Dunedin's world cup fan zone might be shifted to the Forsyth
Barr Stadium after the Dunedin City Council decided not to
have it in the Octagon.
Councillors yesterday dropped the $300,000 plan for a
sanctioned central-city fan zone in favour of what they hope
will be a cheaper option at the new stadium.
They also kicked to touch a $30,000 plan to beautify
high-profile areas and a $20,000 plan to offer free public
transport to ticket-holders on game days.
On the fan zone, Mayor Dave Cull reminded councillors Dunedin
had previously committed itself to an open-ended contract to
host matches that looked likely to cost the city money.
The city had dipped into its pocket - and accepted new debt -
to build the stadium, only to find it could not make
additional revenue to help its books.
The Octagon fan zone would cost $300,000, but the prospect of
holding something at the stadium which could cost less was
worth considering.
Councillors asked staff to explore, with Dunedin Venues
Management Ltd, the options for holding big-screen events for
the semifinals and final.
They also wanted to know the revenue the events could
generate, with deputy mayor Chris Staynes hoping it would be
enough to reduce costs and make a free event viable.
Estimates presented to councillors yesterday suggested it
could cost about $74,000 to stage a single, free event
featuring live entertainment and the rugby on a big screen.
That did not include the cost of hiring the stadium - DVML
was likely to offer it rent-free - and did not include the
cost of showing the game.
Marketing and communication team leader Debra Simes said an
accredited fan zone could show the game live without paying a
broadcast fee.
A venue that was not accredited would have to pay for
broadcast rights, even if it simply showed delayed coverage
on free-to-air television.
Forsyth Barr Stadium was not an accredited fan zone - yet -
but there were obvious opportunities for it to sell food and
beverages to recoup costs.
The prospect of unrecoverable costs saw councillors abandon
the Octagon fan zone for locally-focused entertainment paid
from an existing $10,000 budget.
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