Jade Stadium to get revamp for rugby World Cup

Jade Stadium is in for a four-year $60 million revamp that will increase permanent seating by 7000 to 43,000 for the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

Under plans announced today, the Christchurch sports ground's No 1, No 2 and No 3 stands will be demolished and replaced with an East Stand.

The proposed new three-level stand would be lower than the current Paul Kelly stand and have potential for 10,000sq m of commercially leased office space.

Concept drawings were shown today to a meeting of the stadium's immediate neighbours, corporate suite holders and interested parties.

Much of the $60m funding is planned to come from the private sector and stadium partners, with the rest expected to be provided from local and central government sources and charitable and sporting trusts.

Bryan Pearson, chief executive of Vbase Venue Management Group Ltd which manages the stadium, said the first stage was to "get something down on paper" to show to stadium neighbours, partners and Christchurch residents as a basis for discussion.

Concept drawings were not finalised and were "subject to ongoing modification and change".

Mr Pearson said Vbase would work closely with the Christchurch City Council's Hagley-Ferrymead Community Board and the Charleston Neighbourhood Association.

"The catalyst for the redevelopment of the east side of Jade Stadium is the Rugby World Cup 2011," he said.

"The old stands are at the end of their life and need replacement, so it's a good opportunity for us to address this and for us all to benefit from the economic impact and international profile of the third largest sports tournament in the world."

The redevelopment would also support the city's role in the 2015 Cricket World Cup.

Christchurch Mayor Garry Moore said the new East Stand concept stacked up well and there was a "compelling case" for the project to get community approval.

Mr Moore said just a year after the new stand was built there would be a "payback to the city" of at least the $60 million estimated redevelopment cost from the spending by thousands of international rugby fans expected for the cup.

"That's based on hard data the city has received from a study of the economic impact of last year's (British Lions) test match at Jade Stadium," he said.

Research showed that 10,000 British Lions fans spent about $22m on accommodation, restaurants, taxis, supermarkets, visitor attractions and retail shopping.

"If we go ahead and build this East Stand, we could get up to 60,000 supporters visiting Christchurch and Canterbury," Mr Moore said.

"It doesn't take much to do the sums. So really it's a no-brainer. The city has to get behind it."

Mr Moore aid research commissioned by the Rugby World Cup Establishment Board estimated the total benefit to the country would be over $400 million and he wanted Christchurch to get a "decent chunk" of that.

"We don't want it to be Auckland's World Cup."

- NZPA