Squeeze on cricket at stadium (18 August 1999)

18 August 1999

Squeeze on cricket at stadium

Mike Crean

Jade Stadium's major sponsor shares the concern of cricket administrators and fans that cricket is being eased out of the venue.

Greg Williamson, a spokesman for the Aoraki Corporation, which bought the naming rights to Jade Stadium, said the terms of the naming rights contract were confidential. However, Aoraki wanted to see both sports played there.

The prospect of only two cricket matches at Jade Stadium this season has upset New Zealand Cricket. NZC chief executive Chris Doig said yesterday he was disappointed that Super-12 rugby's incursion into the peak of cricket's test season had "marginalised" cricket.

Mr Doig said cricket fans must accept that a New Zealand versus Australia test might never be seen in Christchurch again.

Canterbury Cricket chief executive Tony Murdoch said no Shell Trophy four-day games would be played at Jade Stadium this season. Canterbury's home Shell Cup one-day matches might be played elsewhere too.

Mr Williamson said the agreement over naming rights did not come into effect until the stadium's redevelopment was complete, in about 18 months. Meanwhile, Aoraki was taking a wait-and-see approach. It was not talking to Jade Stadium officials about it.

Christchurch Mayor Garry Moore said he was concerned about the prospect of losing more major cricket events to other venues.

"These events are big ticket items for the city. I am definitely concerned about it, but we have appointed a board to manage this process," Mr Moore said.

The council has confirmed the stadium's business and development plans which allow the project to progress to a concept design.

If Shell Cup one-dayers are shifted, New Zealand's one-dayers against West Indies and Australia will be the only cricket at Christchurch's traditional venue in 1999-2000.

Mr Murdoch said no decision had been made on Shell Cup venues. His association had just received a letter from Jade Stadium setting out ground rentals for the series of matches. He said it was inappropriate to comment on the rentals until the association had discussed them.

Shell Trophy games attract smaller crowds and will be staged at Village Green, a part of the Queen Elizabeth II Park complex.

Canterbury Cricket had moved games from Jade Stadium because the stadium had too few pitches for the Shell Trophy series and lacked an attractive ambience.

Mr Doig said cricket was not being valued as a tenant at the ground where it had been based for a century.

"The one place (in New Zealand) where cricket is being marginalised is Jade Stadium. Cricket feels disenfranchised," Mr Doig said.

The sport needed to know whether it was wanted there at all. If it was, it needed an assurance that the ground was available from mid-November to late March.

He said Jade Stadium's willingness to host one-day international matches was "picking the eyes out" of the cricket season.

Christchurch and the South Island badly needed an alternative venue for big matches. NZC would support moves by Canterbury Cricket to develop Village Green.

Mr Doig denied that NZC's refusal to stage test matches in Christchurch, and its support for the alternative venue, were an attempt to blackmail Jade Stadium.

Christchurch City Council parks and recreation committee chairman Graham Condon said Jade Stadium had been set up as a multi-sport complex. The council was putting $4 million into its redevelopment and guaranteeing a further $35m. However, the issue of cricket's access to the stadium was a matter between the cricket association and the stadium's board.

"I am very aware of cricket's situation but I cannot take any stand as it would undermine the board," Cr Condon said.

JSL chairman Bruce Irvine said yesterday the board would work with rugby and cricket to find a compromise between the codes for future fixtures.

"There is nothing we can do to save next year's cricket test. But there is plenty of goodwill to find a (long-term) solution," Mr Irvine said.

While the loss of a test in 2000 would affect the stadium's cashflow next year, it would not affect the revenue projected in the business plan for the redeveloped stadium, he said.

However, if the stadium became a rugby-only venue the business plan, on which the city council has based its financial support, would be compromised. "Cricket may well find another venue, but that is something we will have to look at at the time. Right now we are trying to work through it with both codes."

Mr Irvine admitted that rugby had the financial upper hand over cricket. The JSL business plan estimates $23,000 revenue for the stadium from each one of the four Super 12 games a year.

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