Carisbrook Stadium Trust chairman Malcolm Farry told the Otago Daily Times last week a farmers market was planned for the stadium, and he had held receptive talks about relocating with the organisers of the city's existing Saturday morning farmers market.
But Otago Farmers Market Trust chairman Paul Crack distanced the organisation from the claims on Thursday, saying the trust had no plan to shift from its Dunedin Railway Station site.
Customers at the market on Saturday were mostly against the idea, and stallholders were split, with many interested in an under-cover option, more space and parking, and others concerned about the loss of tradition and ambience if the market moved from the historic precinct.
"It's lovely here, it's handy to town and it's nice walking past the station and the garden there to get here," regular market shopper Keith McInnes said.
His comments were echoed by other shoppers the ODT spoke to at the market on Saturday.
Many thought the market should stay where it was because of its ambience and proximity to the centre of the city.
"I like the cosy atmosphere, the train station is part of the character, the space may be a bit tight, but that keeps people warm," Lockie Neumann said.
"Is that an April Fools' joke?" asked one shopper, who said she was anti-stadium.
Moving the market to the stadium would destroy the market's ambience, which was what drew many people to it, she said.
"With all the old buildings, it's got a nice old feel and adds to the authenticity."
Another shopper, Jane Leahy, said the market could be "really nice" in Awatea St.
"It would be a different atmosphere. It would be a change, but change isn't all bad."
Most stallholders said more space would be good.
Those who thought relocating to the stadium would be a good idea were in favour of better working conditions, including having power, protection from the weather, more parking and space for more and bigger stalls.
"The market's success has exceeded all expectations, it needs to move to a bigger site," Margaret Gordon, of Elderslea Orchard, said.
Being so exposed to the elements was difficult for stallholders and customers at the railway station site.
Many stallholders said the weather was an issue for the market.
However, those in favour said any new market would have to be right.
"This is the equivalent of the old-fashioned village green.
People don't just come here to shop, they come here to meet people," Havoc Pork stallholder Linda McCallum-Jackson said.
"I wouldn't be interested unless it was better than this," she said.
Lamb vendor Rob Ottrey said the more uses the stadium had, the better.
Coffee vendor Olivier Lequeux said he found the idea appalling.
"It's terrible. Any market anywhere in the world is always close to the centre of town. It just doesn't make sense."
