City misses out on Cup fixture

Rotorua cricket fans will have to make a 212km round trip to see any live action at the 2015 Cricket World Cup.

Hamilton's Seddon Park is the closest destination for locals to watch the competition.

Events and Venues Rotorua general manager Peter McLeod said there were no facilities in Rotorua which met New Zealand Cricket standards.

He said the potential returns from the tournament would not justify the investment required at Smallbone Park.

They would have also been bidding for hosting rights against other venues that had already met the criteria.

"The costs to upgrade Smallbone Park would literally run into six figure sums. It simply comes down to cost factor," Mr McLeod said.

Rotorua Cricket Association development manager Dave Richardson agreed, but said the Bay of Plenty Cricket Association's focus on Tauranga had made things more challenging.

"We're run by Bay of Plenty Cricket. They're building a new ground in Mt Maunganui and sunk their resources there," he said.

"Smallbone Park 20 years ago would have hosted first-class matches because it was the home of Bay of Plenty Cricket. It's disappointing, but a reality of life."

Cricket had been struggling in Rotorua for the last few years, but Mr Richardson said the sport was now on the up.

"We've had a major increase in our numbers last year, especially in the junior sections where there is fantastic talent," he said.

Mr Richardson said there were several committees helping restructure Rotorua cricket.

One is involved in the redevelopment of Smallbone Park and is chaired by one of Rotorua's top former cricketers Chris Smith.

"We hope to help bring Smallbone Park back to its glory days so Rotorua doesn't miss opportunities like hosting a Cricket World Cup event in future," Mr Richardson said.

In the meantime, Rotorua could still benefit from the Cricket World Cup because it was played over an extended period and fans may take the opportunity to visit the city and its many tourist attractions, Mr McLeod said.