Ryan, the population of the Auckland CBD has gone from 25,000 to 40,000 in 5 years. Same size as Upper Hutt now. Dying? Promote Wellington's economy as buoyant all you want, that's an argument that can be had, but don't just tell fudgin' lies about Auckland. Things have changed since 1995 when your nonsense might have had a grain of truth.
Seriously, back on topic: the question of the health of Wellington's economic is the question of (a) how much Welnix and the Council are prepared to bend over to FFA demands to keep the Nix; (b) how much disposable income there might be to spend on tickets/merchandise in future.