Bid for more Rugby World Cup games supported by Manukau

Making the Auckland region the hub of Rugby World Cup 2011 would have major spin-offs for Manukau, says Manukau City Council.

 

The council is a key partner in the region’s proposal to host two quarter finals and the bronze (third and fourth play-off) final. Manukau is also offering to host a live site showing finals games in one of the city’s major parks.

 

The proposal was submitted to tournament organisers Rugby New Zealand 2011 Ltd (RNZ 2011) yesterday (Thursday) as part of a nationally competitive process.

 

The next stage of the process will involve bids being submitted by 31 October to host teams and pool matches.

 

Manukau City Council Thriving Economy Portfolio Leader Arthur Anae says having more major matches in the Auckland region would have a number of benefits for Manukau.

 

“Manukau is the gateway to Auckland and New Zealand so we will be the welcoming party for world cup visitors.

 

“With more games in the Auckland region it will become the hub of the Rugby World Cup, offering Manukau more opportunities to showcase our unique city to the world. It also means Manukau residents will be more likely to be able to go to a game.

 

“The increased number of visitors will have major spin-offs for Manukau businesses, which are well represented in the tourism economy. Tourism contributes approximately $750m GDP to the Manukau economy each year and the Rugby World Cup offers us the chance to increase that,” Cr Anae says.

 

“We’re looking forward to the next round of bids where Manukau will be hoping to get the right to host teams and have them training here.

 

“With our diverse population there are a number of teams that Manukau could host and adopt their players as our own.

 

“The joint proposal shows how closely the region’s councils, rugby unions, sporting venues, Tourism Auckland and the Auckland Regional Transport Authority (ARTA) have been working together to make sure the world cup will be a success for Auckland,” Cr Anae says.

 

Background

 

The Auckland region has recommended Eden Park as the venue for the quarter-finals and both Eden Park and North Harbour Stadium as options for the bronze final as we believe both are capable of hosting this play-off match. The recommendation has been made with input from both Eden Park and North Harbour Stadium, who are part of the regional collaboration effort.

 

Auckland’s proposal to host two quarter-finals and the bronze final is a collaborative effort by organisations across the region including all Auckland councils, Tourism Auckland, the Auckland Regional Transport Authority, major stadia and the three Auckland-based rugby unions.

 

A regional steering group is leading Auckland’s preparations for the tournament and the Regional Sustainable Development Forum (RSDF) is the political body overseeing the work.

 

Auckland’s proposal highlights the region’s strengths, including:

* World-class venues (featuring the country’s biggest stadium – Eden Park with a 60,000 capacity for RWC 2011)
* A large and diverse population base of 1.4 million
* The country’s largest accommodation sector (featuring mainly high quality accommodation)
* Upgraded transport infrastructure.

 

The Auckland region’s proposal to host two quarter-finals and the bronze final for Rugby World Cup 2011

Questions and Answers

What is Auckland bidding for?

The Auckland region has put forward a bid to host two quarter-finals and the bronze final (third and fourth play-off). The region has already successfully secured the right to host the final and semifinals at Eden Park.

Did Auckland consider bidding for more than two quarter-finals?

No. Based on the evidence of previous Rugby World Cup tournaments and advice from Rugby New Zealand 2011 Ltd (RNZ 2011) the preference is to have at least two cities host the quarter-finals.

Which venues have been recommended to host the matches?

We have recommended Eden Park as the venue for the quarter-finals and both Eden Park and North Harbour Stadium as options for the bronze final as we believe both are capable of hosting this play-off match. This recommendation has been made with input from both Eden Park and North Harbour Stadium, who are part of the regional collaboration effort.

What is the process for deciding who hosts these matches?

RNZ 2011 asked all interested regions to prepare a proposal outlining how they will support the tournament, and their ability to host the quarter-finals and bronze final by 17 July 2008. The decision on the successful hosts of these is expected to be made in September. Further details of the process are available from RNZ 2011 directly.

How much is it costing for Auckland to bid for these matches?

There is no fee required as part of the match bidding process. All the elements in Auckland’s proposal have gone through each individual council’s approval processes and the costs of initiatives outlined in the proposal will be subject to next year’s review of long-term council community plans, which outline each council’s expenditure, and are open to public consultation.

Are all the components of the bid fully funded?

All councils have shown a willingness to make financial contributions towards the regional programme for RWC 2011, and as outlined above have approved funding packages for all components of the bid – subject to long-term council community plan reviews.

Who’s leading the Auckland proposal?

Auckland’s preparations for Rugby World Cup 2011 are being led by a Regional Steering Group chaired by Auckland City Council’s Rachael Dacy. The group’s deputy chair, Lance Vervoort (Auckland Regional Council) headed the region’s bid team.

The Regional Steering Group heads Auckland’s regional planning structure which features nine workstreams and includes representatives from:

* all Auckland councils
* Tourism Auckland
* the three Auckland-based rugby unions
* major stadia across the region

 

Which venues are included in the proposal?

Eden Park and North Harbour Stadium as match venues.

North Harbour Stadium, The Trusts Stadium, Onewa Domain, Western Springs and Mt Smart Stadium as training venues.

What is the role of the Regional Sustainable Development Forum (RSDF) in RWC planning?

The RSDF is the political forum which oversees the region’s RWC effort. The Regional Steering Group reports to the Regional CEO Forum, which reports into the RSDF.

Have all Auckland councils contributed to this proposal?

All Auckland councils have approved funding for RWC-related initiatives and these have been included in the compilation of the region’s proposal. In addition all councils have participated in the regional steering group and its workstreams.

Does Auckland expect to win the hosting rights to the quarter-finals simply because it has the biggest stadium?

We think Auckland has put forward a strong proposal and we expect other regions to do likewise. Stadium capacity is one of many criteria on which evaluation of proposals will be based. But we are by no means assuming that it is a done deal. It’s a competitive process.

Who are Auckland’s main competitors for the quarter-finals and bronze final?

We understand Christchurch and Wellington are putting forward proposals and Hamilton is likely to bid for the bronze final.

What is Auckland bidding for in the second phase of this process – for pool matches and team bases (closing on 31 October 2008)?

We are still working through the details of what the region will bid for in phase two.

Will Auckland be bidding for the opening ceremony and the opening match?

Yes, we intend to bid for the opening event and match.

What about other games? Will Auckland be bidding for any others?

Yes, we will be bidding for additional matches to be played in Auckland. We will also be bidding to host specific teams. But the details are still being worked through. The region’s ability to host teams and further matches provides further significant opportunities to showcase Auckland to the world and maximise returns for ratepayers.

Will individual cities or districts within the region be competing with each other to host teams and early matches?

No. Auckland is working collaboratively and any proposals will be on behalf of the region as a whole.

Will Eden Park be ready for RWC 2011?

Our understanding is that the Eden Park development is on track. A major milestone in Eden Park’s redevelopment occurs in a few weeks time with the demolition of the South Stand following the Bledisloe test on 2 August. We are working closely with Eden Park, and they are involved in the regional collaboration, but you would need to refer further questions about the project’s timeline to the Eden Park Redevelopment Board.

Does Auckland have adequate accommodation to supply all the visitors?

Auckland is by far the best placed region in New Zealand to accommodate the visitors expected for the business end of the tournament. Auckland has 13,000 hotel and motel rooms and four major hotel developments are due to be completed in time for 2011. There is additional capacity available through backpacker beds, campsites and caravan parks, home stays and the potential to use cruise ships.

Will Auckland’s transport be good enough to handle the demands of RWC 2011?

Central, regional and local government have all joined forces to ensure a significantly upgraded transport network is a lasting legacy from RWC 2011. Auckland Regional Transport Authority will have dedicated event transport teams for all venues and travel plans for every match.

NOTE: Twenty seven percent of the fans at last month’s All Blacks test against England used public transport to get to Eden Park. This was the second biggest crowd to ever arrive at the ground by public transport, only surpassed by those attending the 2005 Lion’s test.

Will the full Auckland proposal be made available to the public?

RNZ has asked that proposals remain confidential so that the competitive process is not compromised. However, in the interests of transparency we have released an outline of our approach to the bid.

While we will not release further details of the bid, we will happily respond to inquiries about Auckland’s preparations for RWC 2011.

What else is being planning in Auckland to make the most of the event, and to give residents the chance to get involved and enjoy it?

There are a whole range of supporting activities planned including live sites, volunteer and sustainability programmes as well as working with businesses around the region to ensure they are ready to maximise the opportunities RWC provides. Details of these will be released over the coming months.

For more information visit www.auckland2011.com