Photo Credit: Wikipedia Photo CC By 2.0
Expect far more international cricket to be played in Auckland should the council back the redevelopment of Eden Park.
At a time when multiple proposals for a new international sports stadium in Auckland have been whittled down to two, NZC chief executive Scott Weenink has thrown his organisation’s weight behind a redeveloped Eden Park, describing the proposed flexible seating option to accommodate a regulation-sized oval for cricket, as a “game-changer”.
Mr Weenink said, as New Zealand’s favourite summer sport, cricket had been an interested bystander as several suggestions for a new Auckland stadium were floated, none of which, apart from the Eden Park concept, catered for the oval-shaped outfield required for cricket and, particularly, international cricket.
“The Eden Park re-development makes much more sense across the board, taking in the considerations and needs of all the different sports and events that will be impacted,” he said.
“Having a venue in Auckland with regulation-sized boundaries and the potential for a roof – well, it’s bit of a no-brainer for us, it would transform our national venue strategy and bring much more international cricket into the city.”
Because of the current shape and size of Eden Park’s playing field, only one Test has been played in Auckland during the past ten years, while T20Is and ODIs have also been adversely affected.
Mr Weenink said that, while he would love to see an international cricket arena developed at Victoria Park or on the Auckland Domain, it made no sense for Auckland to invest in two stand-alone stadiums, one rectangular in shape for the football codes, and the other oval-shaped for cricket, when both sports could be accommodated for a fraction of the cost at a redeveloped Eden Park.
“If Eden Park is re-designed so it can, a) accommodate a proper cricket oval and b) has a roof to eliminate the threat of rain, then I can envisage far more international fixtures being scheduled in Auckland.
“A venue like that would be well-placed to win hosting rights for marquee Test Matches against India, England and Australia, and also in the box seat to host both a quarter-final and a semi-final in the upcoming 2028 ICC T20I CWC.”
He said NZC’s strategic focus dovetailed nicely with Eden Park’s plan for a hybrid, multi-purpose stadium that was efficient, financially responsible, and environmentally sustainable.
“This is a time when we’re all being challenged to reduce our emissions, to make the most of what we’ve got, and to avoid wasting energy – and Eden Park’s proposed redevelopment is easily the most efficient option in this regard.
“NZC supports the re-development of Eden Park as the best, and probably the only solution, for future-proofing international cricket in Auckland.”
