Rugby: Stadium sponsors await fate of Otago

Dunedin's Forsyth Barr Stadium Photo / APN

Sponsors backing Dunedin's Forsyth Barr Stadium have reacted to news of the Otago Rugby Union's looming liquidation with a mixture of caution and optimism.

Some have indicated they might need to review existing sponsorship of the stadium if, as expected, the union is placed in liquidation on Friday.

That was because the loss of the Otago ITM Cup team would mean fewer games at the venue, and, therefore, less exposure of sponsors' brands to crowds and television viewers.

Some were taking a wait-and-see approach until the fate of the union and team was confirmed, while others said they would be sticking with the stadium.

Forsyth Barr managing director Neil Paviour-Smith, of Wellington, said the loss of ITM Cup matches at the venue - if confirmed - would have only a marginal impact on his company's investment as stadium naming rights sponsor.

The company had no plans to review its support, with any loss of exposure resulting from lost ITM Cup matches expected to have only a minor impact, he predicted.

"The big things are obviously the big drawcard events ... The ITM Cup was not at that level.

"In a worst-case scenario, if there's not [ITM Cup matches], there's plenty of other things that will carry on occurring at the stadium," he said.

Instead, Paviour-Smith predicted a new union could emerge from the liquidation of the ORFU, supported by the New Zealand Rugby Union, sponsors and Otago rugby clubs, and believed there was still time for it to be organised and compete in this year's ITM Cup.

That would be "bad news" for existing ORFU creditors - including Dunedin businesses and the Dunedin City Council - but would allow a new union to operate without being saddled by old debts, he believed.

Other stadium sponsors spoken to were more circumspect, with Mitre 10 Mega store manager Lindsay Aitcheson, of Dunedin, saying it was "really too early to tell" what impact the liquidation of the Otago union would have.

Dunedin Venues Management Ltd chief executive David Davies said all sponsors, partners and members had been contacted to warn them of the union's difficulties, even though they had been "well signposted".

It was possible DVML staff would meet sponsors to discuss existing arrangements, depending on what followed after Friday, but Mr Davies would not speculate on any changes.

- Otago Daily Times