Albany loses Warriors, gets upgrade

The sun sets at North Harbour Stadium during an ITM Cup match between North Harbour and Northland. Photo / Getty Images

North Shore venue to get $27m revamp as top sports venue, despite rejection by city's rugby league club.

The Warriors' refusal to move to Albany's QBE Stadium hasn't stopped a plan to spend $27 million to upgrade the North Shore venue.

Regional Facilities Auckland - the council-controlled body that manages most of the city's stadiums - has earmarked $15 million for renewals and maintenance at QBE and a further $12 million for a roof over the western stand. The investment is intended to transform QBE into the city's primary venue for rectangular sports events with attendances up to 30,600.

However, the Warriors NRL club - which would have become QBE's major tenant by hosting up to 12 matches a season - has categorically ruled out playing in Albany due to its location and transport issues. That would leave the redeveloped QBE hosting as few as seven matches a year, many of which would attract crowds well under 10,000. The Warriors' current home, Mt Smart Stadium, is being transformed into a speedway circuit after 2018.

Warriors boss Jim Doyle said the Albany plan was "illogical".

However, RFA's director of external relations Paul Brewer said the upgrades for QBE were "not dependent upon the Warriors playing there". QBE's revenues had increased tenfold under RFA management and the upgrades would "unlock further potential".

Albany's population was also expected to grow over the next 40 years.

The venue would host an All Blacks test against South Africa in 2017 and one Wellington Phoenix match a year for the next three years. North Harbour typically play five ITM cup matches at QBE each season, while the Blues usually play one match there.

None would be expected to draw crowds over 20,000.

Spending money to increase QBE's capacity for one All Blacks match every 10 years did not make sense, Mr Doyle said.

"Why wouldn't you invest here [Mt Smart] where you have already got a tenant?"

Mr Brewer said RFA's stadium strategy had not been deferred for a year but had in fact been approved when the council ratified its 10-year budget in May.

"However, the RFA is acting on the council's request that we re-engage with stakeholders within a 12-month frame in good faith to ensure that all options have been fully explored and we are in the process of doing that. As a result of these discussions, there may well be consideration given to modifying the strategy."

The Warriors are lobbying for those modifications to include a reversal of the decision to evict the club from Mt Smart in 2018.

Mr Doyle said discussions with new RFA chief executive Christopher Brooks had been encouraging.

Warriors fans have spoken out against plans to move from their Mt Smart home to Albany.

"Why on earth would council consider moving a 20-year client as far away as possible from their fanbase as well as from the areas that benefit from their extensive community programmes," said John Smith.