Otago Hockey Association facility and events manager Sam Brown yesterday said a new turf in Dunedin would be, at best, five years away.
"We are still in discussions with DCC, but it has been put on hold at the moment.
"Financially, with the new stadium I think they're running out of money from the pot."
Brown accepts hockey is not the only sport to be suffering in terms of financial help and said the association was aiming to raise funds for a turf "resurface" in the near future.
"Everyone is in the same boat.
"The dream and idea would be to have it done by this summer coming."
He said any financial help from the council for turf improvements so far looked "minimal" but the association would continue its bid to find funding.
Brown, who was appointed in October last year, plans to build Otago hockey from the ground up this year, starting with tomorrow's club open day.
The aim of the open day, in its second year, is to recruit new players who have come to the city to study.
"It's not just for the top level but we are pushing social teams as well," Brown said.
"A lot of uni students come here and want to take a break from serious hockey and still keep their skills up, so our aim is to have everyone signed up for a team.
"If we get less than 40 newbies I'd be a little disappointed," he said.
The OHA has 2000 members from junior level through to premiers. Brown would like to see the numbers increase.
"We want to create Southern as an attractive prospect for young players.
"We want players to come to Dunedin to play hockey and then study, rather than coming to study and playing hockey as an afterthought."
The University of Otago graduate has three aims: increasing junior participation, lifting club hockey standards, and pushing the Southern representative teams in the national league as an attractive option for out-of-town players.
"The club competition in any sport, in any city, is the grass-roots of the game, so lifting that standard is a big priority."
While Brown has his hand in management this year he will also be playing for the Albany club and coaching the Southern women's side.
"It's huge for me. It's really exciting to be coaching at that level."
