Eden Park looks forward to next 100 years

27 November 2006

Eden Park rolls up its sleeves; looks forward to next 100 years

Eden Park Trust Board staff and supporters were delighted at news today that Eden Park had been confirmed as New Zealand's choice to host the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

Eden Park will be transformed into a world-class stadium with 60,000 seats, a transport hub, green space available for community use and plans that have been termed outstanding by urban design leaders.

"This decision is the right one for Auckland and for New Zealand," says Eden Park Chief Executive John Alexander.

"The Eden Park of 2011 will make Auckland and New Zealand proud."

"Not only will it preserve our rich sporting and social history, and provide sports viewing of an international quality, our plans will put the Park back into Eden Park."

Mr Alexander said the redevelopment would benefit Eden Park's neighbours as well as sports fans, and thanked the Auckland and New Zealand public for their emails, phone calls and letters of support over recent weeks.

"We have appreciated your passion and support, and believe you have played a vital role in this decision. Thank-you."

Mr Alexander confirmed that Eden Park would be proceeding with its resource consent hearing as scheduled on Thursday 30 November.

"We have always intended to go through a full public process."

Mr Alexander noted that submissions were heavily in favour of the redevelopment, and said Eden Park had received a favourable officers' report on its resource consent application from the Auckland City Council.

Funding and consents for the first part of the redevelopment, the demolition of the Panasonic Stand and construction of an extension to the ASB Stand, are already in place. Construction of the remainder of the redevelopment is scheduled to begin in September 2007, with completion scheduled for December 2010.

Mr Alexander said the Trust Board looked forward to working with Rugby NZ 2011, the Government, local councils, neighbours, iwi and other stakeholders to progress the redevelopment of Eden Park not just for the Rugby World Cup, but for the 2015 Cricket World Cup and beyond.

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