Rugby: Waikato rugby keen on park scheme

By CHRIS RATTUE

Waikato rugby is determined to push ahead with plans to replace Rugby Park despite the plight of the Tainui tribe and the failure of the original $43.5m redevelopment proposal for the ground.

Waikato and Chiefs chief executive Gary Dawson said that not only were spectators being sold short by the state of the present ground, but Waikato was losing out on the chance to host other major sporting events. Hamilton might even be in danger of losing its status as a Super 12 franchise base, he said.

The stadium trust this year scrapped the plan to turn Rugby Park into a multipurpose rugby ground that would have also hosted day-night cricket games. But Dawson still hopes a redeveloped Rugby Park, with floodlighting and new turf, will be ready for the start of the 2001 NPC season.

He said some in the Hamilton City Council might still want to push ahead with the old scheme to build a multipurpose stadium, whose true cost could be closer to $55m than $43.5m.

Waikato rugby was now pushing for a much cheaper scheme that would increase the park's capacity from 22,000 to 27,000, including almost 10,000 covered seats. The old grandstand would be upgraded, and a new one built.

The twin proposal would involve upgrading Westpactrust Park so it remained a major cricket venue.

"When the proposal was first raised four years ago, multipurpose stadiums were the rage," said Dawson.

"But thinking has changed and specialised grounds are now the way to go. We are not calling this a rugby ground but a football ground. Other sports like the Warriors, who have strong links to Waikato, and the soccer Kingz have also expressed an interest.

"We'd also like to think Hamilton could be a venue for games at the next World Rugby Cup."

Waikato rugby is now having to reconvince the HCC, who were going to contribute $9m, and the WEL Energy Trust and Trust Waikato to remain as contributors. About $27m had been raised for the defunct scheme.

Tainui were going to put in $7m for naming rights but Dawson said their involvement was extremely doubtful since the tribe confirmed they had hit financial problems.

Tainui's subsidiary Maori Development Corporation Investments Ltd, the high-risk, high-return arm of the business, is facing million-dollar losses on the value of its assets, which include the Warriors.

The trust will begin its attempt to rescue redevelopment plans with a presentation to the city council on February 22.

"There is already pressure from South African and Australian teams for us to provide an international-class venue," said Dawson. "If we don't we may struggle to retain Hamilton as a Super 12 base."