Portable pitches shape as the best solution to get the most out of the University of Otago Oval, but come with a potential half-million-dollar price tag.
Cricket and rugby have been locked in a friendly conflict over the use of the venue since the Otago Cricket Association shifted there 14 years ago.
The issue came to a head last season when the club rugby premier semifinals had to be transferred to Hancock Park because the surface was deemed unsatisfactory for premier rugby.
The problem is 30 burly blokes in sprigs can make rather short work of the young grass on the pitch block.
That was evident again during the weekend, when University defeated Taieri 37-11. The players left large muddy patches in their wake.
The pitch block is in much better shape than it was at this stage last year. But the condition of the ground remains a long-term concern, Dunedin City Council parks and cemeteries manager Gareth Jones said.
''In all honesty, it is not ideal,'' Jones said.
''I met with the University Rugby Club [earlier this week] to discuss this because we are not pleased with the current set-up in the sense we want to get as much use as possible.
''It is quite a difficult situation for us because it is both a cricket and rugby ground and the dual-purpose nature of it means it will cut up more than we'd like.
''I am exploring some options with it because I don't know if there is a more feasible option outside of having a drop-in pitch ... which is a huge expense.''
Jones has had some indicative pricing from New Zealand Cricket, and the machinery for the drop-in pitch system would cost the city about $500,000, plus additional annual operating costs of about $50,000.
''Ideally, we would find a solution in between which would allow for fair usage without the huge additional cost.''
It is the home ground for the University Rugby Football Club, but it kept off the field so the ground would be in the best possible condition for an All Blacks' training session last month.
The University premiers have played just two full games at the venue, while a third game had to be shifted partway through the first half after a player got injured.
''Success isn't two or three games a season and we'd certainly like to get more use than that,'' Jones said.
''We've been really appreciative of how Otago Rugby and University have moved themselves off it to allow it to be in the best ... condition for the ABs.
''We want to reward that with getting them on there. We certainly want to make sure it gets as much use as positive and it certainly isn't the result of any lack of attention because it has had a huge amount of work on it.''
