Fire, But No Smoke at Eden Park

Fire, But No Smoke at Eden Park

Eden Park Trust Board

Friday 15 February 2008

For immediate release

The players may be on fire at Eden Park, but there will be no smoke. Now that the stadium is smokefree, the only thing fans attending the double-header sporting weekend will be breathing in is the party atmosphere.

Operations Manager John Strawbridge says since the stadium went smokefree at the beginning of the year, non-smoking patrons have enjoyed the smokefree air, while those who smoke have been gracious in moving to areas set aside for smoking before lighting up.

From 1 January patrons have been asked not to smoke in any part of the stadium, including outdoors, other than in designated smoking areas.

“Going smokefree is about giving fans a smokefree environment in which to enjoy their sport. We know that young people are less likely to start to smoke if they don't see others smoking – so it’s about keeping our young fans smokefree too.

“Most people would rather watch sporting events away from others’ tobacco smoke, and smokers generally don't want to cause offence.”

Smokefree environments are becoming the norm in New Zealand and internationally. Westpac Stadium in Wellington is smokefree, and Mt Smart Stadium went smokefree last year in all seating areas for Warriors games and events.

An August survey found 80 per cent of respondents supported smokefree seating at Mt Smart. Fifteen per cent said the move was ‘very good’ and 65 per cent rated it as ‘excellent’.

The Eden Park smokefree initiative is driven by the Eden Park Trust Board and has support from Auckland Rugby and Auckland Cricket. It has the backing of the Auckland Regional Council, Auckland Regional Public Health, the Cancer Society, Heart Foundation, Health Sponsorship Council, Action on Smoking and Health, Te Hotu Manawa Maori, Te Reo Marama, Smokefree Coalition, the Public Health Association and the Stroke Foundation.

ENDS

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