It has been dubbed "Our Stadium" but Southlanders were staying away from a presentation about the Awatea St Stadium, resulting in a smaller venue for the Invercargill public forum and a cancellation of a free breakfast in Gore.
While organisers were expecting more than 250 people to attend the presentation by trust chairman Malcolm Farry today, only 35 people had registered for the public forum, forcing a last-minute venue change by the Southland Chamber of Commerce.
The trip south by Mr Farry was an effort to drum up support for the stadium, and detail some of the packages available.
"We want everyone south of the Waitaki to believe they have ownership in the stadium," Mr Farry said last week.
He could not be reached for contact yesterday.
Chamber chief executive Richard Hay said about 250 people had been expected to attend the presentation at the Invercargill Working Men's Club, but a lack of interest meant finding a smaller venue.
The 6pm presentation would now be held in the Chamber of Commerce conference room, which was able to seat up to 50 people, he said.
The breakfast presentation, which had been planned to be held in Gore tomorrow morning, has also been cancelled.
Gore District Council mayor Tracy Hicks said he was surprised to learn the breakfast had been cancelled and suggested a lack of publicity may have caused that.
