Trusts Stadium transformation begins

17 November 2007

Trusts Stadium transformation begins

The crowds have left and the thousands of thundersticks scattered around the Stadium are just about all that remain from a thrilling last day of competition in the World netball Championships at The Trusts Stadium. The Stadium must now begin a transformation from World netball HQ to concert arena for MUSE, the World’s best live Act as voted by Q Magazine.

The village marquee that hosted thousands of spectators in presently being dismantled and the massive temporary stand that sat on the court end and packed in screaming fans is quietly being pulled down piece by piece.

“It’s always a strange time for us at show end, the buzz of the crowds and the anticipation of the event goes and our team are left to dismantle all that went into the event without that pre event anticipation pumping through the veins” says Stadium Chief Executive, Simon Wickham. “However that’s the nature of our business, we’ve got to be able to transform from sporting events centre to concert arena and back to our regular community recreation mode as quickly as possible to ensure maximum utilization and keep our visitor numbers so high”.

Last year more than 500,000 visits were made to the Stadium, half that number visited to use the multi-purpose centre for recreational use, basketball, netball, indoor cricket, local schools and Special Olympics being significant regular users.

“We’re looking forward to our community users coming back too” notes Wickham. The Stadium has been on event mode with back to back World events since Labour weekend. “It’s rare for us to land two World class events but the World junior badminton Championships was able to shift forward ion the calendar and allow the World netball Championships to take place here.

Both events have heaped considerable praise on the stadium and its facilities. The World netball body IFNA has praised the Stadium’s facilities and team and it is understood that visitors from Africa have expressed interest in the Stadium’s design.

Over the past eight days the Trusts Stadium team has worked alongside the core WNC group and an extraordinary group of 250 volunteers from every netball region of New Zealand who have cared for teams, hosted delegates, kept scores & time, organised ball-girls, assisted umpires, lugged equipment, sold merchandise, ushered fans, answered questions, and kept each other going through 12-hour days with bucket loads of coffee, toast and humour.

“We’ve had a great time entertaining people from across the World with 33 nations in the World Junior Badminton Champs and another 16 nations in the World Netball Championships”, notes Wickham. “It’s given me huge confidence on our team and I’m very proud of what they have contributed to both events.”

ENDS

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