Is it possible that welnix deliberately haven't attempted to get rugby onside as they want this to be a proper nix home, with a pitch in tip top condition for every game i.e. not murdered by a S15 game the night before?
The designs (admittedly early ones and lacking in detail) did have the nix badge prominently displayed on the stadium frontage... can't imagine the canes would see their home ground as having that there...
Just a thought, could be waaay wrong but ya never know.
And to add my own anecdote...
Like brumbys I am a passionate supporter of all sports and love my rugby, particularly club rugby (long long time Upper Hutt supporter). I went to Upper Hutt vs Petone at the Rec on Saturday. There was a guy circling the field with a petition that most fans were signing. When he came upon our group it was rather funny. I was with Upper Hutt supporters, most of them not football fans at all, but they do take a healthy dislike to all other rugby clubs so were not keen on signing the petition for that reason alone. So when asked one of our guys interrupted and said loudly "f*ck no I'm bloody looking forward to watching some football here!".
And one further off-topic thing, sorry, but the new pub in petone "Queen of Jackson" is bloody good innit.
Had a drink there (nice craft beer selection - 14 taps rotated regularly) and was thinking how great it would be to go to nix games early on the train, and stop at the pubs along jackson on the way.
Used to be just Speights and the old Estab there, which were both pretty lame, but now with the Sprig and Fern, Empire, this Queen of Jackson and also that Panhead Brewery one where Gusto used to be, there's some blimmin great bars trading there.
They've also still got Speights obviously, as well as Lonestar, Murphys and the Firemans Arms, quite a number when you add them up really (didnt even mention Horse and Hound and that dodgy as bar by A1 roasts).
Definitely a nicer walk than the concourse too, much more sheltered and much more to see and do. Would be such an awesome time if we could get this thing built.