Dunedin stadium proponents are urging the 1600 people and businesses that registered an interest in buying seats, lounge memberships and corporate boxes at the Otago Stadium to start signing contracts, amid concern about slow sales.
If private funding for the project is not in place by February, the stadium cannot go ahead, and with about 10 weeks to go, only $6.3 million of $44.7 million promised in registrations of interest has been signed up.
That figure excludes sponsorship, and Carisbrook Stadium Trust chairman Malcolm Farry said there was no news yet on that front.
The trust has to raise 60% of the $55 million of private funding it needs by February 2.
Mayor Peter Chin said a contractor and other aspects of the council's resolutions relating to the stadium were on track, but the sales were "not as advanced".
"If you've been supportive, and thus far been quiet, you need to now take the opportunity . . ."
Asked whether the international financial crisis may be keeping wallets in pockets, Mr Chin said such crises were always "the worst they've ever been" according to some.
Mr Farry said payments were not required yet but many people had contracts on their desk which had to be signed and returned to the trust before they could count towards the target.
"Our challenge is simple. Let's join together and get behind the stadium.
"We believe, given that the Otago Stadium project is well advanced, it will be a strong candidate to attract central Government investment as part of regional economic development and New Zealand's preparation for the 2011 Rugby World Cup."
