KEY POINTS:
In an embarrassing save face, the Auckland Regional Council is crying recessionary times for their dismal failure that was the LA Galaxy game.
Only 16,600 people turned up to Saturday night's match - and that included those who scored the buy-one-ticket-get-one-free deal the ARC was humiliatingly forced to offer at the last minute just to get bums on seats.
The deal didn't work. Coverage of the match showed the only thing brighter than David Beckham's all white boots, socks, shorts and undies were the mustard-coloured seats of the stadium that glared back at us. EMPTY.
Last week the ARC declared they needed to sell 19,000-22,000 tickets to the match to break even. They thought they could do it. They knew they could do it - they must have. Why else would they have agreed to bring Becks and the team out in the first place?
ARC chairman Mike Lee and his council and stadium marketing teams need to go back to the boardroom and ask themselves why and how they thought they were going to pull this off.
The writing was on the wall from the outset and the introspective questions should have been asked around the ARC boardroom: Is Beckham fever over? Will an exhibition match draw the crowds? Are the ticket prices too expensive? Will the hodge podge team of players Oceania All Stars be a draw card? Will the punters want to see Becks again considering he was only here a year ago? Should we leave this to corporate companies with the knowledge and the budget to pull this off and not leave the Auckland ratepayer footing the bill?
Yesterday, Lee said the loss would have to be accrued by Mt Smart Stadium as a standalone entity for the council.
But Rodney Hide told the NZ Herald today that he didn't accept Auckland ratepayers wouldn't end up paying for the loss at some point. "If it was to generate a return," Hide added, "other people would have done it ahead of them."
Mike Lee blames the recession. That old chestnut.
He also reckons a local sports hero is now the way to go. "When it comes to sports superstars," Lee told the NZ Herald today, "I think we need to stick with Stacey Jones." Thanks Mike, now you're telling us.
But I don't agree. How is it another stadium - Vector Arena on Auckland's waterfront - can pull off concerts by international superstars Kanye West, Alicia Keys and Kylie Minogue all at the same time of the Beckham brouhaha?
Kylie's concerts tonight and tomorrow night are sell outs. There will no gawdy-coloured seats glaring back at us showing that sad, dismal sign: empty. Aucklanders will be dancing and singing along to the pop princess's catchy tunes. And those that won't be will be safe in the knowledge their rates have not been squandered on a whim to play with the big boys.
While the Mt Smart Stadium sales and marketing manager was playing bouncer outside an Auckland nightclub last Wednesday night instead of, perhaps, worrying about the state of affairs in her own neck of the woods, Vector Arena's marketing manager was probably sound asleep dreaming about their successful 2009 programme.
Kylie, my bosom buddy
For those of you who did not see the front page of the Herald on Sunday yesterday, I got up close and personal with Kylie Minogue.
Yes, ok, I'll admit it, I'm shamelessly name-dropping, but for a cynical gossip columnist who's in the business of meeting all the stars (big and small), very rarely do I come away from one wishing we could be friends. Some of the international stars I meet are complete knobs.
Kylie and I bonded over boobs. My dead grandmother's breasts to be exact. I don't know what compelled me to blurt out that my dearest Baba Vesna had passed away from breast cancer, but there I was, inviting myself into Kylie's quiet afternoon tea in the lobby at the SkyCity Grand Hotel on Saturday afternoon, blabbing uncontrollably. I'm pretty sure I even welled up a bit.
Quite frankly, who else would I share something so intimate with than the genuinely beautiful Kylie Minogue, who has herself battled from the disease. Nevermind that she's an international superstar worth a whopping $222 million who wouldn't be the least bit interested in my family health history.
Minogue, to her credit, didn't blink an eye. She didn't call security and get me ushered off the premises. She didn't dismiss my waffling with a wave of a manicured diva hand.
In fact, when I quickly pulled out my little camera and requested a piccie, Minogue agreed only on the condition I'd be in it too.
"Oh no I can't," I shrieked, "I'm not wearing any make-up and I haven't even washed my hair!"
Minogue smiled, she thought I was a hoot. Clearly we were becoming friends.
Her minder - a svelte Australian with a glossy brown mane and skinny jeans - offered to take the photo for us. You can see it here.
I check the image afterwards. "How is it?" Minogue asks.
"Omigod I look like a whale!" I blurt.
Minogue offers kindly: "Oh I probably look like a blimp and have squinty eyes."
"You do a bit," I said.
What had got into me?! Here I am sitting with one of the biggest celebrities in the world and I'm criticising her appearance. I was joking, of course and Kylie laughs. She gets my sense of humour. Clearly we're going to be firm friends.
Minogue looked glamorously beautiful in terrorist chic dressed-down baggy cargo pants, white sneakers, a black tee and a lurex scarf she wrapped around herself like some sort of comfort blanket. Only an hour earlier at Auckland International Airport, Minogue was looking superstar glam in a tie-dyed 50s-style dress in mushroom tones.
She orders caffeine. "Omigod you have a coffee machine," she sing-songs to the bar waiter. She orders coffee with goat's milk, and a meal of deep fried goat's cheese fritters with chunky fries and mayo.
What's with the goat fetish I want to ask, but naturally don't want to ruin any chance of our newfound friendship collapsing.
Her minder does that, though. She indicates I have to leave Minogue's couch. I shoot her a look like 'we're friends now, go find your own'.
Of course, I knew it wouldn't last. I resign back to my corner of the lobby sipping my green tea and watching my BFF munch her calorie-laden cheese. I like her like the celebrity bestie I've never had.
Minogue smiles at me and lies on the couch making herself at home. For a jaded gossip columnist who's in the celebrity-critiquing business, I fail to find a negative word to say about my pal. If only she'd call.
Private Wharf party
The party call private wharf held its latest bash recently at The Wharf on Northcote Point. Click here for photos by Michael Craig and Norrie Montgomery.
Rachel Glucina
Pictured above: David Beckham of the LA Galaxy gets past Edgar Davids of the Oceania All Stars during the match between the Oceania All Stars and the LA Galaxy held at Mount Smart Stadium. Photo / Hannah Johnston, Getty Images
