Why a subsidy for concerts at Eden Park? Why not for concerts in Wellington or Dunedin? Its corrupt Auckland politics. Concerts dont happen at EP because the business model does not stack up. I think that when the new, state of the art, covered stadium in Christchurch happens then that will be the go to venue for overseas acts in NZ. Eden Park is a dog. Stop wasting money on it
because Auckland is the economy they want to boost and win votes from.
Christchurch and Dunedin have both successfully hosted big international concerts. Greater Christchurch has over 500,000 people. The new Christchurch stadium will be a state of the art covered stadium and is 1000 times better than EP. The govt subsidising concerts at EP is the worst example of pork barrel corruption.
More from the oops, didn’t I mention that file: IMG_8508.jpeg93.31 KB In order to make their stadium functional for the community, they’re guna knock out the last part that still functions kind of well for cricket and family days. No more summer sport.
And next to abundant transport infrastructure and walking distance to the city, it’d be better to bowl the whole thing and have apartments and other facilities than put a car park over half the green space remaining.
I've only watched cricket once at EP no2 (Super Smash game) and loved it. But I also hope it's days as a cricket venue are numbered.
Auckland so badly needs a Hagley Oval, Basin Reserve equivalent. A leafy purpose built cricket ground, for domestic and test level. It will never be EP no 2.
I wonder if the powers that be will revisit Western Springs now that speedway has moved on, and AFC's WS redevelopment plan has been withdrawn.
I've only watched cricket once at EP no2 (Super Smash game) and loved it. But I also hope it's days as a cricket venue are numbered.
Auckland so badly needs a Hagley Oval, Basin Reserve equivalent. A leafy purpose built cricket ground, for domestic and test level. It will never be EP no 2.
I wonder if the powers that be will revisit Western Springs now that speedway has moved on, and AFC's WS redevelopment plan has been withdrawn.
EP 2 should be a 4 story multi exit car park big enough to take 1200 cars.
Proud to have attended the first 175 Consecutive "Home" Wellington Phoenix "A League" Games !!
Cricket developed Colin Maiden Park for that purpose I believe.coochiee
I've only watched cricket once at EP no2 (Super Smash game) and loved it. But I also hope it's days as a cricket venue are numbered.
Auckland so badly needs a Hagley Oval, Basin Reserve equivalent. A leafy purpose built cricket ground, for domestic and test level. It will never be EP no 2.
I wonder if the powers that be will revisit Western Springs now that speedway has moved on, and AFC's WS redevelopment plan has been withdrawn.
I've only watched cricket once at EP no2 (Super Smash game) and loved it. But I also hope it's days as a cricket venue are numbered.
Auckland so badly needs a Hagley Oval, Basin Reserve equivalent. A leafy purpose built cricket ground, for domestic and test level. It will never be EP no 2.
I wonder if the powers that be will revisit Western Springs now that speedway has moved on, and AFC's WS redevelopment plan has been withdrawn.
EP 2 should be a 4 story multi exit car park big enough to take 1200 cars.
I've only watched cricket once at EP no2 (Super Smash game) and loved it. But I also hope it's days as a cricket venue are numbered.
Auckland so badly needs a Hagley Oval, Basin Reserve equivalent. A leafy purpose built cricket ground, for domestic and test level. It will never be EP no 2.
I wonder if the powers that be will revisit Western Springs now that speedway has moved on, and AFC's WS redevelopment plan has been withdrawn.
EP 2 should be a 4 story multi exit car park big enough to take 1200 cars.
Well if it is like North Harbour, they would be charging $10-$20 max. Still cheaper than those cnuts at the Sky Stadium Trust. Both North Harbour & Forsythe Barr Charged $10 when Sky were charging $35. Napier, Hamilton, New Plymouth Palmerston North & the two stadiums in CHCH, the parking was street parking and free.
Proud to have attended the first 175 Consecutive "Home" Wellington Phoenix "A League" Games !!
Eden Park number 2 has got a lot of history. 50 years of first class games and in general at Eden Park since 1903, cos the main ground was one you could walk around the boundary.
It’s a nice ground to watch cricket and it’s central.
Unless they split the Auckland team up into N/S or E/W, Colin Maiden is miles away from anywhere in a place that means little to nothing. A death knell for cricket. Perhaps. It’s not Hagley Park iconic.
The whole reason for keeping Eden Park is sentiment over the ground. For All Blacks games only it seems.
Western Springs ear marked for music and rugby now, I believe. I mean, yeh, like every thing in NZ there was a plan to go there I believe!
If there was a possibility of a Western Springs or a Domain venue then, sure.
But to make it car parking. I mean it’s where you can have your bouncy castles, bowl offs, practice wickets, kids can walk and play on the ground (remember the 80s when the number one was full of games at lunch time?)…
And also it seems to be a detail that has just come up now. After the approval stage.
Still I hope the Eden-Albert board extract all kinds of funding for allowing this to go ahead.
Best festival I had in Auckland was an Irish one at RockyNook bowls in Fowld’s Park. Be hilarious and brilliant to suddenly fund an extra 30-100k to a bunch of those local events! Pirate week at the library behind St Lukes with a real boat in a pop up lake. Jazz in the Park on Mt Albert summit every weekend. The Messiah with guest star Bryn Terfel at Christmas. One free Starbucks drink at St Luke’s for every resident. Bring back BarFifa. Free marching band for Nick Sautner’s street in the evenings only twice a week…
It’s a nice ground to watch cricket and it’s central.
It really is. Equally nice to either sit on the bank in the sunshine or in one of the stands in the shade.
Also great fun when someone Twits a six in to the Mobil across the road.
Cricket’s been sold out, basically. Well, I suppose they might start the 100 or something in the main drop in short boundary tin can.
But then I hate the YouTube static cam YouTube format, without commentary. It’s an unnerving broadcast experience that in no way replaces commentary.
Did you ever go there when they had the old scoreboard? Watched Dipak Patel clear that twice.
I guess it’s supply and demand. But a car park there, walking distance from town, with the train and buses along New North Road and Dominion Road, shows a NZ level of heritage protection and thought about things. I even got old enough to be up in the old stands behind the bowlers arm a few times.
I've only watched cricket once at EP no2 (Super Smash game) and loved it. But I also hope it's days as a cricket venue are numbered.
Auckland so badly needs a Hagley Oval, Basin Reserve equivalent. A leafy purpose built cricket ground, for domestic and test level. It will never be EP no 2.
I wonder if the powers that be will revisit Western Springs now that speedway has moved on, and AFC's WS redevelopment plan has been withdrawn.
EP 2 should be a 4 story multi exit car park big enough to take 1200 cars.
Well if it is like North Harbour, they would be charging $10-$20 max. Still cheaper than those cnuts at the Sky Stadium Trust. Both North Harbour & Forsythe Barr Charged $10 when Sky were charging $35. Napier, Hamilton, New Plymouth Palmerston North & the two stadiums in CHCH, the parking was street parking and free.
Plans to build a Hollywood Bowl-inspired structure for live music events at Western Spring Stadium have been given the green light by Auckland Council.
The stadium would also continue to be used for rugby union matches and for community sports, in a proposal that has been dubbed the 'Western Springs Bowl'.
After years of debate, a majority of 15 councillors today voted to go ahead with a proposal spearheaded by concert promoter Brent Eccles to build a Hollywood Bowl-inspired structure for live music events.
[…]
That was despite an upcoming legal challenge over the decision to end Speedway at Western Springs.
The Speedway Association is taking the council to the High Court, with a judicial review expected to take place in July.
Anyone who has been following this story knows that the pro-speedway types are maniacs. Like, real cookers. They're doing stuff like phoning in bogus tips to WorkSafe to get the Waikaraka speedway closed down.
Ramming liberal dribble down your throat since 2009 This forum needs less angst and more Kate Bush threads
Eden Park named as NZ's national stadium, to 'put and end to the endless debate around future stadia' :/
So they can force games from minor sports there or just that the ABs must play there a minimum number of times a year?
What does the designation of national stadium mean?
It has made itself less and less suitable for sport other than rugby. And it’s an average to poor football experience.
Generally a National Stadium requires it to be the default home stadium of the national team of whatever sport it's set up to host, and other venues for home matches are only used due to unavailability, as you find in England with Wembley for football and Twickenham for rugby.
That's why Eden Park calling itself the national stadium has only ever been a marketing slogan rather than an actual true designation.
So I don't know what this apparent designation from the government will actually mean for Eden Park, other than showing they are committed to keeping it around, as I doubt they are going to actually move to hosting all All Blacks matches there to make it meet the true definition of a national stadium though
with the official designation that'll mean that they will get first choice of AB's games and likely AW's games, utterly ridiculous, this government fawning all over Auckland is sickening.
theprof wrote: with the official designation that'll mean that they will get first choice of AB's games and likely AW's games, utterly ridiculous, this government fawning all over Auckland is sickening.
It doesn't actually mean anything along those lines, it's just a line to help justify the central government aligning with Auckland Council in support of Eden Park's development plans
theprof wrote: with the official designation that'll mean that they will get first choice of AB's games and likely AW's games, utterly ridiculous, this government fawning all over Auckland is sickening.
It doesn't actually mean anything along those lines, it's just a line to help justify the central government aligning with Auckland Council in support of Eden Park's development plans
I'll believe it when I see it. Or dont see it whichwould mean AW games in particular are played around the country.
theprof wrote: with the official designation that'll mean that they will get first choice of AB's games and likely AW's games, utterly ridiculous, this government fawning all over Auckland is sickening.
It doesn't actually mean anything along those lines, it's just a line to help justify the central government aligning with Auckland Council in support of Eden Park's development plans
I'll believe it when I see it. Or dont see it whichwould mean AW games in particular are played around the country.
A goverment press release certainly won't have any impact on NZ Football and OFC Football's venue choices, both of which are largely driven by A, where their staff are based, B, where the country's only major international airport is.
we've already seen more AW's games in Auckland, no real reason except NZF are there, the airport excuse is a little disingenuous, plenty of direct flights across the world from many airports in NZ, besides what's another hour connecting flight from Auckland gonna hurt when you've travelled for 13 hours???
Why not designate the new Christchurch stadium as the national stadium?. Easily the best stadium in NZ and has a retractable roof. It can host a much wider range of events more comfortably than EP. Plus Christchurch is a major tourist hub with a proper international airport. Never going to happen though. Too many voters in Auckland. Better to use tax payers money to prop up the white elephant that is Eden Park
EP is virtually double the capacity of any other ground in NZ. Pretty sure it’s the only NZ stadium that would be hit FIFA’s capacity metrics for hosting men’s World Cup matches if a WC did ever happen in our part of the world. “National Stadium” is an accurate label
Down the tract Te Kaha will likely need rate payer help to stay solvent as annual R&M costs start to happen
Its the nature of having many different grounds in a small far flung country of only 5M, all cannibalising events off each other
theprof wrote: with the official designation that'll mean that they will get first choice of AB's games and likely AW's games, utterly ridiculous, this government fawning all over Auckland is sickening.
If only they WERE fawning all over Auckland, rather than trying to kneecap and hobble it (continually reducing intensified housing to cater to Epsom NIMBYs, cancelling light rail etc). I would never vote for Wayne Brown but at least he's pushing them on these issues. However, this announcement is a nothing burger: https://www.greaterauckland.org.nz/2026/04/13/city-deal-or-no-deal/
Eden Park is crap but it's privately owned so to an extent national and local govt have to make deals with it rather than dictate to it. I'm really not happy about apparently building a hotel on the No 2 ground and moving all first-class cricket to Colin Maiden on the other side of town.
Ramming liberal dribble down your throat since 2009 This forum needs less angst and more Kate Bush threads
theprof wrote: with the official designation that'll mean that they will get first choice of AB's games and likely AW's games, utterly ridiculous, this government fawning all over Auckland is sickening.
If only they WERE fawning all over Auckland, rather than trying to kneecap and hobble it (continually reducing intensified housing to cater to Epsom NIMBYs, cancelling light rail etc). I would never vote for Wayne Brown but at least he's pushing them on these issues. However, this announcement is a nothing burger: https://www.greaterauckland.org.nz/2026/04/13/city-deal-or-no-deal/
Eden Park is crap but it's privately owned so to an extent national and local govt have to make deals with it rather than dictate to it. I'm really not happy about apparently building a hotel on the No 2 ground and moving all first-class cricket to Colin Maiden on the other side of town.
theprof wrote: with the official designation that'll mean that they will get first choice of AB's games and likely AW's games, utterly ridiculous, this government fawning all over Auckland is sickening.
If only they WERE fawning all over Auckland, rather than trying to kneecap and hobble it (continually reducing intensified housing to cater to Epsom NIMBYs, cancelling light rail etc). I would never vote for Wayne Brown but at least he's pushing them on these issues. However, this announcement is a nothing burger: https://www.greaterauckland.org.nz/2026/04/13/city-deal-or-no-deal/
Eden Park is crap but it's privately owned so to an extent national and local govt have to make deals with it rather than dictate to it. I'm really not happy about apparently building a hotel on the No 2 ground and moving all first-class cricket to Colin Maiden on the other side of town.
Meant to ask you about this. Maybe it’s the cynic in me, but is this another one of this arsehole government pushing their RW nutter voters voice? Not much good seems to come from east Auckland as far as I can see (as an outsider).
theprof wrote: with the official designation that'll mean that they will get first choice of AB's games and likely AW's games, utterly ridiculous, this government fawning all over Auckland is sickening.
If only they WERE fawning all over Auckland, rather than trying to kneecap and hobble it (continually reducing intensified housing to cater to Epsom NIMBYs, cancelling light rail etc). I would never vote for Wayne Brown but at least he's pushing them on these issues. However, this announcement is a nothing burger: https://www.greaterauckland.org.nz/2026/04/13/city-deal-or-no-deal/
Eden Park is crap but it's privately owned so to an extent national and local govt have to make deals with it rather than dictate to it. I'm really not happy about apparently building a hotel on the No 2 ground and moving all first-class cricket to Colin Maiden on the other side of town.
The question is why do the national govt of any flavour HAVE to make deals with the privately owned entity? are they afraid the private owners will sell up and build town houses there? Isnt that the best use of the land would be?
Private entity should be funding its own improvements, but now it seems that it's getting a donation from the government with som guarantee that internaional rugby can still be held there and cricket is moved to another area which government money will improve. Is the government going to stuimp up the cash to redo a stadium in Wellington?
The Eden park number 2 cricket business is a disgrace.
Cricket themselves need to put their hand up. I’m not sure what happens in Wellington but I assume it’s the same as Auckland in that all plunkett shield and ford trophy don’t charge an entry fee. Am sure most of the sporting public in Auckland dont even know it’s free.
No ability to take a bottle of wine in to have with a picnic on the bank. No one there selling beer or food. Not even a bar open even though they potentially have one in the old grand stand.
No marketing even on social media that it is free to go.
What a wasted opportunity. It’s like cricket are worried that it is free and they advertise it that the riff raff will turn up.
Now they want to take it out of reach of the majority of Auckland by having some ground east of Auckland as their new home.
I’m sure that there would be a higher proportion of security guards on Eden park number 2 verses crowd then any other sporting event in the world.
Allow some cricket club to do a sausage barbecue. Hell there are even barbecues there for the ground staff. Open a bar so you can buy a beer.
Tell people it’s free. There is even plenty of free car parks there as well for the Aucklanders who don’t go to events as they are worried about parking,
There's an entrance fee, food trucks, kids' events etc. for Super Smash games. I guess they don't think it's worth it for the 3-day or 50-over matches.
But you guys are perhaps better at reading than me; I don't see anything in here about the Wellington govt subsidizing Eden Park, financially? They're going to subsidise Auckland Cricket in moving off the No. 2 ground, not the same entity. The only thing I can see is Auckland Council writing off a loan if Eden Park plays ball with the urban development agenda.
Ramming liberal dribble down your throat since 2009 This forum needs less angst and more Kate Bush threads
