Christchurch gets new home for entertainment and sporting events

Today's Government announcement about funding for Council-owned Rugby League Park will provide Christchurch with a much-needed venue to host entertainment and sporting events.

Mayor Bob Parker says the upgraded Christchurch Temporary Stadium is fantastic news for our city.

"The earthquakes devastated a number of our sporting venues, leaving sporting codes and entertainment events without a home.  I am delighted with the initiative to develop Rugby League Park, which will ultimately ensure Christchurch will again be able to host sporting fixtures and special entertainment events," he says.

Mr Parker says the Council front-footed getting this development off the ground with the announcement in September that it would contribute a million dollars to the upgrade of Rugby League Park. 

He says the funding from Government will allow the people of Christchurch to once again have some fun and entertainment at a multi-purpose venue. 

"The development of this temporary stadium means the city will again be able to provide Crusader and Canterbury rugby teams with a home ground. The park will also be able to host matches that would previously have been played at AMI Stadium, including All Black tests, New Zealand Warriors and other NRL games, ITM Cup matches and finals and Phoenix and Football A League matches, " he says.

"This venue will be such an asset to a city getting back on its feet and it will benefit not only sports fans, but the whole community."

Mr Parker says the Government funding will provide Christchurch with a new temporary facility, while we wait to hear about the future of other venues across the city, such as QEII and AMI Stadium.

He says there are number of people who have helped make this park development possible.

" We are very grateful to the support of Canterbury Rugby Football League for its role in helping this development possible. I would also like to gratefully acknowledge the Government's financial support in this venture, as it will give us all a place to enjoy some of the lighter sides of life, and it will certainly help put a smile on the faces of a deserving community."

For further information contact:
Jocelyn Ritchie
Media Adviser
027 241 0244