The shock closure of Yarrow Stadium in New Plymouth due to earthquake risk will cost Taranaki millions of dollars in lost economic activity.
Photo: RNZ/Robin Martin
The Taranaki Chamber of Commerce estimates the region will take a $10 million hit annually, but the true figure could be even be higher.
The New Plymouth stadium has shut down because geotechnical testing on the ground beneath its West Stand revealed it was a significant earthquake risk. The East Stand also closed in December when it was discovered to be an earthquake risk.
In 2008, Venture Taranaki estimated that rugby in Taranaki generated about $7.5m in revenue annually and contributed about $4.5m dollars in GDP.
It also created about 135 full-time jobs.
And when test football comes to town the impact is multiplied.
The three Rugby World Cup games played in New Plymouth in 2011 pumped more than $16m into the local economy and attracted more than 30,000 visitors.
Taranaki Chamber of Commerce chief executive Arun Chaudhari said there was no doubt the loss of the stadium was a setback.
"It's really hard to quantify but I would guess at least $10 million annually going on the old report that was commissioned by Venture Taranaki.
"It will definitely be a big blow but you have to address public safety so this is the only way to go."
The Taranaki Rugby Football Union is a $4.5m business which generates $2.3m in commercial revenue.
Chief executive Jeremy Parkinson said the loss of Yarrow Stadium put at risk the deals which generated that cash.
"All of those agreements and relationships are tied into some form of hospitality that is linked into the venue which was Yarrow Stadium.
"So effectively Yarrow Stadium underpinned our commercial business."
Mr Parkinson said the Ranfurly Shield holders had been left wondering how to cater for their 750 hospitality guests and 1600 season ticketholders, let alone its walk-up crowd.
When the Taranaki Bulls last held the shield in 2012 they had average home crowds of 10,000.
Mr Parkinson said plans to grow the business were now off the table.
"So the key focus is now just re-housing and finding a solution where we can cater for all those people when it would've been trying to go out and recruit new season ticketholders and to continue to grow the business.
"Now it's scrambling around to find a stadium or a facility where we can go and play and deliver to our current partners."
Small stadiums in Tikorangi, Inglewood and Hāwera were in discussion, but there was no joy in that for Doc van Praagh, co-owner of Crowded House - New Plymouth's official rugby supporters bar.
Mr van Praagh said the loss of big matches would be felt by everyone.
"They're huge for the city, you know, especially accommodation, hospitality, taxi firms, retail everything.
"Everybody gets affected but I'm dumbfounded about how it's got to this. How long's the ground been there? Seventy years. So what's been going on up there, you know?"
People who RNZ spoke to in New Plymouth today were bemused at what had happened at Yarrows.
"It's pretty disappointing. I don't think the stands are that old about 20 years old so that's pretty poor," said Tom Drake.
Jacob Mead was similarly unimpressed.
"I feel like it's about more than just rugby. You need a stadium for events that come to town.
"It's important to get it fixed whether it's rebuilding the stands or whether it's making them move but it needs to get fixed."
Even the province's favourite son Beauden Barrett was feeling the pain at the All Blacks media conference today.
"I've got a lot of fond memories at that ground. It's a bit sad but I'm sure we'll bounce back we're pretty resilient in that province.
"So it's a little setback for a proud province but I'm sure it won't affect the way the boys in amber and black play this season or the support they get."
Neither the Taranaki Regional Council which owns the stadium nor the New Plymouth District Council which manages it were available for an interview today.
In a statement, Taranaki Stadium Trust trustee Mike Nield said geotechnical test were done ahead of the east and west stands being built in 2002 and the analysis fed into their designs.
No such tests were done ahead of a 2011 Rugby World Cup upgrade or recent West Stand hospitality suite revamp.
A $2m package to provide temporary facilities at Yarrow Stadium was approved in April following the closure of the East Stand late last year.
Mr Nield said the package was approved before geotechnical tests on the West Stand were complete because of time pressure ahead of the Mitre 10 Cup which starts in August.
Meanwhile, Taranaki Chamber of Commerce chief executive Arun Chaudhari said there could be a silver lining ... but it would not be in the near future.
"It's a huge economic impact but I'm quite positive that this will give us opportunities to build a brand new stadium and new facility where we can do a lot more than just rugby.
"It's a huge knock but we'll come out stronger."
