Bring the ABs to Northland. Pictured is All Black halfback Aaron Smith in action against the Wallabies earlier this year.
Bring the ABs to Northland. Pictured is All Black halfback Aaron Smith in action against the Wallabies earlier this year.
In the mid-2000s much hoo hah was to be had over the building of what is now known as Toll Stadium.
Detractors slated the project as extravagant and pooh-poohed suggestions that it would be a multi-use sports stadium. Define "multi", I suppose. Football, league, rugby - they have all takencentre stage at the stadium which is also finding its niche as a concert venue.
Like many projects involving councils and local body politicians, the new stadium annoyed, it seems, many people.
But look at it now. And look at the opportunity it is beginning to create through annual events.
The 2011 Rugby World Cup was a massive success. Northland received recognition from RWC CEO Martin Snedden for its Paint It Red campaign.
Now, the possibility of a Paint It Red II campaign looms - this time red is the colour of the visiting British and Irish Lions in 2017.
And Paint It Black is another possibility - Whangarei is also poised to bid for an All Black test in 2016/17. The bid has the support of Ian "Kamo" Jones.
Jones has played on and commentated at stadiums around the world. Sure he's wearing Cambridge Blue tinted glasses and a black and white Kamo scarf, but he's confident we can foot it with the best.
Venues and Events Whangarei manager John Lynch notes that we have experience and credibility in the marketplace.
One assumes that it will be a no-brainer for the Whangarei District Council, and a referendum won't be necessary for the councillors to all agree the opportunity should be pursued.
In 2005, the increase in Dunedin's GDP after a test match was around $7.5 million.
Northland deserves a chance to compete for a slice of that financial and sporting action.
