'Shambolic': Crusaders coaches blast Christchurch stadium construction delays

Two Crusaders coaches have blasted the ongoing delays that have halted the construction of a new stadium in Christchurch.

Plans to build an enclosed 30,000-capacity multi-use arena near the city’s centre hit a speed bump last week when it was revealed that the expected cost of its construction had jumped from $533m to $683m.

As such, questions have been raised among city and regional councillors as to who should pay for the venue to be built.

Aotearoa Rugby Pod | Episode 17

Aotearoa Rugby Pod | Episode 17

That, in turn, has resulted in a delay in construction, which was last December scheduled to begin midway through this year and expected to be completed in mid-2025.

Now the stadium won’t be opened until 2026, drawing the ire of Crusaders assistant coach Jason Ryan, who described the situation as “pretty shambolic” to Newstalk ZB on Thursday.

“Somebody’s got to be brave. It’s been something that’s been continually going around in circles,” Ryan said.

“As a citizen of Christchurch, someone who’s lived here all my life, who’s got my family here, I think it’s pretty shambolic to be honest, of how the council are acting.

“I’m not sure [Christchurch Mayor] Lianne Dalziel has ever wanted one. What’s it going to take?

“I feel sorry for kids, I feel sorry for older people that probably don’t want to come to games anymore.”

Ryan’s comments have since been met with criticism by Crusaders chief executive Colin Mansbridge, saying it was “unfair” to lay blame Dalziel, who he said is a “passionate and outspoken” advocate for the stadium’s construction.

“She’s been talking about cracking on, and getting on with it, ever since council took over responsibility, so it’s a bit unfair that she gets singled out,” Mansbridge said, as per the New Zealand Herald.

“From Jason’s perspective, he’s not across the detail [but] he’s right across the frustration about not having an arena here.”

Ryan’s sentiments echo those of Crusaders boss Scott Robertson, who issued a similar message following his side’s Super Rugby Pacific quarter-final win over the Reds.

“Leaders need to be brave, and, if we don’t [build it] now, we’ll be hung out as a public, generation, that’s going to take another period of time,” Robertson said from Orangetheory Stadium last Friday.

“For us, as an organisation, we’re humbled to have a stadium like this to play in, but we’d love to play and fill our stadium up, have 30,000 people turn up to a stadium and enjoy what we can do and bring to life the inner centre of our city because it’s the last piece of the puzzle.

“We’ve been through too much for someone not to be brave, and I think now is the opportunity to do that and all of us enjoy it, because it’s going to be too long, the people want it.”

Robertson’s comments come as the Crusaders continue to play yet another Super Rugby playoffs series at Orangetheory Stadium.

Initially built as a temporary home venue for the serial title-winners a decade ago after the 2011 Christchurch earthquakes wiped out AMI Stadium, formerly known as Lancaster Park and Jade Stadium, Orangetheory Stadium remains the home venue of the Crusaders.

Robertson said that he felt sorry for “grandparents and young kids who probably don’t turn up to the stadium now” because
“it’s just too cold” after his side beat the Reds last week in a match that was attended by a crowd that only half-filled Orangetheory Stadium, which has a capacity of 17,300.

He added that it would be a “massive moment and a massive opportunity lost” if the new arena’s construction was continually delayed as he aired his frustrations on the matter.

“Is it going to be cheaper? No, and we can find reasons not to build it, and leaders don’t. Leaders march on and be brave,” Robertson said.

“If we didn’t have the land, which was gifted to us, or we didn’t have all these things, we didn’t have billions of assets around that the council can draw on to learn from, why are we so stable?

“We always get under pressure and then we have to ask everyone again. We’ve already said yes, didn’t we? We’ve already said yes so many times. Why are we not brave? Why are we showing so much hesitancy? Someone stand up.”

The Crusaders will host the Chiefs in a Super Rugby Pacific semi-final at Orangetheory Stadium on Friday in a match that doubles as Robertson’s 100th game in charge of the franchise.

Victory over the Chiefs would advance the Crusaders into the competition’s final, where they would face either the Blues or Brumbies for a sixth title in as many years under Robertson’s stewardship.