A triumph in stadium design — once the America's Cup racing is over it can easily be returned to original use.
The great news for boaties is even the mighty Auckland council cannot earmark the gulf for cricket and move the yachting to Waikaraka Park.
Mt Smart Stadium
Mt Smart - the default stadium with a lot of faults. Photo / Photosport
The default venue with a lot of faults. Is it an athletics venue? Is it a footy ground? Is it a concert venue?
Warriors tragics may disagree, but misshapen and outdated. A small ground which affords many spectators a distant view, which is quite some feat.
Eden Park
A general view of Eden Park. Photo / Photosport
We're in white elephant territory here, and a financial hell hole.
Citizens-turned-wardens wearing high-viz vests often outnumber the low-viz spectators.
At least it makes getting home a breeze.
ASB Tennis Arena
The ASB Tennis Arena specialises in having retractable plans for a retractable roof. Photo / Photosport
Serena Williams gave it the grand slam two years ago. Our respectable little tennis venue specialises in having retractable plans for a retractable roof.
Ellerslie Racecourse
Ellerslie Racecourse still stands as tall as it can. Photo / Photosport
"A horse, a horse, a kingdom for my horse".
Racing is in the doldrums compared to the glory days but Ellerslie still stands as tall as it can.
Cars have overtaken bikes but it is still a unique place with great meetings and fond memories.
But it's hard to work out if speedway is staying there or not under Auckland's magnificent, well thought out, stadium merry-go-round plan.
For trivial pursuit buffs - perhaps the only venue in the world to have hosted Peter Frampton (kids ask your grandparents) and Sleepy Tripp (kids ask your grandparents).
Alexandra Park
Many a great horse has been made at Alexandra Park. Photo / Photosport
The harness racing venue which made commentator Reg Clapp famous.
Or was it the other way around?
Many a great night has been had there, many a great horse like Cardigan Bay made there.
A wonderful if antiquated venue for the old national soccer league, internationals and star-studded invitational teams from overseas.
Rumour has it that schoolboys hid behind one stand to snaffle the footballs which came whizzing over, hoofed there by traditional Kiwi central defenders.
The country's premier football ground fell down a bank and nobody bothered to replace it.
Carlaw Park (deceased)
The main grandstand felt like it was one match short of a giant barbecue. The swamp (playing area) was drained but it still featured one corner with a slope.
The facilities were prehistoric, the toilets pre that. Kind of fell down before it could be pulled down.
The students who now live there would have been horrified, even frightened.
Avondale Racecourse (on life support, last rites due)
Closed down at one point under mounting (excuse the pun) debt and dwindling crowd numbers, and due to be closed down again in the next few years.
How many times can you close down one racecourse?
Set a probable record 15 years ago when 71 scratchings left 68 horses to race in a meeting — numbers which, ironically, reflect the warden-to-spectator ratio at Eden Park.
Rumour has it that Avondale still holds a few midweek meetings but better known as the venue for a Sunday market.
The racecourse, the racecourse, where everyone gets a bargain.
