NZ | Sports Thread - Page 2

cambennett · February 24th, 2009, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nthbeach

would love to see the ACG with a 25k stadium half stadium, half grass embankment at Albany. Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi is a good starting point for a new cricket ground http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/othe...und/59396.html
Albany is a long way for most Aucklanders, but they choose to live there.

I have always though North Harbour stadium would be possible as an Auckland cricket ground there is nowhere near as much rugby played on it as Eden park and so could work better as a multi purpose ground. I think they have one super 14 game a year there and then notthing until the end of the club season and NPC so there would not be clashes.

With the busway and motorway heading straight up there it's now easy to get to but still i think there is a perception from Aucklanders on the southern side of the bridge that Albany is the middle of nowhere.

However it is built as a rugby stadium so it would be an awkward shape for cricket as Eden Park was and i'm not sure if the field would be big enough for cricket maybe it would.

The best thing about that is at 25K it could be used for ODIs as well.

cambennett · February 24th, 2009, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Howdy

Aren't there plans to turn the outer oval into a "boutique" venue as part of the overall redevelopment. I think they were aiming for a capacity of about 7K.

Did not know that. That's great. 7K is probably a good size for a test venue in NZ.

jarbury · February 24th, 2009, 10:18 PM

Yes there are plans for Eden Park outer oval. I think the ground needed to be made a bit bigger and obviously need a few thousand seats. I think they were aiming for around 10k capacity.

However nothing can really be done until after the current construction at Eden Park is completed. So maybe we'll see Test Cricket in about 2013.... aaarrrggghhhh

cambennett · February 24th, 2009, 11:29 PM

Really?? Woah that's just pathetic. No test cricket for four years?

Is there anywhere that could be used as an interim venue?

jarbury · February 24th, 2009, 11:35 PM

Don't think so.

Personally I don't see a problem with the main Eden Park ground being used for Test Cricket. So what if it looks empty with 5000 people in it, it's still more people than a full 3000 capacity stadium.

***Svartmetall*** · February 24th, 2009, 11:58 PM

Look at how empty Lord's or the MGC can be sometimes during test matches. I'm of a similar mind to you, Eden Park is better than a much smaller dedicated venue.

cambennett · February 25th, 2009, 12:18 AM

We are never going to get massive crowds here for test matches. I really do like the idea of having dedicated grounds for test cricket. It would be nice for Auckland to have a basin reserve type cricket ground with a grass embamkment.

However if the outer oval is not going to be ready until about 2013 then i agree why not use the main ground for the time being it's done ok up til recently.

jarbury · February 25th, 2009, 12:34 AM

There's a BIG Indian population in Auckland so I reckon the current tour would have got pretty good crowds to the Test Matches. Who the heck wants to go all the way to Hamilton.... (though I must admit I am considering it).

The ODI in Auckland might be a sell-out with the reduced capacity.

cambennett · February 25th, 2009, 12:52 AM

Yeah fair call actually the Indian community does usually come out in force when the Indians tour.

Personally i'm really looking forward to this tour ( i'm also considering taking a day off work to head down for the Hamilton test match) more to see some of the Indian players in action than any real hope i have of us winning much. In saying that we should as usual be competitive in the ODIs (hopefully).

jarbury · February 25th, 2009, 01:25 AM

Yes I agree. Last chance to ever see Tendulkar play in NZ I would suspect.

cambennett · February 25th, 2009, 04:31 AM

Yep and possibly Dravid and VVS Laxan as well they are both nearing the end of their careers i think.

Jeez who would want to be a black caps bowler with the batting lineup they have?

Milan Luka · February 25th, 2009, 04:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cambennett

Are there any other parks around Auckland you think could be developed as potential test venues? None spring to find for me.

I dunno, how about something on the waterfront? Oh its been suggested and shot down already? Oh well maybe again one day?

Milan Luka · February 25th, 2009, 04:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jarbury

There's a BIG Indian population in Auckland so I reckon the current tour would have got pretty good crowds to the Test Matches. Who the heck wants to go all the way to Hamilton.... (though I must admit I am considering it).

Yep, the indian community is very good at supporting their team. I work with an Indian guy who got citizenship on Waitangi day and he will be going tonight with his black caps shirt on.

Another pipe dream would be imagine a high speed rail service between the two centres where an Aucklander could easily consider going to Hamilton for a one dayer and being able to get back home by midnight.

cambennett · February 25th, 2009, 06:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Milan Luka

I dunno, how about something on the waterfront? Oh its been suggested and shot down already? Oh well maybe again one day?

Oh no, let's not revisit that. Too depressing.

One thing about a waterfront cricket ground, a lot of cricket balls would end up in the drink.

nthbeach · February 25th, 2009, 09:07 AM

my suggestion for albany was not for the rugby ground but for the cricket ground behind it, build a new stand around half of that ground

***Svartmetall*** · February 25th, 2009, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nthbeach

my suggestion for albany was not for the rugby ground but for the cricket ground behind it, build a new stand around half of that ground

In my opinion we shouldn't start moving everything to the far flung corners of the city, it kills life.

It's one complaint I've always had about the Allianz Arena in Munich (despite it having excellent transport connections and being a great stadium to boot) - it's in the middle of bloomin' nowhere and thus it's very much a "travel to then travel back" venue. Despite having a megamall at Albany there is no street life, and no ambience. The very best stadia I have been to all have street life and something to hold one to the area after a match (and before a match too) rather than the rush to car, rush to home mentality which some stadiums encourage.

cambennett · February 25th, 2009, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nthbeach

my suggestion for albany was not for the rugby ground but for the cricket ground behind it, build a new stand around half of that ground

that's basically building a whole new stadium i would think the cost would be too great. Eden park outer oval has some stands and practice nets. It's at least half ready to go.

Howdy · February 25th, 2009, 10:23 AM

Anybody know if the dimensions at AMI have been adjusted due to the construction work? During the T20 tonight one boundary (towards the existing stand) looked tiny.

piles · February 25th, 2009, 11:19 AM

Yeah, the whole pitch allignment was very strange. I hope once the stadium is complete it is all sorted out.

Kane007 · February 25th, 2009, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Svartmetall

In my opinion we shouldn't start moving everything to the far flung corners of the city, it kills life.

It's one complaint I've always had about the Allianz Arena in Munich (despite it having excellent transport connections and being a great stadium to boot) - it's in the middle of bloomin' nowhere and thus it's very much a "travel to then travel back" venue. Despite having a megamall at Albany there is no street life, and no ambience. The very best stadia I have been to all have street life and something to hold one to the area after a match (and before a match too) rather than the rush to car, rush to home mentality which some stadiums encourage.

Yeah, by these requirements neither has Eden Park or Mt Smart!

February 24th, 2009, 11:58 PM	#26
*Svartmetall* Ordo Ab Chao Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Past: Northampton, UK (19 years), Auckland NZ (7 years), Now: Stockholm, Sweden Posts: 9,187 Likes (Received): 242	Look at how empty Lord's or the MGC can be sometimes during test matches. I'm of a similar mind to you, Eden Park is better than a much smaller dedicated venue. __________________ "Alle Ding sind Gift, und nichts ohn Gift; allein die Dosis macht, daß ein Ding kein Gift ist." Paracelsus 1493-1541

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February 24th, 2009, 11:29 PM	#24
cambennett Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Auckland Posts: 2,122 Likes (Received): 3	Really?? Woah that's just pathetic. No test cricket for four years? Is there anywhere that could be used as an interim venue?

February 25th, 2009, 12:18 AM	#27
cambennett Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Auckland Posts: 2,122 Likes (Received): 3	We are never going to get massive crowds here for test matches. I really do like the idea of having dedicated grounds for test cricket. It would be nice for Auckland to have a basin reserve type cricket ground with a grass embamkment. However if the outer oval is not going to be ready until about 2013 then i agree why not use the main ground for the time being it's done ok up til recently.

February 25th, 2009, 12:52 AM	#29
cambennett Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Auckland Posts: 2,122 Likes (Received): 3	Yeah fair call actually the Indian community does usually come out in force when the Indians tour. Personally i'm really looking forward to this tour ( i'm also considering taking a day off work to head down for the Hamilton test match) more to see some of the Indian players in action than any real hope i have of us winning much. In saying that we should as usual be competitive in the ODIs (hopefully).

February 25th, 2009, 04:31 AM	#31
cambennett Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Auckland Posts: 2,122 Likes (Received): 3	Yep and possibly Dravid and VVS Laxan as well they are both nearing the end of their careers i think. Jeez who would want to be a black caps bowler with the batting lineup they have?

February 25th, 2009, 09:07 AM	#35
nthbeach Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Sydney Posts: 406 Likes (Received): 10	my suggestion for albany was not for the rugby ground but for the cricket ground behind it, build a new stand around half of that ground

February 25th, 2009, 10:23 AM	#38
Howdy The safety guy Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Posts: 154 Likes (Received): 0	Anybody know if the dimensions at AMI have been adjusted due to the construction work? During the T20 tonight one boundary (towards the existing stand) looked tiny.

February 25th, 2009, 11:19 AM	#39
piles Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Auckland Posts: 527 Likes (Received): 0	Yeah, the whole pitch allignment was very strange. I hope once the stadium is complete it is all sorted out.