Departure 'not a fait accompli' (27 August 1999)

27 August 1999

Departure 'not a fait accompli'

Mike Bruce

Cricket has not taken its bat and ball from Jade Stadium and gone home just yet.

Christchurch City councillor and Jade Stadium Ltd board member Paddy Austin said at a council meeting last night that the media had falsely presented cricket's departure from Jade Stadium as a done deal.

"We are taking their (cricket's) problems seriously, but there have been no predeterminations made," Cr Austin said. "It is not a fait accompli."

Her comments seemed to contradict the outcome of a meeting held on Sunday night between JSL chairman Bruce Irvine, Mayor Garry Moore, and rugby and cricket representatives.

Mr Irvine said after Sunday's meeting "there were no dissenters", with rugby and cricket united on plans to develop Jade Stadium into a football-style stadium, and QE II Park's Village Green as a cricket venue.

The meeting was called after problems with the conflicting demand for stadium bookings for rugby and cricket.

However, New Zealand Cricket chief executive Chris Doig confirmed that the door was still open for cricket at Jade Stadium.

"If an alternative (venue) can be found for test matches and one-day cricket that would be helpful," Mr Doig said. "If acceptable alternative options cannot be found, then Jade Stadium is the only alternative we have. We would certainly like to stay there, provided we can get some guarantee on availability."

When asked whether remaining a tenant of Jade Stadium would mean the end of test cricket in Christchurch, Mr Doig said "not if I have anything to do with it".

Meanwhile, it was revealed at last night's meeting that the council had already paid $1.5 million of its $4 million contribution to the stadium's $40 million redevelopment. Payment of the $4m was to be conditional on the venue confirming 17 revenue conditions, one of which was for $1m a year in income from rugby and cricket.

Council finance director Bob Lineham said the stadium had used $1m of the money to repay debt, which had freed up cashflow. The remainder had gone on preparation of concept and business plans.

"It was always intended that the first instalment would be used for that purpose," he said.

The council recommended that any further money to JSL would be limited to what was needed to prepare building and business plans. It also agreed to JSL preparing an alternative business plan for a dedicated football-style stadium and consulting the public on the plan. Council staff and JSL were also asked to identify alternative first class cricket venues and prepare business plans detailing capital and running costs.

Cr Charles Manning felt the public may not tolerate a redevelopment of separate stadiums for rugby and cricket.

"During last year's election campaign people told me they were willing to wear this much but they wouldn't wear much more. The basis on which the council supported this was on two codes at the park," Cr Manning said.

He called for "equitable" council support for cricket if the sport was to have to find alternative facilities. Christchurch would be a much poorer place if it lost test cricket from Jade Stadium.

"If money is to be derived from TV rights, then remember that there is far more of the world following cricket than rugby."

Source :: The Christchurch Press (https://www.press.co.nz/)