Vuvuzelas Banned From AMI Stadium

Media release for immediate use: 9 July 2010

Vuvuzelas Banned From AMI Stadium

Vbase has banned vuvuzelas from AMI Stadium, effective immediately. The decision has been taken in response to feedback from fans and after consulting with the Canterbury Rugby Union and other sporting codes.

The plastic blowing horns produce a loud, distinctive monotone note and have been the subject of considerable worldwide criticism because of the horns’ constant use at the FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

Bryan Pearson, Chief Executive of Vbase, the manager of AMI Stadium, says the company has added vuvuzelas to the items prohibited at the stadium.

“We also prohibit the use of air horns or sound amplifiers, including musical instruments and whistles, from all events at AMI Stadium,” he says, “except where they form part of the official entertainment”.

“We’ve had considerable feedback from fans making it clear those items have a major detrimental impact on their enjoyment of events. We are committed to every guest having a great experience at AMI Stadium, so banning things which impact on that makes sense.”

Vbase also considered health and safety risks including potential damage to hearing and the possibility of disgruntled fans taking issue with the horn blowers, as well as television viewers’ feedback that the noise disrupts their viewing pleasure.

Hamish Riach, Chief Executive of Canterbury Rugby Union, fully supports the ban.

“We have had significant negative feedback about the vuvuzelas,” he says. “We are very keen for them to be absent from rugby games.”

The decision is consistent with that taken by other sporting venues around the world, including Wimbledon, Melbourne Cricket Ground and Eden Park.

ENDS

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