Carisbrook upgrade key to southern World Cup bid

The success of an Otago and Southland bid to host a 2011 rugby World Cup pool still hinges on a multimillion-dollar upgrade of Carisbrook.

And the man spearheading Carisbrook's redevelopment plans has revealed a new stadium on another site is still not out of the equation, the Otago Daily Times reported today.

It was announced this week the 10 local authorities in Otago and Southland have been asked by the 45 South World Cup bid working party to spend $150,000 of ratepayers' money on preparing a joint bid to host one of the four cup pools.

If successful, it could mean 10 cup pool matches and a quarterfinal staged in Otago and Southland.

Malcolm Farry, the proposed chairman of the soon-to-be established Carisbrook Stadium Trust, and the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) said a key component to hosting a pool was likely to be the availability of an international class stadium.

Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch are assured of pools, but the South is in competition with areas such as Hamilton and New Plymouth for the fourth.

With a rundown Carisbrook already out of favour with the NZRU and no other stadium in the region of a suitable size, there is pressure to bring Carisbrook up to standard.

Farry said three options were still being considered. Two of those involved significant upgrades of the existing stadium, with the third option a new stadium at another site in the city.

"We're focusing on Carisbrook being an internationally acceptable stadium, right at the top for a much longer period than the six weeks the cup is talking about," he said.

Farry wouldn't say the cost of the proposals. A decision on Carisbrook's future would be made next month.

- NZPA