Emirates Stadium? McDonald's Eden Park?

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE WEDNESDAY 25 JUNE 2008

What future for Eden Park? Stadium Erotica? Emirates Stadium? McDonald's Eden Park?

The news that Eden Park is to sell its naming rights has a local Eden Albert Ward councillor alarmed at what deal might be struck by the Eden Park Trust Board and what name might be foisted upon the community.

"While elected members have a say in the naming of public facilities and streets - and these are almost always hotly debated issues - the renaming of Eden Park is a matter solely for the Trust Board and council is not represented on that body."

Cr Casey says that she would hate to see Eden Park become a monument to a global giant such as McDonalds.

"People in the Balmoral area of the Eden Albert ward are currently fighting an attempt by McDonalds to open a 24-hour McDonald's outlet. It would be galling to see the golden arches appear over a new "McDonalds Eden Park" sign.

She is similarly worried about the naming rights being bought for dubious promotional purposes.

"Steve Crowe gets around the rules of Auckland City Council and manages to have a Boobs on Bikes parade down Queen Street as blatant promotion of his over-18 Erotica Expo. Are we liable to find Eden Park becoming "Stadium Erotica" because a rich porn king has money to invest?

"I would like to hear from the Trust Board that the Eden Park name will not be sold to the highest bidder. What safeguards are in place to prevent a no-holds barred Dutch auction? Or might we wake up one morning to welcome the "Emirates Stadium"?"

ENDS