Loving the nostalgia, bro, but Cobain met his maker in April 94 and ABs/France was June or July. However, I get the sentiment: at a certain age, the past is kind of an amorphous blob of time. I still think of 1990 as about 20 years ago.

Yet another memory I would have put my hand on a stack of old, tatty Rugby League Week magazines and swear was true... Thanks.

Just Wiki'd who died that weekend and the biggest deal was Andres Escobar, a Columbian football player who was murdered after scoring an OG at the World Cup the previous month, which people attributed to why Columbia didn't make it past the group stage. Also, American gospel singer Marion Williams. Facts that you will never be asked in a trivia game but now will take up room in your brain instead of what your SO asked you to get from the supermarket.

 

[slime]

3. Anything much in the way of eating options? Looks like it’ll be an 8pm

Not my own experience but have heard from a reliable friend that if you like craft beer and pizza the Epic Taproom and Turtle Pizza and Pints are both busy places before Warriors games. Google Maps shows both about 30mins walking distance from Mt Smart.

 

[snake77]

This plan is a lot better than the previous one they were trying to force on the club.

It should mean some upgrades to Mt Smart over time.

Stuff

www.stuff.co.nz

 

[Playdaball]

That plan looks interesting but seriously how many sporting events will we see played at the big stadium with crowds of 30-60k.
The article lists :
AB tests - yep
Super rugby play off games - maybe , blues not off to a good start
NRL play off games - these take place around one in every 6 years or so
Cricket T20 - maybe but really only when the likes of India tour here - big supporter base
Special football games - haven’t seen one since West Ham were here a few years ago
Concerts will be the biggest events !