Media Release

Date released: 7 November 2005

From: The Trusts Stadium, Waitakere City

Research confirms The Trusts Stadium’s patronage is booming…

The Trusts Stadium is on a high having just hosted the sell-out record setting Silver Ferns Test against Australia and having recently received the results of an independent survey conducted to assess the impact The Trusts support of the project has made on the West Auckland community.

The Trusts Stadium has had a significant impact on the community in terms of awareness, attendance, approval and perceived benefit to the community.

“The study confirms what we believed, that The Trusts Stadium since opening in September 2005 has had unprecedented levels of community patronage and approval” says Stadium Chief Executive, Simon Wickham. “We estimate 400,000 visitors have attended events, community sporting competitions and the conference facilities since opening in September 2004."

The research conducted by UMR Research in a study commissioned by “The Trusts” West Auckland’s Portage and Waitakere Licensing Trusts showed:

- 95% of all people that had visited the Stadium rated the facilities as “excellent to good”

- 33% of Waitakere City residents have attended the Stadium in the last year

- 92% of residents are aware of the Stadium

- 83% of residents believe the Stadium brings benefit to the West Auckland region

“The results confirm that the vision of Waitakere City having a World class facility widely used by the community was much more than a pipe dream” says Chairman of The Trusts Stadium Ross Dallow. “We are so pleased that the investment so many community minded organisations and individuals made towards the Stadium is paying excellent dividends. The West is fortunate to have a totally supportive licensing trust and Council, without it we wouldn’t have our Stadium” comments Dallow.

West Auckland Trust Services Chief Executive Murray Spearman noted that The Waitakere and Portage Licensing Trusts got behind this community project from day one as a major contributor alongside Waitakere City Council. Both organisations continue to support the ongoing operation of the Stadium ensuring it remains open to both commercial and community events and users. “The Trusts Stadium has been an exciting venture for The Trusts and to see so many community people using the facility is great news. We strongly support our local community and the Stadium is a key part of our investment back into the West Auckland community” notes Spearman. “It’s great to see so many people making the most of this World class facility in their backyard.”

The Trusts Stadium since opening has hosted a wide range of events, functions, sporting contests and business meetings. Shortly after opening the Stadium hosted New Zealand’s largest annual Dog Show and a few weeks later a large scale fashion exhibition “The Trash to Fashion Awards” showing the versatility of the venue. In the past year the Stadium has played host to All Black trainings, the David Tua International Boxing Heavyweight bout, numerous K1 Oceania kick boxing events, Silver Ferns and Tall Black test matches against Australia and a host of community events such as the Diwali Indian Festival of Light which recently attracted thousands of visitors to the venue. These and many more events took place alongside regular use by Waitakere Basketball, Waitakere Netball, and Waitakere Volleyball Associations and regular "home games" for the Harvey Norman New Zealand Breakers, The Trusts Diamonds and the National Basketball League Champions, the Auckland Waitakere Stars.

The Trusts Stadium’s next community event is the 2005 Trash to Fashion Awards on November 25 and 26. The Harvey Norman NZ Breakers next game at home in The Trusts Stadium is Friday, November 18.

ENDS

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