RUGBY: New name for old stadium

The field might be dodgy and plans afoot to dismantle the stadium and replace it with something entirely new, but Barry and Jenny Trass were still quite taken by the idea of putting their company name all over Okara Park ... just in time for a bit of national television coverage.
Trass is the owner of Homeworld, a Whangarei-based construction company that has been announced as the new naming rights sponsor at Okara Park.
So the venue that has been home to the Northland Rugby Union since the mid-1960's will be known from hereon in as Homeworld Stadium, a label applied just in time for the start of the Air NZ Cup tonight and the first Northland home fixture there on Saturday afternoon.
If things go well Homeworld may even go down in history as the last naming rights sponsor of the old stadium, with a trust now investigating how to build a new one on the same site.
But even with a new stadium development planned to start in the next 12 months and drainage issues affecting the playing surface, Barry Trass was keen to display his new found interest in rugby.
Who knows, he may even be there if a new stadium appears as well.
"To be honest I haven't followed much rugby, I have always been pretty heavily involved in other stuff," Trass said.
"We could see that rugby needs a bit of a helping hand and we have been in business up here for 30-odd years and this seemed like a good way to put something back.
"I watched my first game of rugby last weekend and haven't watched a rugby game at the stadium yet, but my watching career is about to start, this Saturday ... at Homeworld Stadium.
"We would be keen to keep our name involved too; we see this as a long-term partnership."
Securing the naming rights sponsor is a notable achievement for the NRU: The redevelopment plans one obvious barrier, the cut-throat battle for sponsorship dollars another and the recent performance of the flagship provincial team adding another particular challenge.
But while many provincial rugby unions are struggling to compete, it seems as if the NRU are still attracting the sponsors.
That, said NRU chief executive Rob Malone, was noteworthy.
"Everything is a pretty hard sell when you have only won three games in three years," Malone said.
"But a look at our sponsorship this year is heartening.
"We have Hansen Products on the jerseys, WRF on the shorts and have leveraged a good deal with clothing suppliers Canterbury. Our sponsorship in 2005 was $350,000, we are looking at doubling that and a bit more."
The naming rights sponsorship could benefit more than just rugby too, he said.
"Our stadium ... provides a base for our elite Air New Zealand Cup team, our supporters, sponsors and the thousands of young players who at various times during the season get a chance to play and train on the park as well as all other users of the park from time to time."
Rob Malone said it is especially pleasing that a Northland company with a regional focus is willing and able to assist Northland sport.