KEY POINTS:
The Silver Ferns failed the first test of their transtasman netball assignment but New Zealand's newest indoor sporting venue, Vector Arena, appears off to a successful start.
The 9000-seat stadium in downtown Auckland is now in the running to host the final of netball's world championship on November 17 after making a good first impression when Australia defeated the Silver Ferns 53-46.
Trusts Stadium in Waitakere is the designated venue for the championship but Vector Arena's superior capacity - it can accommodate 3500 more fans - and its central location are likely to count in its favour when the tournament's organising committee decides which venue will stage the final and play-off for third and fourth at the end of next month.
A crowd of 8400 - the largest to attend an indoor sporting event in New Zealand - created a wall of sound inside the arena on Wednesday night, prompting tournament general manager Jane Patterson to admit that on atmosphere alone it would be a "no-brainer" not to stage the climax there.
However, there were other considerations such as the need to have at least four changing rooms on the final day. Vector has only two changing rooms at present.
Trusts Stadium also has training facilities at the venue, other than the match court.
"There's more to it than how many seats there are. We would love to go there if it allows another 3500 fansto see it but we've got to workthrough operational matters," Pat-terson said.
"Relocating the championship literally overnight [from west Auckland] isn't straightforward."
Although greater capacity meant greater revenue, Patterson said that was counterbalanced by the costs involved in hiring the venue.
Trusts Stadium was chosen for the tournament after Fiji was stripped of the world championships last year because of political instability.
At that point Vector Arena was still under construction.
- NZPA
