Is it just about the Money? Scheduling Stadium Events

Is it just about the Money?
Scheduling Stadium
Events
Legal Status of Wellington Regional
Stadium Trust
• Charitable trust established by the Wellington
City Council & Greater Wellington Regional
Council (“the Settlors”)
• Responsible for the planning, construction,
ownership, operation and maintenance of
Westpac Stadium, as a multi-purpose sporting
and cultural venue
Objectives of our Trust Deed
• To own, operate and maintain the Stadium as a high quality
multi-purpose sporting and cultural venue
• To provide high quality facilities to be used by rugby, cricket,
football, other sports codes, musical, cultural and community
event promoters
• To attract high quality and popular events for the benefit of the
public of the region
• To administer the Stadium on a prudent commercial basis so
that it is a successful, financially autonomous community asset
Councils objectives for the Trust
• Have a partnership approach with the Councils
• Have a regional focus
• Appropriately acknowledge the contribution of Councils
• Achieve maximum effectiveness, efficiency and concentrated
focus on service delivery
• Operate at breakeven after depreciation expense.
Stadium Trust key Business Plan
Objectives
• Develop a full and balanced event calendar
• Maintaining and enhancing the facility
• Achieving a level of profitability that
provides for continuing capital expenditure
and meets debt reduction obligations
Public Expectations
(based on BBQ talk)
• We are going to keep the Seven’s aren’t we
(and can you get me tickets?)
• What is the next concert Steven (and why
didn’t we get U2?)
• When are we going to get a home Hurricanes
final?
Current Event Usage Days
Days in use
250
Number of days
200
Turf renovation
150
Held for semi/finals
Set up days
Community events
100
Events
50
2006
2007
2008
2009
Year ending 30 June
2010
Scheduling Challenges:
• Managing the impact on turf quality
• Managing the clash of codes in summer while
accommodating concerts
• Maintaining home ground advantage (Phoenix)
• Over saturating the entertainment market
Priority Booking Rights
• Rugby: 1 April – 31 October (to be exercised by 1
December)
• Cricket: 1 November – 31 March (to be exercised by 1 July)
• Phoenix – next in line
• Can accept booking of an event of international significance
for the city that over-rides priority booking rights (concert
clause)
Summer Overload 2010
• 11 major events in 30 days
• 2 nights ACDC concert, only three days turn around
for NZI Sevens
• 3 consecutive weekends of double headers
• Pitch turnaround from Concert – Sevens – Football
– Rugby – Football – Cricket
Our Community Event Policy
• Host community events where these can be
fitted into our events programme and do not
clash with the priority booking rights of our
principal tenants
• Continue to support and encourage existing
community events
Our Ideal Community Event
• Has minimal impact on the turf
• Is inclusive of the local / regional community
• Provides leverage opportunity for naming sponsor
• Avoids our key scheduling months
• Publicly says thank you