The Auckland Stadium Question

Feedback on the future of Western Springs Stadium due

Sunday is the last day the public can give feedback on how Auckland's Western Springs Stadium should be used.

Auckland Council said it had already received more than 9200 submissions.

I still think its a cop out by the Auckland council going to public consultation over this. Make a choice based on facts! The public will vote on their partisan preference of sporting code. If AFC rally football supporters across the city they could swing it

I should note that the music community are being rallied to support Option 2, the "Western Springs Bowl". Neil Finn has chimed in.

I do not think the AFC plan will come out well of this consultation, not least because AFC fans seem to be down on it - "too small, no train station". Whatever happens, I hope the Bring Back Speedway NIMBYs lose.

I mean if this doesn’t happen it’s got to be solely down the public image of Ali Williams and his rich wife.

Really should have enlisted the Browns and Adam’s to help front. 

And I hope they win , though ACC are an amazingly talented council ...NOT !

Doloras

I should note that the music community are being rallied to support Option 2, the "Western Springs Bowl". Neil Finn has chimed in.

I do not think the AFC plan will come out well of this consultation, not least because AFC fans seem to be down on it - "too small, no train station". Whatever happens, I hope the Bring Back Speedway NIMBYs lose.

They legally have to put out to consultation probably

austin111

I still think its a cop out by the Auckland council going to public consultation over this. Make a choice based on facts! The public will vote on their partisan preference of sporting code. If AFC rally football supporters across the city they could swing it

In the end consultation won’t matter, AFC will win because it is fully funded. The only outcome in this overall financial situation.

AucklandPhoenix

I mean if this doesn’t happen it’s got to be solely down the public image of Ali Williams and his rich wife.

Really should have enlisted the Browns and Adam’s to help front. 

Wayne brown?

Have seen him lurking at the games so I expect he is signed up secretly.

The thing about Wayne Brown is that he is very like Trump in the sense that he agrees with whoever talked to him last

Think they meant Tim Brown, AFC investor 

martinb

Think they meant Tim Brown, AFC investor 

Makes far more sense than wayne b or simeon b. Tim b sounds like a non dick when he speaks

I put in my 2c worth to ACC mentioning that options 1 & 2 are both suboptimal and maybe a middle ground can be found that covers AFC, Ponsonby rugby, the health centre and concerts. I also stated that option 3 is no go full stop.

There is a lot of land there that could be used more productively. I gave Millennium stadium/Cardiff Arms Park as my example. Make a nice big ground for AFC, concerts and All Whites use (maybe even the Blues etc) and use a mini stadium behind it for training, the Auckland Wahines FC and Ponsonby rugby games. 

Rugby uses the mini stadium through winter with the men and women training in the main stadium and summer time the whole place (both stadia) becomes football centric baring the health centre and concerts (weekday revenue). Doing this ensures that money is always rolling in. The potential for big games of rugby during winter is also there.

The elephant in the room is transport. I'm very much against car parks, they are an eyesore and a huge waste of space, yet the Western line is quite far away. The Motat tram line could be extended to Morningside station and used as a modern light rail line with modern rolling stock (as well as their historical stuff)showing all of NZ just how good light rail actually is.

I’m not sure about the tram line business but putting that to one side, what you say has merit.

What people fail to recognise is that the Ali Williams stuff has a lot more to it than just the football side. The second half of the game is all about concerts. He knows that the key to breaking even or heaven forbid making money (yes, that is ultimately his and his wife’s goal) is that the stadium is dual purpose (football and concerts). That is why there is an open end down one end (he will say it is for the pets and circus for the kids - but it’s for the band) and a flipin massive bank down the other end (which no one talks about in the capacity) above an open stand (which can never be covered) That bank is why the Stones and U2’s of this world played there and it isn’t going anywhere. Actually Ali’s plan as it stands increases the old concert capacity considerably.

Coupled with that is a nice pub and restaurant complex and Bills your uncle. 

But he doesn’t want to share that concert money with another party. He wants it under the Auckland FC umbrella so he makes money from this football investment but isn’t singing it from the top of the bank just yet.

Once he has won and then he will hit the local residents with that, who will wish they had their quiet speedway back.

Auckland Council is an Eden Park creditor?
$40M or something??

If so what they won’t want is any events moving away from EP to WS, so by reducing EP’s income. 

So that is no concerts or Blues games at WS. Football and football only 

Incorrect - The council has never said this is for football only. 

To be fair neither has Ali. 

He has mentioned concerts but purposely has not sold it as the main or 50/50 reason. 

You will however note in his promo videos people dancing on the field, in the stands and on the bank. 

In terms of the Blues he has publicly said he has been on the phone with them and they have expressed interest.

The Pacific team may even fancy an inner city stadium closer to their supporter base in West and South Auckland then kicking around in the white North Shore.

And then you have the Auckland NPC team.

They won’t have problems with tenants. 

40 million of old money which rate payers have already paid verses 300 million new investment and a stadium that the Council does not need to pay for. Which do you think has more sway?

But once this is built and Ali cry’s poor, do you really think the council is going to prohibit concerts there? 

The concert promoters will go the stadium and city which can offer them the best deal and this stadium due to its natural amphitheatre can match Eden Parks capacity at a lesser cost.

dick le roc returns

martinb

Think they meant Tim Brown, AFC investor 

Makes far more sense than wayne b or simeon b. Tim b sounds like a non dick when he speaks

Though he did get told off by Kim Hill for speaking in business cliches! 

But he was always a passionate player and advocate for football and I was a massive fan of his when he was at the Nix.

Actually it's $54M that EP Trust still owes Council. The loan due for repayment in 2029
https://newsroom.co.nz/2025/03/28/eden-park-lives-another-day-to-repay-aucklanders-48m/#:~:text=Direct%20to%20your%20inbox%20daily.%20Brown%20told,around%20$6m%20has%20not%20been%20taken%20up.

Council also voted for EP 2.0 (rather than the Waterfront option). EP 2.0 to have a covered roof, and supposedly more concerts.

At the end of the day concert promoters need to apply for Resource Consent to host. Council won't want EP to host less than tne max current allowable 12, so if that means saying no to concerts at WS that maybe the path they take.

If Williams, Mowbray, Foiley and co can't turn a profit on their shiny Western Springs development it isn't really Council's problem.

Anyway it's all subjective type agruing. I hope Auckland FC get the WS site. But then I ain't a speedway fan, Ponies RC member, or even live in the 09.

AFC’s lease of Mt Smart expires in 2029 as well - so it’s good timing. The council get their money back in time. 

You do realise that the city actually do need another stadium for one day cricket and the mighty All Blacks don’t you? That’s the only reason it has to stay alive. 

With how much live music venues have been hollowed out in the city, having another medium large venue might actually grow the number of gigs. It might not be in competition with EP, but a cool alternative venue for a bunch of mid level acts- bigger than clubs, but smaller than regular stadiums- that might not tour NZ otherwise. The Powerstation still going? 

AucklandPhoenix

AFC’s lease of Mt Smart expires in 2029 as well - so it’s good timing. The council get their money back in time. 

You do realise that the city actually do need another stadium for one day cricket and the mighty All Blacks don’t you? That’s the only reason it has to stay alive. 

That and if NZ is ever to host/co host a big event like the RWC, white ball Cricket World Cup or dare to dream FIFA Mens WC it needs at least one venue capable of hosting 40K plus. I think there has even been talk Aus/NZ may one day bid to host the Club World Cup.

And for sure re MartinB's point, a smaller more boutique oudoor music venue maybe what Ali William's & co plan for Western Springs around the football. But Auckland Council wouldn't be keen at all for major acts to be dragged away from EP - not unless the max 12 concerts per year quota is already filled.

Haven’t listened yet, but there’s a music/rugby PR podcast on the Spinoff, apparently concerned at the loss of the iconic concert shape. I guess you can’t live on Uncle Bob forever though. Pink Floyd was 30 years ago.

Currently there’s one act booked in November and the last act was 2023. It’s scarcely in use.

Having a football game every second week in season and perhaps an increase in gigs around that means the stadium is actually being used.
https://www.theouterfields.com/events

Concerts at ws wouldn’t create competition with ep, its only allowed to host 3 concerts each year because the cry babies that bought houses next to a stadium get upset the noise.

NZ misses out on a lot of big artists who do tours in australia and then choose to skip NZ all together. Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar, Taylor Swift are the first recent examples that come to mind.

Glad  i got to enjoy Western Springs in the mid 70s was an awesome place to go for a concert. For the life of me i have no idea why some i remember some i dont. 😉😁

claytonn

Concerts at ws wouldn’t create competition with ep, its only allowed to host 3 concerts each year because the cry babies that bought houses next to a stadium get upset the noise.

NZ misses out on a lot of big artists who do tours in australia and then choose to skip NZ all together. Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar, Taylor Swift are the first recent examples that come to mind.

https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/11/29/historic-moment-eden-park-allowed-to-host-12-concerts-a-year/#:~:text=Eden%20Park%20has%20been%20granted,music%20events%20at%20the%20stadium.

Eden Park has been granted consent to host up to 12 concert events featuring six different artists in a calendar year.

The announcement follows "extraordinary public support" that saw more than 2000 submissions made with 94% in favour of an increased number of live music events at the stadium.

Huh, missed that one. Definitely a change for the better.

Laneway Festival at Western Springs is always good.

Sigh - Do you think the music crowd with ponsonby rugby have put their investment case around 3 concerts?

Of course it is competition 

claytonn

Concerts at ws wouldn’t create competition with ep, its only allowed to host 3 concerts each year because the cry babies that bought houses next to a stadium get upset the noise.

NZ misses out on a lot of big artists who do tours in australia and then choose to skip NZ all together. Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar, Taylor Swift are the first recent examples that come to mind.

Sigh - Well if you took the time to actually read the thread you’d see I’ve already admitted I was wrong as ep take 12 concerts now.

 It is a fact that previously when they’d only do 3 Auckland has missed out on many concerts by artists who are too big for spark arena. So if that were still the case then no, it wouldn’t have created competition for concerts because eden park wouldn’t have taken them anyway.

AucklandPhoenix

Sigh - Do you think the music crowd with ponsonby rugby have put their investment case around 3 concerts?

Of course it is competition 

claytonn

Concerts at ws wouldn’t create competition with ep, its only allowed to host 3 concerts each year because the cry babies that bought houses next to a stadium get upset the noise.

NZ misses out on a lot of big artists who do tours in australia and then choose to skip NZ all together. Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar, Taylor Swift are the first recent examples that come to mind.

claytonn

Sigh - Well if you took the time to actually read the thread you’d see I’ve already admitted I was wrong as ep take 12 concerts now.

 It is a fact that previously when they’d only do 3 Auckland has missed out on many concerts by artists who are too big for spark arena. So if that were still the case then no, it wouldn’t have created competition for concerts because eden park wouldn’t have taken them anyway.

AucklandPhoenix

Sigh - Do you think the music crowd with ponsonby rugby have put their investment case around 3 concerts?

Of course it is competition 

claytonn

Concerts at ws wouldn’t create competition with ep, its only allowed to host 3 concerts each year because the cry babies that bought houses next to a stadium get upset the noise.

NZ misses out on a lot of big artists who do tours in australia and then choose to skip NZ all together. Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar, Taylor Swift are the first recent examples that come to mind.

12 concerts but only allowed a maximum of 6 different artists in a year - so essentially each artist can have 2 nights at Eden Park

Point being, similar to the Nix I imagine. EP will be expensive and I don’t imagine there’s many artists that would sell 50k tickets, let alone 100k tickets there. Two nights of 15 thousand or twenty thousand won’t make enough money you’d think. 

I don’t think there’s a worry about too many artists coming here. 

Taylor Swift was never interested in coming here. We just pay EP to hire a PR weasel to BS us to get us to cough up more money. 

You look at the bands that play the Civic or whatever and they’re all Beatles or Queen or etc etc tribute acts…

EP's main argument has always primarily been that with them as a concert venue artists will no longer skip over New Zealand. It's yet to be seen.

Pays to remember that with a normal stage configuration EP's capacity advantage over Mt Smart is quite marginal.

Footy_Fella

EP's main argument has always primarily been that with them as a concert venue artists will no longer skip over New Zealand. It's yet to be seen.

Pays to remember that with a normal stage configuration EP's capacity advantage over Mt Smart is quite marginal.

 Again another reason to pull that eye sore down!

Footy_Fella

EP's main argument has always primarily been that with them as a concert venue artists will no longer skip over New Zealand. It's yet to be seen.

Pays to remember that with a normal stage configuration EP's capacity advantage over Mt Smart is quite marginal.

Eden Park’s main tune:

They don’t want self sustaining stadiums established as a thing in case it catches on. 

Edit: if it’s possible I like the idea of 5-15k stadium music events. It probably allows some acts to work their way up to full stadium acts and the location is a nice one. 

Auckland Arena pulls out of Western Springs stadium project

Arg. I don't know the full details of Ponsonby's bid, but it sounds like we're going to get yet another stadium that tries to do too much and isn't good at any of it.

And we're going to have to pay for it.

20 Legend

Auckland Arena pulls out of Western Springs stadium project

Arg. I don't know the full details of Ponsonby's bid, but it sounds like we're going to get yet another stadium that tries to do too much and isn't good at any of it.

And we're going to have to pay for it.

https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/sport/auckland-arena-pulls-out-of-western-springs-stadium-project/

Here's the same article on Newstalk ZB without the paywall

Wouldn't be a surprise to see this privately funded plan resurface at some point. In the proud history of Auckland stadium ideas going around in circles.

Doubt cash strapped Council have much appetite for funding the Ponsonby RFC/muso alternative plan. It's either this Auckland FC venture or nothing ie Western Springs chugging along as is.

https://www.friendsoffootballnz.com/2025/07/08/auckland-fc-investors-pull-the-plug-on-proposal-for-new-12500-seater-stadium/

A statement released by the investment group to the NZ Herald says: ”After considerable effort and reflection, those behind Auckland Arena have made the difficult decision to withdraw their proposal for Western Springs.

“This decision does not reflect a lack of capability or commitment. We have a proven track record delivering complex, world-class venues in partnership with cities around the world, like the BMO Stadium in Los Angeles. Our aim was to bring that expertise home.

“We wanted to create a privately funded complex that would serve Auckland by providing a venue that supported cultural life, helped to fill sporting and medical facility shortages, and provided a hub for our local community.

“However, despite our deep commitment and experience, the process of delivering such a project on public land in Auckland has presented unique challenges.

“With the extended timelines and complexities, we have regretfully withdrawn our proposal.”

The cynic in me wouldn't be surprised if this was their plan all along - win the bid by saying no public money is needed, then once chosen say there's more red tape and timeline issues etc than expected, then see if they can get council or government to foot part of the bill

Probably not the case, but I could definitely see it

It won’t happen but we just now need an Indian billionaire to pop up and say they will build a nice 8-10k, cricket stadium there.

That is what Western Springs and Auckland really needs.