Stadium

Forsyth Barr Stadium won an excellence award in the tourism and leisure category at the 2012 Property Council New Zealand Industry Awards in Auckland last night.

A Dunedin family says ticket pricing for the All Blacks-South Africa test in September has put the game out of reach for them and many others in Otago.

The Otago Regional Council will consider cutting Forsyth Barr Stadium's estimated rates bill by more than half to $74,900 at its meeting tomorrow.

The University of Otago has questioned the inclusion of $900,000 the Dunedin City Council spent on the western wall of Forsyth Barr Stadium as "unexpected costs", saying it was part of the council's budget for the project "from day 1".

Dunedin ratepayers have been spared paying about $100 million in additional interest on the city's $117.6 million stadium debt after councillors voted to reduce the loan term from 40 years to 23.

Dunedin is pressing ahead with a bid to host part of the Fifa under-20 World Cup in 2015, despite concerns about uncertain costs associated with the tournament.

Brendan Eathorne is not so superstitious that he has to put his gumboots on in a particular order, start his lawn mower within three pulls, or avoid stepping on the white lines when going on to the field at Forsyth Barr Stadium.

It remains unclear whether a possible Coldplay concert in Dunedin was discussed between promoters and venue management.

The public will have a say over future uses of the Forsyth Barr Stadium, after a feisty Dunedin City Council meeting yesterday.

Stadium opponent Bev Butler feels vindicated, and is calling for councillors who supported it to resign, plus forensic audits and an independent inquiry.