Eden Park
The
change of control at Eden Park is a welcome move, but it is not enough. The pre-World
Cup arrangements where the site was supposedly run independently were always a
farce. Three times to my memory the Trust had to be bailed out by Auckland City.
Strangely the City seemed to tolerate this and never forced a change of control. The Government in funding some of the stadium
upgrade for the World Cup insisted on appointing a majority of the board. Now
it has handed that right back to the Auckland Council.
The
decision to use Eden Park for the World Cup was a controversial one but it was
the best option. The many temporary seats installed for the event lessened the risk
of over-investment but still the stadium is overly large for almost any purpose
– the chairman of the time spoke of wanting to leave a legacy – well that is
it.
Auckland
has a somewhat ill-matched collection of stadia but the Council is showing
willing to prioritise what is spent where and what is played where. The Council
is the guarantor of a substantial loan taken out by the Eden Park Board. The
stadium barely breaks even and does not cover its depreciation. Is there
another bale out on the way ? – well probably. Was the control transfer to avoid the Government
being called on for more funds? It is
hard to imagine the Government would have been sympathetic in its present
circumstances. It could have easily said no with little embarrassment or
consequence, so it was probably more to get the responsibility where it should
be.
How that responsibility should
be exercised is the question – the transfer is unfinished business. Auckland Council
should have the Trust wound up and assume direct responsibility itself –
through its regional Facilities CCO would be best. That ways we can see the
stadium is put to its best use, stem any more legacy projects and reduce the moral
hazard of the Trust operating off an implied guarantee from the Government or the
Council.
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