Crusaders homeless, AMI out for the count

The Canterbury Crusaders won’t be playing at AMI Stadium any time in the near future, if at all.The Hadlee Stand at the main entrance is likely to be demolished and the fate of the other three stands including the near new Deans Stand remains in doubt.

The Hadlee Stand has suffered terminal damage to its floor plates as well as land damage.

The Paul Kelly Stand and the Deans Stand have dropped around 300-400mm as a result of the earthquakes. The floors are uneven, with the floor height of the Paul Kelly Stand varying up to 70mm and the floor height of the Deans Stand varying up to 300mm.

The Paul Kelly Stand might be repairable but it will involve engineering methods never used in New Zealand before. It has been damaged by land movement and liquefaction and repairs could be achieved by injecting liquid into the ground to lift the edifice and then place new foundations underneath. Re-levelling and other repairs are required on the Tui Stand at the southern end of the stadium.

The stadium (formerly called Lancaster Park) was redeveloped with completion of the Deans Stand in 2009 at a cost of $60 million, mostly still owed. A debt of about $30 million is still owed on the earlier Paul Kelly Stand redevelopment. Replacement insurance is in place, according to city councillor Sue Wells.

AMI Stadium, the ASB Centre at Addington, and the Convention Centre and the Town Hall in Kilmore Street, are owned council quango Vbase.

A large number of staff have been made redundant including chief executive Bryan Pearson, a former Bendon boss who oversaw the expansion of AMI Stadium.

However, even before the earthquakes, AMI Stadium was suffering a loss of patronage in the order of 40% and considered a white elephant some ratepayers.

Last year before the earthquakes Mr Pearson had promoted a $100 million expansion of the Convention centre and Vbase had even acquired several adjacent properties.

But the Convention Centre is now also tipped for demolition while the future of the Town Hall also remains in doubt. The city council is arguing with insurers about whether the Convention Centre can be repaired or should be demolished.

Council engineers have recommended the Hadlee Stand and the Convention Centre be demolished.

Meanwhile, council is still working with the Canterbury Rugby Football Union on finding an alternative home for rugby in Christchurch.