Warriors to fight Mt Smart move

The Warriors are determined they won't be forced out of their Mount Smart home. Photo / Brett Phibbs

The Warriors are demanding the Auckland Council review their proposed stadium strategy, determined they won't be forced out of their Mt Smart home.

As the deadline for submissions on the council's 10-year budget draws closer (March 16), the NRL club are rallying support behind their bid to stay in Penrose.

CEO Jim Doyle asserts that the proposal to shift to Eden Park or North Harbour Stadium is untenable and is disappointed by the council's unwillingness to negotiate.

"They have given us no choice but to fight it and we certainly are going to do that," Doyle told the Herald on Sunday.

"We are the biggest sporting franchise in Auckland and aren't going to be forced out of our home to suit what seems like someone's agenda."

Doyle says he asked the council last year to leave the stadium investment strategy out of the 10-year budget, to allow more discussions to take place.

"We wanted to get all of the stakeholders around the table and look at all the options," said Doyle.

"It's time to think about what have we got and what can we do. At the moment it just seems like a convenient reshuffle. They have made the decision but how have they made the decision?

"Where is the business case that says Western Springs is the best and only home for cricket and that Mt Smart is the ideal venue for speedway? They don't seem to have one but by putting it in the plan have given us no choice but to object to it."

The RFA strategy centres on a significant upgrade of QBE Stadium, which would become the home of the Warriors, with finals matches and "marquee games" being staged at Eden Park. Test and domestic cricket would shift to Western Springs with speedway relocating to Mt Smart.

"This is not just about the Warriors - whatever is decided has big consequences for Auckland as a city," said Doyle.

"Do we want to have the best decision, that creates the best future, or do we want yet another mistake? The city deserves better."

RFA spokesman Paul Nisbet says the situation is unequivocal.

"The RFA board have reviewed the stadium strategy and it is pretty much set," he said.

"There was an extended consultation process for more than two years and the Warriors were a big part of that. There are no plans for any changes to it."

Nisbet added that the strategy makes "good sense" and has the support of New Zealand Cricket and Speedway.

"The Warriors have a licence to be at Mt Smart until 2018 and we have made that clear to both the NRL and the club," said Nisbet. "Post-2018 they will need to be somewhere else and there is nothing new there."

The Warriors also continue to seek compensation over the staging of the Eagles concert this weekend, which they allege was a breach of contract and stymied plans for an opening home game blockbuster against the Broncos.

"They have deliberately breached their contract and we are still working through that issue with the council," said Doyle.