Christchurch disaster puts a dampener on World Cup legacy

It was with sadness a couple of weeks ago that I read that Christchurch’s 44,000-seater AMI Stadium (or ‘Stadium Christchurch’ as it is blandly known for Rugby World Cup sponsorship reasons) will not be able to host any of this autumn’s (southern spring’s) tournament.

I realise, of course, that there were far greater tragedies that resulted from the earthquake that struck the city in February. I have friends who live in Christchurch, and while they were thankfully unharmed, the scenes of devastation were made all the more real. There was almost an unprecedented loss of life for New Zealand.

Considering all that, it may seem trivial to comment on World Cup stadia. However, it would have been a great demonstration that Christchurch was back on its feet and reopen for business had the stadium (right) been made ready for the tournament. As it is, the city will now largely miss out on the expected national windfall of US$545 million. But I am no structural engineer; I of course submit to their assessments.

Stadiums in Dunedin and Auckland will take some of Christchurch’s games; both are decent arenas, although Auckland is now lined up to host two quarter-finals, both semi-finals, the third-place play-off and the final itself. It puts complaints about using Wembley for the FA Cup semis into some perspective.

The other grounds hosting relocated games are no great shakes. They were all due to host games anyway, but more minor ones than they will now bear witness to. Rugby Park, Invercargill (below), with a capacity of just 17,000, will now play host to the Scotland-Georgia fixture, which has been pushed out of Dunedin to make way for an England game (the Scots cannot be too impressed by that). Trafalgar Park in Nelson, another tiny ground by international standards with room for just 16,000 spectators, will take a greater role, as will North Harbour Stadium in Albany, Greater Auckland. Albany’s stadium, which holds 25,000, has one fantastic stand; unfortunately, that is pretty much its only stand.

These three grounds will be more than happy to step into the vacuum caused by the Christchurch disaster, and it is a great opportunity both for the development of the regional economies and to be put beamed into living rooms and bars across the world. Unfortunately, the boost received by Invercargill, Nelson and North Harbour is predicated on the rather depressing sight of a great stadium, which I was lucky enough to watch a Super 14 match at in 2008, lying empty. It is another blow to Christchurch and its people. Hopefully the All Blacks can give them something to cheer.