Half time show, Rugby Championship, New Zealand All Blacks v Argentina. Eden Park, Auckland. Saturday 17 August 2024. Photo: Kerry Marshall / www.photosport.nz
Auckland Council advisory staff say neither proposal for a new or upgraded "main stadium" is viable.
Councillors will vote on Thursday whether to endorse one of the two competing proposals: An upgrade to Eden Park or an entirely new stadium on Auckland's waterfront.
Both proponents released feasibility reports to the council in February in preparation for this week's Governing Body meeting, but council staff aren't convinced by either.
"Neither proponent has demonstrated that their proposal is feasible without significant public funding," reads official advice from staff.
Eden Park's so-called 2.1 upgrade would include a retractable roof and increased seating.
It's "technically feasible, but is not currently financially feasible because it relies on significant public funding," advisors said.
Te Tōangaroa, an ambitious $1 billion proposal for a new 55,000 seat stadium in central Auckland, "had not demonstrated that their proposal was technically or commercially feasible at this stage and had suggested it needed more time to do so."
Advisors presented councillors with several options.
The first was to decline both of the proposals, but staff also noted councillors could go ahead and endorse one anyway.
Staff also noted the Eden Park upgrade could proceed as a staged development, with council only endorsing part of the upgrade.
Another option was to give both proponents more time to plead their case and delay the decision further.
In a statement, Eden Park chief executive Nick Sautner said he welcomed the recommendations, particularly staff's apparent openness to a partial or staged upgrade.
"We appreciate the confidence the Project Team has shown in our ability to deliver the proposed staged approach," he said.
"As a hybrid, multi-purpose stadium, Eden Park is both a strategic asset for New Zealand and a community asset for Auckland."
'I'm recommending that we look to partner with one of them' - councillor
Waitākere Ward Councillor Shane Henderson, who also chaired the stadiums working group, hoped to go ahead with one of the proposals regardless.
"It says on both counts they have some work to do, particularly in the finances, but is that work insurmountable? And that's going to be a question for councillors," he said.
"I'm recommending that we look to partner with one of them and we work on the issues that they have and recommend that to Aucklanders."
But he said making ratepayers foot the bill was a non-starter.
"The process has always been that it is at zero cost to the ratepayer. That is what Aucklanders expect and that's a bottom line for us," he affirmed.
"So we're going to be telling the bidders, look, if you want to raise some money for this, then it's not going to come from the ratepayer's pockets. You'll have to find another way."
Waitematā councillor Mike Lee said while neither option seemed ideal, the Eden Park option was more realistic.
"Eden Park at least exists. It's functioning, it has done so for decades. The proposed rival does not exist and in order to make it exist, it would cost a significant amount of money," he said.
Lee described himself as a "decorated veteran" of Auckland's stadium debate, which he said had persisted for decades.
"Well the media loves it. It's catnip for the media and I guess the public will read about it. So I suspect that no, this will not go away and perhaps it will never go away," he said.
"It seems to be part of Auckland's culture to have these almost obsessions."
As for what councillors would choose at Thursday's meeting, Shane Henderson said Eden Park had the edge.
"Look, I'm leaning towards Eden Park. When you look at the report, they probably have less to do out of the two bidders in terms of making themselves viable," he said.
"But I'm still not decided. I'll be waiting for the debate on Thursday as well."
Te Tōangaroa has also been approached for comment.
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