New Zealand's plans for co-hosting 2015 World Cup

Uncertainty over Eden Park redevelopment

Cricinfo staff

October 22, 2006

Martin Snedden, head of New Zealand Cricket, is unsure about the status of Eden Park as a venue for the World Cup 2015, which New Zealand is meant to co-host with Australia.

A redeveloped Eden Park was one of the pillars of the bid, as Snedden told The New Zealand Herald. "Our thinking all along is that games would be played at Eden Park."

But the Government's preferred option, believed to be a waterfront stadium, casts some doubt on this. Snedden said he had asked the Ministry of Economic Development to brief him.

"We've had no contact whatsoever from anywhere. I have no idea whether it's being contemplated that cricket will be part of [a waterfront stadium]. I'm completely in the dark as to what's intended and how it would be structured.

"I anticipate that sometime next week they will brief me, but certainly before this thing gets close to a decision they need to let us know what's happening.

"If they are anticipating in any way our involvement then they should be seeking our view. But if cricket is not going to be involved then it is a matter of briefing us."

Snedden also admitted concern if plans for the waterfront stadium went ahead. "If a stadium of this magnitude goes ahead I would assume the Government would want to tie in New Zealand Rugby to playing tests there. I have no idea beyond that which stakeholders they would want to secure.

"I would have thought it's a lot more complicated when you talk about the likes of Auckland Rugby who derive a significant amount of their income out of their beneficial part-ownership of Eden Park."

Snedden said it shouldn't be assumed that if the All Blacks played at a new stadium, Auckland Rugby would move there. "They would have to weigh that up. They would also be thinking along the same lines as we are as to whether you want to be in a 60,000-seat stadium."

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Debt-ridden Eden Park's future in doubt

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