I’ve been writing this column for 13 or 14 years, and never before have I had so much feedback, which includes telephone calls, people who bump into me in the supermarket, or online, about my last column in June regarding the stadiums.

Just to be brief, I’ve suggested that the Auckland fathers (or whoever are in charge) put together the bold plan of a Christchurch type stadium at the end of Beaumont Street (where the old tank farm was), adjacent to the Viaduct. It would encapsulate all codes: Super Rugby, Warriors, Auckland Football Club, teams in black, Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney, Split Enz and Dragon concerts, Pasifika and Lantern festivals, as well as host SailGP off the point. One stadium for one city – downtown waterfront surrounded by bars, restaurants, hotels and at the centre of the public transport system, enabling access for all. Everything Eden Park doesn't have in the middle of suburbia. 

Regarding cricket, a boutique test cricket ground at Victoria Park, which has enough land area to fit either Lords or the Oval in London without any compromise to the existing oak trees. Everything is there except for a couple of boutique grandstands. Imagine the crowds coming to an evening test after work. As I said, who the hell wants to go out to Merton Road to watch cricket?

So, let’s keep this basic. Eden Park is privately owned by Auckland Cricket and Auckland Rugby and is effectively taxpayer and ratepayer-funded. To date, the North stand and South stand developments have been funded by central government and the Auckland Council at a cost of approximately $300 million. So, let’s sell Eden Park; 10 hectares, ideally located next to Kingsland train station. Sell it for the urban development that the mayor and Minister Bishop want. The proceeds would be between $400-$500 million!

And now onto the Albany stadium. This has been a total white elephant for many years. North Harbour rugby's average crowds are around 2,000 people. There are 26 acres of prime industrial and commercial land there. Sell just ten hectares (not the whole lot, so the community still has all the facilities it needs). The land value would probably generate between $100-$150 million, so between the sales of Eden Park and the North Harbour stadium, we’d get between $500 and $650 million. Enough equity to fund a stadium on Wynyard Point. This whole concept has been put in front of central government and Auckland Council previously by a consortium led by financier Richard Dellabarca. The now-defunct Eke Panuku hijacked it, wanting to build 600 apartments on prime public land as well as a park on the windswept point no one will use, all at a cost of $360m to ratepayers!  JP Morgan, out of New York, who are leading stadium financiers are involved in the consortium to help fund this new stadium. In addition, the new stadium would provide a couple of thousand new jobs, adding to employment in Auckland, and it would add a massive economic surge from events, just like we’re seeing in Christchurch. I really think the city fathers should rethink this; it is the only place to put a stadium in our city, and it would be as iconic as the Sydney Opera House if done well

Just for your information, the consortium that has been put together to build this stadium at the end of waterfront Auckland also built the Christchurch stadium, and my men in the field tell me that the Christchurch stadium came in five weeks early and $26 million under budget. So, it shows that if you hire the right global specialists, infrastructure can be built on time and under budget. For your information, the consortium proposed and lined up to do the stadium on the waterfront are: Populous (stadium design, #1 in the world), BESIX Watpac (construction – have built 50+ stadiums globally, including Te Kaha), JP Morgan (finance, #1 financier of stadiums globally) and Legends Global (stadium operation – run 300 stadiums globally). They are all waiting to see the green light in this project. For god's sake, let's get on with it.

What is also not well understood is that Eden Park is proposing a redevelopment – 70,000-person capacity plus rooftop. They said it would cost $530 million of public money. That was in September 2023 and would be completed in three stages over 15 years. This is absolute rubbish if this is to be believed. First, the $530 million is a significant underestimation of costs back in 2023. It was also unaudited, so people just believe it because Eden Park says it's true. Te Kaha, the stadium in Christchurch, cost $657 million at 30,000 seats, so if you apply the per-seat costs, it suggests the Eden Park redevelopment would cost $1.3 billion if built today. Also, a phased bill over 15 years would cost significantly more, as New Zealand construction costs have risen about 60% over the last ten years. Even if you assume just 3% inflation, the cost will rise to almost $2 billion in 15 years – again, all public money! This also excludes having to close Eden Park down for years just to get the work done. It's all nonsense and doesn't make sense. In comparison, building a waterfront stadium of 50,000 now based on Te Kaha would cost $1.1 billion, almost half the cost of the proposed Eden Park 2.0 plan.

I’m so enjoying the football World Cup and so looking forward to the Commonwealth Games and the All Blacks tour to South Africa. What magnificent stadiums we have been seeing during the football World Cup. Christchurch has one, so why can’t we? It is entirely possible if we had just some leadership and vision. And if we are going to spend public money, let’s give the people what they want and do it right in the right place. And that isn't Mt Eden.

Simon Gundry is a Devonport and North Shore identity and character, known for calling a spade a spade. He is a director of contracting company Gill & Gundry, is an enthusiastic sailor (past crew-member of Ceramco New Zealand, Lion New Zealand and Shockwave) and is a life member of the North Shore Rugby Football Club. Simon was awarded a QSM for services to the community in 2013. More recently, he was inducted into the North Harbour Business Hall of Fame. He has been writing this thought-provoking column for Channel from the very first issue (over 15 years ago!)