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All Blacks to mark milestone event

Media Release

 

Released: 2 June 2010

 

All Blacks to mark milestone event at The Trusts Stadium

The first hinged floodlights installation in New Zealand is complete and will be officially opened Thursday, 3 June 2010

Five years after opening The Trusts Stadium Arena, The All Blacks will commemorate another milestone in the Stadium’s development with the official opening of the new Floodlights that will be used for the Rugby World Cup when the West Auckland venue hosts the All Blacks, Australia and England.

“The floodlights signify a commitment of the Waitakere City Stadium Trust to develop for the community iconic versatile facilities, debt free and appropriate for our community” says Stadium Chief Executive, Simon Wickham. ‘It’s great to have a New Zealand first using the latest lighting and construction technology to complete this project on budget and debt free”.

The Stadium Trust raised more than $10 million towards the Grandstand and Floodlight project with significant investment from Waitakere City Council and The Trusts (Waitakere and Portage Licensing Trusts) right down to several local businesses and private donations towards the project.  “The community donations have been a feature since day one” notes Wickham, “the generous support from many local businesses such as Douglas Pharmaceuticals and the bequests and grants from several funding agencies have once again assisted the Stadium Trust open another great facility for Auckland and Waitakere”

The Floodlights are a first of their kind in New Zealand developed with a unique hinge mechanism that means no cranes were necessary for installation by Fel Group and maintenance costs will be kept down by a unique hinge and hydraulic system that enables each pole to be dropped to the ground for lamp replacement and maintenance.

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Fel Group Director James Evans says “to be involved from specification along to installation in such a World Class project made us really proud.  We were pleased to be involved in a New Zealand first and believe this is the way of the future for field lighting in New Zealand.  Keeping stakeholders informed and happy throughout ensured a successful installation at a great facility”.

Waitakere City Stadium Trust have led the development of the recently completed 3000 seat grandstand facility and new floodlights on site at The Trusts Stadium in Waitakere City, Auckland. 

“The grandstand and floodlight development has been mooted for many years amongst various groups in the city and we’re delighted to bring this idea to fruition” says Stadium Trust Chairman Ross Dallow.  “The grandstand and floodlights compliment the award winning indoor arena on site that has played host to many events since opening including the New World Netball World Championships and several international concerts and performances.”

“With a World class facility such as the Douglas Track and Field on site the grandstand seemed an obvious need and we believe it will fill an important gap in wider Auckland’s sporting and event facilities for crowds of 2000-8000” notes The Trusts Stadium Chief Executive Simon Wickham. “Alongside our already successful indoor arena the wider site now offers some outstanding opportunities for indoor and outdoor event promoters that we hope will bring new events for Waitakere residents and all Aucklanders to enjoy”.

Stadium Trust Chairman Ross Dallow also notes “The Stadium has proved very good for the young people of this region as we are much more than just an events centre, we host more than 250,000 visitors for local sport and recreation across almost every day of the year with just about every local school using the facility every year. Sport builds good citizens for the future and I am very, very proud of all the opportunities that this Stadium is giving to youngsters in our region.” 

The Grandstand development at The Trusts Stadium is expected to add to the already valuable contribution the Waitakere community has seen in terms of social, economic and wider community benefit from the World class facilities the city has.

The opening night event kicks off at 5.30pm with the All Blacks training for an hour before a public autograph session followed by local athletes from the Waitakere City Athletic Club competing and a local rugby match between home club Waitakere City Rugby Club and their Eden counterparts.

Entry will be free for all public from across Auckland.

ENDS

© Scoop Media

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