$40-45 Million Soccer Specific Stadium - Petone Phoenix

Edited cos Nimby's.

I find it difficult to believe (or perhaps I'm just being blindly optimistic) that people as clued up as Welnix have allowed this to play out as it has without additional knowledge or options that we (mere fans) aren't aware of. Whether that's with HCC, Westpac, or something completely different who knows.

This issue directly impacts the future financial viability of the club.

2+2+4=We're doomed.

Not good.

Lets be honest.  The only person leading the pro-campaign in any media has been Smithy and as sickened as I feel saying it he's done a great job.  The problem is that effectively it's Yellow Fever's stadium because apart from Gareth's trite comments and fait accompli attitude on opening day, he and the Phoenix have done fuck all.

On opening day people here made it clear what needed to happen to make this work and none of it was done before or has been done since.  Apart from Smith there has been a complete vacuum of alternative viewpoints so the Nimbys and the tabloid media just keep shooting it down.

Quite frankly I expect the Phoenix and WellNix have burnt bridges with the Hutt council and can give up on any support for activities at any grounds in the Lower Hutt Valley and have made themselves look incompetent.  When a bunch of perpetually hammered, disorganised numpties like the Fever can do a better PR job for a multi-million dollar project than they can, you have to wonder how the Phoenix will ever become a decent brand again.

Yep.  Signing Roy Krishna to a two year deal doesn't leave me holding great hope for that one either.

Sorry HN but if I could give you a second this point, I would. Thanks Welnix and the Phoenix for your encouraging support. Fans having to fight your battles for you. Pretty much like it is on the pitch as well so to speak.

Get drunk, taxi to petone and attempt to build the arena ourselves. 

Nimby's arrive to find 6 small holes dug and 30 people coma'd in the grass.

That was Honiara for the Nation's cup. During the first game, the locals lay the planks of wood across the existing frame and stood on it.

Brilliant. Waitakere should be informed.

Fuck Suits

People power!

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/local-papers/hutt-news/10061692/Arena-strongly-opposed

"The council's draft annual plan has drawn 1710 submissions, the highest number ever.

About 400 came in on deadline day, last Friday.

Councillors have set aside Wednesday and Thursday next week to hear from those who want to put their views in person.

Key issues include the Petone Arena, the potential demolition of the Town and Horticultural Halls and an increase in borrowing.

Community feedback suggests strong opposition to the idea of a "boutique" stadium on Petone Rec, despite the council setting tough conditions that would have to be met for the project to get legs.

Last week a majority on the Petone Community Board voted against any further work on the Arena being done, with chairman Mike Fisher telling Hutt News it was an "unwelcome distraction".

Mr Fisher said board members had "listened dispassionately" at two public meetings, and had taken on board the message that the stadium was just at discussion stage.

But the board's submission says:

"It is our view alternative sites, particularly Hutt Park, have not been adequately considered, and while much has been made of 'the fan's experience' the Arena hopes to provide, the experience of local residents and sporting clubs would be irrevocably and negatively affected. It is their concerns that are paramount, in our view."

...and that one line says it all.

'Hutt Park'.  You may as well build it at Newtown if you are going to build it at Hutt Park or the Hutt Rec.

So who thinks the Kapiti Coast District Coucil would be keen to build a stadium?

Some spots between Raumati, Paraparaumu, Waikane, and Otaki that would fit a stadium nicely.

Makes you wonder what football is doing so horribly wrong when we don't even support our own sport. There's no reason why every club in wellington couldnt have got behind this and got their players, members, parents of kids etc... to make submissions numbering in the thousands. Instead nobody gives a shit and the only people concerned are a few hundred nimbys who now have the majority voice. Anyone else get the feeling that Petone FC are more concerned about playing the role of happy neighbours instead of making a genuine push for this? Something tells me I don't think rugby would ever be so kind in return. Who cares if rugby lose two grounds, they can move onto the numerous artificials around the city. Meh. Sadly I think one day it'll all be gone, and it'll be the fault of football supporters for not turning up as often and backing initiatives like this.

For some selfish reason, football in NZ has always been political and self centered. Hence they keep on shooting themselves in the foot time and time again. The aftermath of 1982 where a chance was squandered to really make the game take off. 2010, the aftermath where although we were told that lessons were learned from 1982, the same friggen mistakes were made. And now this. How many football administrators does it take to change a lightbulb? 2000. One to do the job and 1999 to all run around and make like they are doing it.

Someone with no experience in this field. Although Welnix are packed with guys that do have an idea, I do wonder if it something like the rest of the Football administration around. Petty politics and agendas.

I think Welnix have decided to keep a low public profile but that does not mean they are not doing stuff behind the scene.  Smart move IMO....other wise the papers would have been full of "that bloody Gareth Morgan is trying to ram his stadium idea down our throats". There has been almost no public comment about Gareths imput at all. He  tends to polarise people so keeping out of the public debate may have been a good idea.

The public debate has gone on as you would expect it to.....those people who feel passionately about the issue will make their views clear. If lots of football people have not come out and supported the Arena its because they don't feel sufficiently passionate about the proposal...you can't change that. Lots of football people may have decided...."Petone Arena or Westpac.....whatever, I will still go and see the Nix"

Blaming Welnix for not driving the public debate is slightly unfair. If they had got heavily involved in the public debate they may have risked a public backlash......people hate being told whats best for them, especially by rich people.

I don't want them to drive the public debate. 

I wanted them to have done the work before there was any debate to get the key stakeholders on board and to have answers to the obvious questions the anti brigade were going to raise and it is spectacularly obvious that the two most important things required for this project to proceed never even crossed their minds.

Minimal effort tasks, requiring no public profile and they couldn't bothered doing those.

Not that the NIMBYs would've listened even if they gave answers of course. But at the very least you should be getting sports clubs etc on board. But unfortunately it seems as though those groups are basing their stance on the same misinformation that the NIMBYs are presenting them. This is where welnix have failed miserably, and you're right it wouldn't have been hard to do at all. 

NIMBY Facebook saying that all but 1 pitch will be taken up by the arena. They are also saying that all sports clubs will have to move from the rec as a result. 

This is absolutely not what the information that has come out about the arena states (which is 1-2 pitches) so they're clearly just making this up. They also have a bit of a dig at the CFT which is interesting 

Oh dear, more misinformation. Have another herbal tea before the next tweet.

Reading that page is doing my head in. So think I might have to stop. 

The Phoenix play AFL apparently by the way. No wonder we nearly finished bottom - we've been playing the wrong game!