New Zealand Warriors chief executive Jim Doyle says Auckland needs a dedicated football stadium in the central city. Photo / Greg Bowker
Warriors boss calls for new dedicated football stadium in centre of city instead of propping up old rugby relic.
Warriors boss Jim Doyle wants Eden Park knocked down in what would be a controversial but vital step towards building a dedicated football stadium in downtown Auckland.
Doyle, who returned to New Zealand after two years as the NRL's chief operating officer, believes it is time to let go of a big part of Auckland's history to create a vibrant future.
Doyle wants the Blues and Auckland rugby games relocated temporarily to Mt Smart, a dedicated football stadium. In a happy coincidence, the Blues' new HQ is nearby, at Alexandra Park.
The ultimate goal would be a 40,000-seat downtown stadium as the home of rugby, league and football with money from the sale of outdated, poorly-located Eden Park contributing to the costs. The city stadium would rejuvenate sport and boost the centre of town, with tourists who shun outlying stadiums also attracted to the new arena.
Doyle says he is continually frustrated at the favoured status of rugby, especially when it blocks vital progress. The national game could no longer sit on an ineffective stadium with a 50,000 capacity it hardly ever needed. This situation was preventing Auckland getting the football facility it desperately needed.
"We missed a massive opportunity with the waterfront idea [before the 2011 Rugby World Cup] and I think Auckland deserves much better than just moving the dominoes around, which is what they are trying to do now," he said. "Someone needs the vision to make it happen at the waterfront where transport is really good, there are restaurants and bars, it is alive, humming.
"What will happen in another 10 years with the current attitude - another $100 million on Eden Park? They will find reasons to justify it for ever and a day. Why not move the Blues and the ITM Cup games here at Mt Smart, the Wellington Phoenix could also play here, then sell Eden Park and all the land and look to build the waterfront stadium.
"I don't know what Eden Park is worth, the debt or the land value. But I was stunned when the waterfront idea didn't happen. Every city in the world is going that sort of way, building [smaller] stadiums where they keep the lower ticket prices the same, put the higher ticket prices up, and still make as much money."
A waterfront stadium might have the vote of the people, but Doyle knows Eden Park is a rugby status symbol that the national game may want to cling to. But he said automatic rugby-centric decisions by those in power had to stop. "For me, knocking Eden Park down is the option ... how many times each year does rugby actually need that capacity?"
Jim Doyle is the man many believe will finally deliver the Warriors to the promised land.
Half a season into his job as the erratic league club's chief executive, he has scored significant coups by signing Issac Luke and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, while persuading Auckland to rethink the plan to force the Warriors out of Mt Smart Stadium.
Initial impressions are this: Doyle has a clear path in mind, is a personable man who will make the tough calls, is persuasive, doesn't mince his words and won't back down easily. Surges of optimism and subsequent disappointment are standard fare at the Warriors, but maybe their time has finally come.
The 53-year-old Scot, who came here via South Africa in the mid-1990s, was the president-with-a-shareholding of Navman and hit paydirt when the company was sold for about $100 million in 2004. He has gone from being a Warriors season ticket holder in year one to leading the New Zealand Rugby League, helping run the NRL and is now back where his love of league started. He chats to the Herald.
Your upbringing in Scotland was working class - what has it taught you?
You have to work hard to get anything and always grateful for what you've got. I have lived by two things - if it is to be, it is up to me and you can choose your own attitude. Being positive builds better relationships - I've always told my kids you get more bees with the honey.
Celtic or Rangers, or neither?
My dad was a big Celtic supporter and he took me to Parkhead... I never missed a game from about the age of 3 to 13. Dad was passionate about it. There were so many things I remember ... in one game after Celtic scored he was jumping and screaming and his false teeth fell out. While everyone was celebrating, he was on the ground trying to find his teeth. As I got older, my hero was Kenny Dalglish. I was lucky enough to play golf with him in South Africa.
No league then...
There wasn't any in Scotland but I do remember watching it on TV with Eddie Waring the commentator - he was a real character. Being working class I wasn't a rugby union follower because in Scotland it was for the toffs, at private schools. But I did watch league on TV.
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck was your first big signing for next year - how on earth did you snare him from the Roosters?
It's about relationships and timing. I knew Roger and Issac Luke from my days at the NZRL and NRL, so I wasn't a complete stranger. I told Roger he can be part of something that improves league throughout the country, not just at the Warriors. It was about a place in history and he is excited about that. He is also at a point where he wants to set up with his long-time girlfriend.
Still, did you surprise yourself getting his signature?
We surprised ourselves. I thought we had a chance but getting him to leave the Roosters was tough.
And Issac Luke?
Issac wanted to come home, and South Sydney said they would release him. There is only one NRL club here ... I told his manager "that doesn't put you in a strong negotiating position."
What will Luke bring?
As you saw on Monday night, Issac changed the game when he came on for Souths. He's a cracking young man who has matured a lot and such a nice kid ... full of life, bubbly, fun, a fantastic musician. Both he and Roger are special in different ways. Roger has amazing feet ... he's very down to earth, grounded, genuine.
There is angst in Australia about messy player transfers and calls for mid and post-season transfer windows...
The current system is the only feasible one because of the salary cap. If you keep space free in the cap it means you are operating a player short, and then you might miss him in the window anyway. I would change the current rule which allows players to get out of contracts before July 1. When you sign a contract, it is signed. But I would keep this round 13 rule for youngsters yet to play in the NRL - they might be influenced by a very strong recruitment manager and deserve a bit of time to reconsider.
What about Messrs Watson and Glenn... did you tell the Warriors' owners to stop their public spats?
Did I say that to them? Yes... before I accepted the job. It was a condition of me coming here. I told them we didn't need the distractions. Both wanted me here - that helped.
What characteristic do you most like in other people?
Can-do attitudes, people who find solutions rather than put up road blocks.
Your own personality is...
Innovative, I'm optimistic, also a realist. I think I'm a good people person.
Management style?
I set a direction and align people to that and constantly work with them, to help us achieve our targets.
So what are the targets?
To be the most entertaining, engaging and respected club ... in the NRL and of any sport in New Zealand. We want to be a top four side who will do even better than that now and then. Everything must be done professionally.
What would you most like to see change in league?
For the game to get a fair go, an equal footing, when it comes to decision making starting with the Auckland council first and foremost but then schools etc. throughout the country. Rugby union always gets preferential treatment. If we act more professionally, we will change people's perception and get a level playing field.
The deal is understood to be one of the biggest sponsorships of female sport in NZ.