MEDIA RELEASE

1 July 2003

Rotorua to have a new 'Events Centre' thanks to Trust

The Rotorua Energy Charitable Trust has provided the Rotorua District Council with a $10 million dollar donation for the construction of a new 4 court Events Centre adjoining the existing single court indoor stadium, the Sportsdrome. (An additional floor space of approximately 4,000m2 - the existing floor space is approximately 1,400 m2)

Over six months of feasibility studies, basic foot print designs and user group meetings has culminated in the exciting knowledge that this new facility will be a reality in little over a year.

The basic components of the building, incorporating the existing stadium, will provide 5 full sized netball or basketball courts. In single court mode we hope to achieve at least a seating capacity of 2,500. The spaces will be designed to accommodate a multitude of sports, concerts, banquets, conferences and exhibition events.

The Rotorua Energy Charitable Trust have the naming rights for the new Events Centre as part of the donation, but it is also hoped to provide internal naming rights for the various areas within the building, including a 'storyboard' acknowledging the sporting hero's of Rotorua. This will be a major community project with significant benefits to the city and we aim to ensure that the community will be an integral part of the finished product.

The main hall will also have an adjoining flat floor meeting room for large conference plenary sessions, whilst it is hoped to achieve a balcony of smaller 'committee rooms' that will double as corporate lounges overlooking the main sporting surface as well as the unique views out over the Government Gardens and Lake Rotorua.

The location is all important, utilising the existing indoor stadium providing essentially 3 separate large indoor spaces that can operate as a whole or independently as demand requires. The surrounding of the government gardens provides excellent parking, central location to the city and accommodation plus little interference to residential properties.

The views out onto the Rotorua Lake and the Government Gardens will be an important point of difference when selling this facility to potential out of town users.

It is hoped that the building will be open for the start of 2005.

ENDS

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