Government gives $4.1 million to restore battered stadium
The Government has pledged $4.1 million to help restore Christchurch's battered Ami Stadium, amid fears earthquake damage would prevent its use even next year.
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The Government has pledged $4.1 million to help restore Christchurch's battered Ami Stadium, amid fears earthquake damage would prevent its use even next year.
Christchurch today lost all of its Rugby World Cup matches, with its stadium in ruins after the February 22 quake.
Two quarterfinals set for Christchurch would go to Auckland, and five pool matches reallocated to venues yet to be determined, after officials accepted the stadium could not be ready in time for the October show piece.
Rugby World Cup Minister Murray McCully told a Christchurch press conference there were fears the stadium would not even be ready for the 2012 season, so the Government had stepped in with its chequebook.
"While the structure is covered by insurance, the turf is not, leaving a $4.1 million funding gap in any restoration project," he said.
"I am therefore pleased to announce today that the Government will make a $4.1 million grant to the stadium, for the specific purpose of allowing work to being on the turf restablishment."
That should remove a major obstacle and restore confidence the stadium would be restablished "some time early in 2012", he said.
Cantabrians who had bought quarterfinal tickets in the expectation the game would be in Christchurch, would be given "affordable" travel options so they could see those games in Auckland, he said.
The Government and Christchurch mayor Bob Parker had begun work on developing public viewing areas for World Cup matches, so that Cantabrians could get the "best experience", off watching games televised on big screens.
NZPA
Wed, 16 Mar 2011
Wed, 16 Mar 2011
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Government gives $4.1 million to restore battered stadium
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