$40-45 Million Soccer Specific Stadium - Petone Phoenix

People under the age of 70 actually write letters to the editor to the Hutt news...?

http://huttnews.realviewdigital.com/#folio=12

Hopefully that works chaps and chapess'

letter to the editor all very well informed - yeah right (next Tui add)

So. Somebody is telling porkies.

I emailed the editor. He emailed me back both promptly and very politely to inform me that he did not receive one single letter in support, and if he did he most certainly would have printed them, and he was sorry I had the wrong impression. He was very much committed to providing a balanced view.

So, you guys that said you wrote, I don't know who you wrote to.

now I know someone is lying, just cos he said he'd print them doesn't mean he will. He may have inadvertantly lost them?

The two I know were both emailed (as per instructed in the paper).

I'm going to do one now - and yes, I realise it won't be in this weeks lol.

New food items at Westpac Stadium are in the range of $8-9 which is rather good value

And if the mini-versions are an example of the full size it all tastes really good as well.

I couldn't stay away from the chicken burgers. Om nom nom nom. 

Looks like it's on their website:

http://www.petonerugby.com/

Well f*ck. we're doomed. 

They just need to offered something in return for their support.

Newtown Park?

That should have been sorted before the thing went anywhere near the media.

Project well fucked now.

They have dropped the ball hugely here.  I said it in the opening hours that A well thought out PR campaign would have had all these concerns identified and answers ready plus all the key players in support and on the front foot.  It's been badly handled since since those first hours.

Where's a SO MUCH THIS button when I need one News.

Even if it was a play to get cheaper rates at RoF its got to look like its possible or else the stadium trust will just call Welnix's bluff.

Next up: New Zealand Phoenix....

Epic fail. As HN said, was a no-brainer that should have been addressed at the start - I said as much in an email to GM when it first came out (and yes Smithy, he did get it lol).

Ironically, the original idea to redevelop the rec first emerged from within the PRFC a couple of years back.

And I come back to my original and only statement on this: this will never happen.

I still believe this was a bargaining tool move. Is Gareth that stupid not to have gone to the rugby guys first??? He would have known their position before going to the media. All the noise and get people looking at the issue (Westpac) and then move on.

They didn't know their own position until a recent committee meeting. It's a club, some are for it, others are against.

But yes, won't happen.

Meanwhile, in Orlando: http://www.mlssoccer.com/sideline/news/article/2014/04/18/orlando-city-sc-want-your-input-design-new-downtown-soccer-stadium

Wow. Can't 'this' previous comments on phone but totally want to. It's unbelievable they didn't get prfc on board before going public. I always thought it was fishy that they weren't saying anything on the subject.

I wonder if prfc got "encouraged" by others higher up the chain? I.e. wcc tell wrfu that if the nix move the stadium is stuffed and won't be able to do xyz in terms of development and then wrfu had a quiet word to prfu.

Anyway the whole idea is pretty screwed now. *sigh *

They have no physical claim to the ground or stand, only their history there (which is significant).

Their clubrooms and 'official' no.1 pitch are actually across the road (North Park). They have actually played prem games there in the past and there were even rumours a couple of years ago they wanted to move the games back there. 

The history they have at the Rec and the momentum the nimbys will take from this are the damaging factors. Unfortunately that might be enough to stop it. 

To be frank, this is pathetically incompetent that Welnix didn't get these guys onside from day 1. I'm sure it wouldn't have been that hard - the rugby club were obviously on the fence considering they didn't come out opposed until now. 

I'm completely ignorant about this. So why don't we include them now?

Mind you I always suspected it was Gareth, et al diverting attention away from the lack of team investment anyhow.

Whether or not this thing flies will depend entirely on whether fans are prepared to get off their arses and submit on the annual plan.

Everyone on here talks a good game, but will they actually put pen to paper and do something?

Do the views of Wgtn residents/ratepayers count for much in this?

I don't understand why they'd be against having a brand new facility to play at that won't cost them a thing? Especially since the current stand is falling to bits. 

*not that I think all people involved in rugby in NZ are anti-football, but enough to make a difference are

The whole 'alternative venues haven't been explored' is also irrelevant when you're deciding whether you think an arena at the petone rec is feasible and a good idea. 

"We think renovating westpac stadium is better for nix aspirations" is NOT a valid reason to oppose the building of a stadium in petone.

It sounds like they are against the loss of playing space.

From what I've read, Welnix (I think) where essentially saying all of the Petone Rec would become playing and training surfaces for the Nix, with the main pitch possibly used by Rugby or League too.

I know we've talked about it in here but I don't think Welnix said anything about whether the training/extra fields could be used by other folks whenever or if they would be closed to the public.

So I think it's the loss of these fields that have Petone Rugby annoyed.

Yes they get a fantastic new stadium for their main matches but they lose the current four(ish) fields, or the two you see in the Stadium Illustration after construction, to all their other teams if they are to be used as Nix training facilities full time.

Like Hard News said, this probably should've been dealt with a long time ago.