Auckland has missed out on concerts by Bon Jovi, Phil Collins, Eminem and Billy Joel this year because the rules governing Eden Park are too strict, the park's management says.
The backers of a privately funded multipurpose stadium proposed for Auckland's waterfront said the city was missing out on world-class entertainment because it did not have the right venue.
If the new stadium went ahead, it would be with private money and the developers would have the right to bowl Eden Park and develop the land.
But Eden Park Trust Board chief executive Nick Sautner said it was not Eden Park that was the problem, but the strict rules governing it.
Only six concerts were allowed a year.
It was sad to turn away the several international acts that had tried to come to Eden Park, he said.
Auckland leaders have begun expressing strong opinions about the proposal to build a new stadium after details were released on Thursday.
The Auckland Chamber of Commerce has called the plan "exciting'', while a senior councillor has spoken out against the scheme.
An engineer who specialises in underwater developments has panned the project as an impractical, unrealistic and ``incredibly expensive'' dream.
The proposal is to build a $1.8 billion stadium alongside Bledisloe Wharf.
Its top would be level with Quay St, at about 4.5m above the king tide level, and its base would be 28m below sea level.
The Waterfront Consortium, which is behind the scheme, says the stadium would be built at no cost to ratepayers and taxpayers.
It would be funded by the consortium being given the rights to build housing on 9ha at Eden Park and develop Bledisloe Wharf with apartments, commercial buildings and public space.
Chamber of Commerce chief executive Michael Barnett said the idea of the stadium was ``exciting'' and now was the time to celebrate the creative minds and ``dreamers'' behind the design.
"I think anybody that has a vision that looks at Auckland and looks to enhance what we are doing and where we are going is a great thing.''
Although initial plans said there would be no funding from taxpayers and ratepayers, it would be ``inevitable'' that they would end up making some payment.
Auckland Council planning committee chairman Chris Darby said Auckland did not need a new or totally refurbished stadium until the 2030s.
He was ``not seduced by the promise of a free, gifted stadium on the waterfront - there will always be hooks to the `free stadium' suggestion, with value transfer from cashing up Eden Park being the first conditional hook''.
Engineer Mike Murphy said: ``It's nice to dream.
However, in the real world, the practicalities of building a huge stadium submerged 28m below sea level are huge, and incredibly expensive.''
All Black great Sir John Kirwan said while Eden Park held many beautiful memories for him, it was time for a change.
"It's past its use-by date ... I just think Auckland would really benefit from having a world class stadium. It's like boxing with the big boys.''
The Waterfront Consortium said Aucklanders no longer wanted to watch rugby in the rain or miss out on top acts and a new stadium would fix that, boosting the economy.
- RNZ and NZME
