Forsyth Barr Stadium. Photo from ODT files.
How would you like to walk your dog, graze your sheep, or
stroll across the roof of Forsyth Barr Stadium?
These are some of the suggestions people have made to help
the Dunedin City Council increase revenue from and community
use of the struggling stadium.
Last month, Mayor Dave Cull called for suggestions from the
public on how to make the most of the stadium.
People were invited to make their feedback on a website or
through a survey sent to the 625 members of the People's
Panel. The council also contacted more than 220 organisations
that had used the stadium for their views.
The council received 487 responses which will be discussed at
the council's stadium model subcommittee tomorrow.
Many people took the opportunity to make other suggestions
regarding the stadium, including using it as a dog walking
venue (risk of dog faeces in turf means it not an option),
including a climbing wall and swimming pool and using it as
an IMAX theatre (all of which had been considered).
Others were critical about the sound system, food and drink
prices, signage and management.
There were 37 suggestions made on how to increase revenue at
the stadium, a report to the subcommittee said.
Seventy-five respondents suggested a greater variety of
events and use were needed, 24 proposed original stadium
supporters be asked for money and donations, and 23 made
submissions on charging for parking or establishing a
park-and-ride system, which stadium officials were working
on.
Relocating the Otago Regional Council to the east end of the
stadium was suggested by two respondents, as was fundraising
through a sausage sizzle.
The idea of creating a special lottery and creating a walk
across the top of the stadium were both suggestions that
stadium management would consider, the report said.
Ten ideas were proposed on how to reduce costs, with 49
people suggesting reviewing or reducing staff, management and
consultancy costs, and 35 believed more volunteers should be
used.
The most popular idea for increasing community use of the
stadium was by reducing costs for its use (73), followed by
increased promotion (59) and reducing ticket prices (38).
Other suggestions included using it as a sports ground with a
small entry fee when no other events were scheduled and
setting up a website for bookings.
The feedback
- Grow and sell medical
opium or cannabis.
- Convert into indoor
garden.
- Lease pitch for
grazing.
- Tours including a walk
across roof.
- Charge tourists a bed
tax.
- Introduce second-tier
ground membership.
- Create a fund for people
to give towards community events.
- Sell stadium
merchandise.
Source: DCC report
rebecca.fox@odt.co.nz
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