By KEVIN TAYLOR
HAMILTON - The Waikato Stadium Trust is shaving $1.5 million off its stadium plans in an eleventh- hour revision to satisfy warring parties over naming rights.
The trust cannot let work begin on Hamilton's twin-stadium project - originally projected to cost $30 million - until the Hamilton City Council releases its $9 million in cash support.
Work has to start by the end of the month so that the new stadium on the Rugby Park site is ready for the 2001 NPC rugby season.
But further delays were imposed this week after an impasse between the WEL Energy Trust, the council and Trust Waikato community funding group.
Trust Waikato last month granted $1.5 million in exchange for calling the rugby ground Trust Waikato Stadium. However, the council and WEL Energy Trust oppose that - and any commercial naming rights for the stadium.
Council chief executive Tony Marryatt said yesterday there was now a $1.5 million funding shortfall after Trust Waikato refused to drop its naming rights condition.
He had asked the stadium trust to produce a new plan for the Rugby Park development costing $25.7 million instead of $27.2 million.
Stadium trust spokesman John Parker said not allowing the trust to seek commercial naming rights was tying its hands.
Other stadiums around the world gained money from selling naming rights, and nobody had been unhappy with the previous Hamilton stadium plan being called Tainui Stadium.
"It's disappointing for the project," he said.
Consultants and stadium trust chairman David Braithwaite were yesterday locked away working on the revised plan, which should be in the council's hands today.
Mr Parker did not know what would have to be dropped to shave $1.5 million off the project.
"It's an incredible ask this late in the day, but they [the council] appreciate that. It's a delay and it's a concern that we are not going to be building what we wanted."
Trust Waikato chief executive Ken Gordon refused to comment.
Mr Marryatt said it was hoped that if $1.5 million had to be cut, it was for things that could be added back into the project if extra money came through during construction.
Squabbles over name sideline stadium again
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.