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Francesca Rudkin: A new Western Springs stadium is an exciting opportunity · Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

• 0:00
  Speaker 1: Jee we've gone stadium man. Here in Auckland, we already
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  Speaker 1: have seven pretty substantial stadiums ranging from four thousand person
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  Speaker 1: capacity to fifty thousand spread across the city from the
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  Speaker 1: north short amount Eden Penrose to Manco, not including other
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  Speaker 1: sporting and event spaces. But we can't stop suggesting we
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  Speaker 1: build more while we wait for Auckland councilors to ponder
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  Speaker 1: feasibility studies done by Eden Park in the proposed new
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  Speaker 1: waterfront stadium in Key Park and announce who will go
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  Speaker 1: on to win the title of Auckland's main stadium. Another
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  Speaker 1: stadium is being pitched, this time for Western Springs. So
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  Speaker 1: Western Springs Speedway has its final event on Saturday night.
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  Speaker 1: Although we've heard that before and now Auckland Council is
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  Speaker 1: interested in what to do with this valuable inner city site. Thought,
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  Speaker 1: this really is an exciting opportunity, especially after years of
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  Speaker 1: kafuffle around the speedway. Auckland might not need another entertainment
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  Speaker 1: or sporting venue, but they are really nice to have,
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  Speaker 1: especially when someone else is coughing up the money for them.
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  Speaker 1: So Auckland has to ask itself what facilities do we need?
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  Speaker 1: What would the inner city benefit? From and can these
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  Speaker 1: new facilities be used by as many teams and individuals
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  Speaker 1: as possible. Real estate this valuable needs to be well
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  Speaker 1: utilized year round. It's why quite like the proposal from
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  Speaker 1: the team behind Auckland FC. The proposal for their new
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  Speaker 1: facility features a twelve thousand, five hundred seeded stadium covered
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  Speaker 1: basketball courts and paddle courts. It's champion and backed by
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  Speaker 1: Stephen Adams, Allie Williams, Anna Mowbray and billionaire football owners
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  Speaker 1: Bill Foley and Bennett Rosenthal. The group of targeted football,
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  Speaker 1: basketball and paddle because they are the fastest growing sports
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  Speaker 1: in the world but lack infrastructure in Auckland, so they're
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  Speaker 1: not just meeting a community need. It's also going to
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  Speaker 1: be the home of Auckland FC, signaling this team is
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  Speaker 1: a long term commitment, so they're all good things. I mean,
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  Speaker 1: I would observe things have gone pretty well at go
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  Speaker 1: Media Stadium for Auckland FC this season. But maybe not
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  Speaker 1: everyone likes traveling to Penrose. Maybe it's felt an inner
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  Speaker 1: city location near hospo hubs will help sustain interest in
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  Speaker 1: the team. Yes, my tongue is on my cheek. According
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  Speaker 1: to those who've seen the proposal. This sporting facility would
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  Speaker 1: be built at zero cost to the right player. The
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  Speaker 1: only downside is the existing occupants. The Pontsibly Rugby Club
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  Speaker 1: would need to move and of course it need to
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  Speaker 1: be supported to do this. There are two more proposals.
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  Speaker 1: The Pontsib Rugby Club wants to turn it into a
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  Speaker 1: bigger venue and the entertainment group wants to turn it
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  Speaker 1: into a multipurpose entertainment and community sports venue. But we
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  Speaker 1: yet to hear the details on those proposals. In fact,
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  Speaker 1: there is a lot of information we yet to see,
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  Speaker 1: but fingers crossed this process will move faster than the
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  Speaker 1: decision around the speedway. Whatever plans are presented, remember the
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  Speaker 1: locals are a vocal and determined lot. Win them over
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  Speaker 1: and you might just have a chance for more. From
• 2:44
  Speaker 1: early edition with Ryan Bridge. Listen live to News Talks
• 2:47
  Speaker 1: thet B from five am weekdays, or follow the podcast
• 2:50
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