Ed Sheeran, oil painting by Belfast based artist Colin Davidson
[thesun.co.uk | press association]
### The Sun 3 May 2017, 12:25 AM Updated: 4 May 2017, 12:13 AM Ed Ringer: Chart-topper Ed Sheeran immortalised in painting unveiled at the National Portrait Gallery
By Ben Leo
Chart-topping Ed Sheeran is top of the arts too as he stands next to the National Portrait Gallery’s new painting of him. The London venue already has a photograph of the music star on display and has now acquired his first portrait. Ed, 26, posed for three hours for sketches and photos for Colin Davidson’s oil painting after the Irish artist met the musician’s art historian dad John. The artist said : “When painting a portrait I am looking for the moment when the person is almost unaware of me being there and I feel I got it with Ed. Read more
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Ed Sheeran Published on Feb 23, 2017 Ed Sheeran – Castle On The Hill & Shape Of You feat. Stormzy [Live from the Brit Awards 2017]
Album ÷.
Ed Sheeran will play three concerts in Dunedin next year.
### ODT Online Mon, 5 Jun 2017 Legal risks in hosting fans, adviser warns
By Chris Morris
Dunedin homeowners hoping for an Airbnb windfall by hosting fans of Ed Sheeran and the British and Irish Lions are being urged to consider the legal risks. The city will throw its doors open to thousands of travelling fans when the Lions take on the Highlanders on June 13 and when pop superstar Ed Sheeran arrives for the first of three concerts in March next year. And, with Dunedin’s commercial accommodation already straining under the pressure, many of those visiting the city would turn to websites such as Airbnb to find a house or room to rent. But the peer-to-peer accommodation service’s rapid rise was not without legal risks, and homeowners needed to be aware of them […] Since the arrival of the new Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, anyone using a site such as Airbnb to rent out their property was considered a “PCBU” – a “person conducting a business or an undertaking”. That meant they had to comply with the requirements of the new legislation, or face a potential Worksafe prosecution if their negligence led to a guest being injured or killed… Read more
Received.
Another repetitive chore for Mr Cameron while he remains in office.
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From: Bev Butler Sent: Wednesday, 14 December 2016 12:06 p.m. To: Glenda McGowan [Delta]; Grady Cameron [Delta] Subject: Fw: Urgent LGOIMA Request: Delta/Aurora dangerous power poles – reason for financial restraints/invoices further details
Wednesday 14 December 2016
Dear Ms McGowan and Mr Cameron
I wish to follow up further on some of the attached invoices.
The following was reported in the ODT (28/11/16):
“On the issue of the corporate suite, Mr Cameron said like any large business, “from time to time we host our customers to strengthen the working relationships”.
In the past financial year, Delta spent about $9000 on food and beverage hosting customers at the suite…….”
In light of Mr Cameron’s comments in the ODT, there are a number of invoices on which I request further information as follows:
1. Carisbrook Stadium Trust Invoice PSF-26, dated 5 December 2009, 10 Lounge Club Memberships $40,000+gst. Please state the names of those who have access to the 10 Lounge Memberships paid for by Delta. I note on the Forsyth Barr Stadium website the following: “As a Member of Forsyth Barr Stadium you can attend any of our scheduled events and take in the view from your own designated premium seat in the Speight’s Stand (South).”
This is obviously 10 premium seats in the Speight’s Stand on top of the seating in the Delta corporate suite.
2. Invoice 1343, dated 29/06/2012, Highlanders vs Chiefs includes Beverage $711.30+gst and 20 3 course meals @ $67.00 = $1340+gst.
How many of these guests were:
(a) Delta management staff
(b) Other Delta staff
(c) Delta directors
(d) DCHL directors
(e) Mayor and/or councillors
(f) DCC executive management team
(g) DCC staff
(h) Carisbrook Stadium Trustees (CST trustees/rich listers have reputation for receiving ‘gifts’ of tickets/catered meals at the expense of the ratepayers)
Received from Calvin Oaten
Sat, 28 Nov 2015 at 5:35 p.m.
—
—–Original Message—– From: Calvin Oaten Sent: Sunday, 1 November 2015 10:10 a.m. To: Sandy Graham Cc: Dave Cull; Sue Bidrose Subject: [LGOIMA] Request
Hello Sandy,
I have been reading the annual reports of Dunedin Venues Management Ltd (DVML) and am somewhat uncertain as to the true position regarding the matter of charges/fees for the use of the Stadium. We were given a detailed report in the 2014/15 Annual Plan wherein it [was] disclosed that the DCC/ratepayers would be making a one off lump sum of $2.271m to DVML by way of calling up unpaid capital. Then there is to be $715k per annum paid also by way of calling up unpaid capital. An event attraction fund of $400k per annum, source ratepayers? These two annual sums are I believe revenue to DVML. We won’t talk about the later decision to fund $2m per annum as a rent subsidy to DVL, due to DVML’s inability to meet the $4m rent required towards DVL’s debt reduction.
There is no mention of the Stadium in the 2015/16 Annual Plan with any reference to funding shortfalls even though both DVML and DVL continue to run deficits.
Zeroing in on sports events held in the Stadium (because that is its primary purpose) I see that in 2013 there was (sic) 44 events attracting 205,511 attendees.
In 2014 there were 39 with 206,123 there and in 2015 for 33 events 174,575 turned out in support.
DVML showed revenue of $6.085m in 2012 and $8.205m in 2013. These were of the Stadium only, thereafter it includes the Edgar Centre, the DCC Convention Centre plus the Ice Stadium management. This brought about an increase in revenue to $9.127m for 2014 and $9.960m in 2015. Similar pattern for the operating expenses over those same years.
In order to enable one to get an assessment of where these obviously inadequate revenues come from I would request under the [LGOIMA] the following points;
1. The main events being rugby, which of the ORFU, the Highlander Franchise or the NZRFU staged what events over those years? What was the rental received by DVML from those respective bodies per event and do they figure in the revenue statements?
2. What was the amount of revenue received from the other lesser codes which used the same facilities?
With respect to the Operating Expenses outlined in the reports, 2012 as $3.862m, 2013 $3.589m, 2014 $4.361m and 2015 $5.407m.
1. Of those expenses I would request under the [LGOIMA] the amounts of those expenses which could be described as paid inducements or subsidies to perform in the Stadium, albeit sports and concerts?
I trust that this information could be made available within the statutory twenty-one days and thank you in anticipation.
Cheers,
Calvin Oaten
—
Terry Davies, DVML Chief Executive [via whatifdunedin]
From: Terry Davies Subject: FW: [LGOIMA] Request Date: 27 November 2015 3:53:09 pm NZDT To: Calvin Oaten
Dear Mr Oaten
I refer to your email dated 1 November which has been referred to DVML to respond. I have responded directly to your questions below:
1. The main events being rugby, which of the ORFU, the Highlander Franchise or the [NZRU] staged what events over those years? What was the rental received by DVML from those respective bodies per event and do they figure in the revenue statements? The rental received for these events is withheld under section 7(2)(h) and (i) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 to allow DVML to carry out commercial activities without prejudice or disadvantage.
2. What was the amount of revenue received from the other lesser codes which used the same facilities? The revenue received for these events is withheld under section 7(2)(h) and (i) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 to allow DVML to carry out commercial activities without prejudice or disadvantage.
With respect to the Operating Expenses outlined in the reports, 2012 as $3.862m, 2013 $3.589m, 2014 $4.361m and 2015 $5.407m.
1. Of those expenses I would request under the [LGOIMA] the amounts of those expenses which could be described as paid inducements or subsidies to perform in the Stadium, albeit sports and concerts? The expenses incurred and event attraction funding for these events is withheld under section 7(2)(h) and (i) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 to allow DVML to carry out commercial activities without prejudice or disadvantage.
You are entitled to have this decision reviewed by the Ombudsman.
Yours sincerely
Terry Davies
———————————————
From: Calvin Oaten Subject: Fwd: [LGOIMA] Request Date: 28 November 2015 12:08:46 am NZDT To: Sue Bidrose
Hello Sue,
You will have been aware of my queries expressed recently via the [LGOIMA], re the DVML revenue [breakdown].
Well I would have to say that the reply as received is totally underwhelming. This would have to be the most condescending, snivelling, performance by a highly positioned manager one could expect. Hiding behind a clause in a flawed piece of legislation to deny a citizen stakeholder information which ought to be available, on the grounds that it would compromise the company in carrying out its business without prejudice or disadvantage is nothing but
a complete ‘cop-out’ by a less than forthright person. Unless there is detail showing activities detrimental to achieving maximum returns to the company, then I find it a disingenuous and rude dismissal of an honest request.
Sue, I am dissatisfied with his response but if you think it is the way it should lie, then I would be deeply disappointed. I would appreciate your comments as I treat this as a serious affront.
Cheers,
Calvin
[ends]
—
█ In other developments, ICC felt the need to secure games for its stadium. What have Terry Davies, (“make it work”) Dave Cull and Sue Bidrose been up to in behind ?
### ODT Online Fri, 27 Nov 2015 Rugby: Highlanders private investors revealed (+ video)
A group of South Island private investors has been granted a five-year licence to run the Highlanders. The group, headed by Ticket Direct boss Matthew Davey, has taken a 77% stake in the Dunedin-based Super Rugby franchise, with Otago, Southland and North Otago Provincial Unions having a 13% stake. New Zealand Rugby (NZR) retains a 10% share for the first two years. Read more
Otago Daily Times Published on Nov 26, 2015
Highlanders private investors revealed
29.11.15 ODT: Rugby: New operators for Highlanders
The Invercargill City Council has underwritten the venture to the tune of up to $500,000 in return for one guaranteed game at Rugby Park each year for the next five years.
29.11.15 ODT: Canadian finds his ticket to success
Matthew Davey says the Highlanders helped make him – now he is ready to help return the favour. The Dunedin businessman says he started the company he founded, Ticket Direct, at Carisbrook in 1999, and it has since grown into a multinational entity based in Dunedin.
ON TOP OF TICKET PRICES
RATEPAYERS PAY TO GET ACTS TO F.U.B.A.R. STADIUM
An insider said DVML paid $350,000 to get Rod Stewart here.
No doubt it was more.
The stadium is costing ratepayers +$20M pa to stay open.
ODT mentions FLOOD, in a SEA OF COUNCIL DEBT.
—
The rising value of New Zealand’s dollar against the Australian had closed the profit gap for promoters considering whether to cross the Tasman or add another Sydney show.
### ODT Online Sat, 11 Apr 2015 Sellout gets promoters’ full attention
By Chris Morris
Australasia’s biggest promoters are promising more big acts as Dunedin’s concert drought threatens to become a flood. Michael Gudinski once vowed never to return to Dunedin. But, more than three years after the accomplished Australian music promoter slammed the “completely unprofessional” managers at Forsyth Barr Stadium, he is back. Mr Gudinski is the man behind Frontier Touring, the company bringing Rod Stewart to Dunedin for tonight’s stadium concert. Read more
****
IS NICK SMITH PAYING THE PROMOTERS TO BE HERE
### ODT Online Sat, 11 Apr 2015 City in line for more top acts
By Chris Morris
Promoters for some of the world’s top musical performers say Dunedin is now firmly on the radar as a destination for a steady stream of headline acts. The glowing endorsement comes as Forsyth Barr Stadium prepares to host 25,000 fans at tonight’s Rod Stewart show. The concert, being brought to Dunedin by Frontier Touring, has also attracted three of Australasia’s top music promoters to Dunedin, eager to evaluate the event and the venue. Read more
*ODT understands Stewart is staying at the Scenic Hotel Southern Cross in High St, and that he arrived on Thursday night.
DVML bought Rod Stewart for $350,000. It’s SO not the same.
Mmmm. Mt Smart. [Wanna excite a girl?]
The Rolling Stones! Icing on cake, great Aussie band Hunters & Collectors.
The Rolling Stones Published on Oct 5, 2014
New Zealand – The Rolling Stones are heading your way!
Ladies and Gentleman they are back! The Rolling Stones are ready to make their long awaited return to New Zealand. Following the sell-out European leg of the 14 ON FIRE tour, the most eagerly anticipated concert in years takes to the road for one big show in New Zealand at Auckland’s Mt Smart Stadium on 22 November.
The Rolling Stones 14 ON FIRE continues the exhilarating celebration of the band’s five decades, with Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts and Ronnie Wood bringing their iconic music and ground-breaking stage shows to audiences around the globe. Mick Taylor, former guitarist with the band from 1969-1974, will be a special guest.
14 ON FIRE hit Europe this summer travelling to sell-out venues and festivals across the continent on the tour. Critics praised The Rolling Stones shows as the “concert of a lifetime.”
Special guests have also been confirmed as rock group Hunters & Collectors.
Dunedin City Council released the following report through the LGOIMA process, in reply to Bev Butler who lodged an information request.
The report by independent auditors Crowe Horwath investigates the work expenses of DVML’s ex Commercial Manager, then part-time contractor Guy Hedderwick.
Dunedin City Council has released a report recently completed by independent auditors Crowe Horwath, into the work expenses of DVML’s ex Commercial Manager then part-time contractor Guy Hedderwick. ODT reporter Chris Morris is covering the story.
—
[Received]
Readers of this site will recall the efforts that campaigner Bev Butler went through to track down the expenditure incurred by Guy Hedderwick while he was the Commercial Manager for Dunedin Venues Management Ltd (DVML).
After much effort through the LGOIMA process Ms Butler was told that Mr Hedderwick had run up bills of nearly $80,000 during 51 work-related trips since 2010.
Readers will also recall the reaction by Neville Frost, DVML’s Finance Manager (ODT 22.3.14), who labelled Ms Butler’s claims of this expenditure as “completely inaccurate and ill-informed” while accusing her of “disgraceful” conduct and that she was “lacking in personal integrity”.
Readers should now be fully informed that the figure of nearly $80,000 was indeed incorrect. The figure arrived at in the report compiled by Crowe Horwath is $144,879 – the amount released by Mr Frost in response to Ms Butler’s LGOIMA request has nearly doubled.
Readers should also be informed that the report found there was almost $4,000 spent by Mr Hedderwick with no evidence of what it was spent on; and a total of over $34,000 with no evidence of any approval.
City ratepayers now need real answers to some basic questions.
1. Why, when Neville Frost was required to provide accurate information under an LGOIMA request on Guy Hedderwick’s expenditure, did he provide information that was inaccurate and misleading? Readers should not need to be reminded that when Steve Prescott, Manager of Aquatic Facilities at the DCC, did just this recently he resigned.
2. Now that the full extent of Guy Hedderwick’s spending has been revealed by the Crowe Horwath report, can DVML still maintain as Neville Frost did in his press release, that it was “frugal”?
3. What is DVML doing to obtain refunds from Guy Hedderwick on those sums incurred where there was no approval, or where there was no evidence of what the expenditure was for? For expenditure where there was no approval, is Neville Frost or Darren Burden at fault for lack of oversight and lack of management, and if so, should they be also responsible for repayment?
4. What benefit to DVML and the ratepayers occurred from this $144,879 expenditure? Guy Hedderwick seems to have had carte blanche to travel at his own whim and it appears that DVML can’t point to any general or particular benefit from any of it.
5. What accountability will be enforced by DCC, on behalf of the ratepayers, on the actions of Guy Hedderwick, for Neville Frost’s failure to both financially control this expenditure and to mislead and misinform both Bev Butler as the LGOIMA requestee and the general public by the content of his press release, and on the Board for its failures to contain costs?
6. A full, comprehensive and public apology must be obtained from Neville Frost for his disgraceful and inaccurate statements made in his press release of March 22, 2014.
Note: Thanks to Bev Butler and Russell Garbutt for these statements.
● DVML chief executive Darren Burden leaves 24 December, takes up rival role in Christchurch.
● Former DVML commercial manager Guy Hedderwick now part-time contractor, works from Adelaide.
### ODT Online Sat, 30 Nov 2013 Stadium defections, bookings prompt review
By Chris Morris
The board overseeing Dunedin’s Forsyth Barr Stadium has launched a management review amid high-profile defections and concerns the entertainment cupboard for this summer is ”a little bit bare”. Dunedin Venues Management Ltd board chairman Sir John Hansen, speaking to the Otago Daily Times, had a blunt message for music fans hoping for a stadium-filling concert this summer. Read more
### stuff.co.nz Last updated 05:00 03/06/2012 Dunedin’s House of Blame
By Steve Kilgallon
The prospect of yet more glittering new stadiums being constructed by ambitious city fathers – as being debated right now in Christchurch and Auckland – is met with scorn by some in Dunedin, where the saga of the Forsyth Barr Stadium has left a city divided and its ratepayers facing vast debts. Read more
### ODT Online Sat, 7 Sep 2013 Two free concerts today
By Nigel Benson
Dunedin music celebrates its own with two free concerts today.
Music promoter Dunedinmusic.com is marking its eighth anniversary with the gift of music.
A free all-ages concert will start at 2pm, followed by a licensed evening show at 7.30pm, both at Refuel bar.
”We’re celebrating the extraordinary musical talent that resides here in Dunedin, and it’s also our way of saying thanks to the many, many people involved in our community.”
The all-ages concert is on from 2pm to 5.30pm and the licensed concert from 7.30pm till 1.30am.
[what sort of music, you ask?] Read more
Leonard Cohen plans to visit New Zealand in December. Photo / AP
### nzherald.co.nz 6:45 AM Tuesday Jul 30, 2013 Tour news: Leonard Cohen to play three NZ shows
Leonard Cohen has announced a full New Zealand tour in December, taking in the country’s three major cities. Cohen – who last played here in October, 2010 to packed venues – will perform in Christchurch on December 14, Wellington on December 17, and Auckland on December 21. Cohen will be performing with his nine-piece band that includes Sharon Robinson, the Webb Sisters and musical director Roscoe Beck. Read more
“The entire complex is now known as the Dunedin Centre.”
● Dunedin Town Hall will always be known as Dunedin Town Hall, not a flower by another name !!!!
● Godsakes, ditch DVML as the venue operator !!!!
● UPDATE 24.4.13 – Major stuff up. DVML mismanages Town Hall seating plan for Anzac Day Revue. Those with prebooked seats will be treated as general admission. ODT
The doors don’t open to the public until Thursday, but the redeveloped Dunedin Centre has already got bookings through until May 2015.
Some large events are already booked, including national and international conferences such as the Ingenium Conference and the 5th Global Botanic Gardens Congress. There are also concert bookings by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Music New Zealand and the Southern Sinfonia, as well as bookings for school formals, graduations, weddings and private functions.
Invited guests will join Mayor of Dunedin Dave Cull in a low-key civic ceremony on Wednesday morning to celebrate the Dunedin Centre’s new lease of life. The first performance will be the Dunedin RSA Choir performance in the Town Hall on Anzac Day.
Mr Cull says, “The Dunedin Centre complex is very much an events centrepiece for our city and it’s great to see there are a number of bookings already.”
About $45 million has been spent over several years upgrading and renovating the existing Dunedin Centre/Town Hall and Municipal Chambers (work on the latter was completed in August 2011). The entire complex is now known as the Dunedin Centre.
Key elements of the overall upgrade include linkages between all buildings to enable people to move easily within what is now an integrated convention centre. There will be lift access to all Dunedin Centre and Town Hall floors, including the Town Hall ceiling, as well as major technology upgrades, new kitchen facilities, new conference/function spaces and new toilets. Another key feature of the redevelopment is a raft of sophisticated behind-the-scenes improvements, which mean the buildings now meet regulations in areas such as fire protection, health and safety, ventilation and access. Read more
Band begins ramping up, but sources say Keith’s health is a concern
### rollingstone.com March 14, 2012 10:00 AM ET Stones’ 50th Anniversary Tour Pushed Back to 2013
By Patrick Doyle
REUTERS/Andrea Comas /Landov
The Rolling Stones will not tour to mark their 50th anniversary this year, Rolling Stone has learned after separate interviews with Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. “Basically, we’re just not ready,” says Richards. Instead, 2013 is the new goal. “I have a feeling that’s more realistic,” he adds.
A top concert-business source confirms the reservations over Richards’ condition. “They don’t want to do a full tour,” he says. “They don’t want to travel, and there are concerns about Keith’s health.” A more likely scenario would see the band camping out for multinight runs in arenas, similar to Prince’s recent stands in New York and Los Angeles. “For example, they’d do 10 nights at MSG, 10 nights at Staples, 10 nights at London’s O2 arena.”
This story is from the March 29th, 2012 issue of Rolling Stone.
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### ODT Online Thu, 14 Jun 2012 City’s neuro links may seal Stones deal
By Nigel Benson
A Dunedin promoter is hoping to entice the Rolling Stones to Forsyth Barr Stadium for a concert next year. Rob Fitzpatrick hopes sentiment will convince the group to agree to a Dunedin benefit concert, and says a percentage of the proceeds would go to the chair of neurosurgery campaign. Read more
Ahem Submitted by farsighted on Sat, 09/06/2012 – 5:58pm.
There have been 18 major events since the stadium opened in August 2011. So it’s not “weekend in, weekend out”; on average it’s less than one a fortnight.
For the grand opening: around 650 (no hire fee); North Otago game: about 7500 (hire fee written off as bad debt to ORFU); Canterbury game: 14067 (hire fee written off); RWC: 4 games, attendance 30700, 25687, 20117, 28027 (no hire fee paid due to arrangement with RWC2011, cost to city $400K); Phoenix game 1: 15000; Phoenix game 2: 4628; Otago United games: 3 games at around 250 per game; Elton John: 35500 (no hire fee paid); Super Rugby: 5 games, attendance 22500, 17670, 18417, 18207, 14967.
Total attendance: 234337; Average attendance: 15240; Total cost of opening: 5 events at $30K, 13 events at $100K = $1.45M; Hire fees paid: 7 events out of 18; Total written off: $800K; Total cost to the city: $2.25M or $10/person (operating cost only).
These figures are useful to project what needs to happen for DVML to break even. They need to do that on approximately 300K visitors, 26 events per year. One event per fortnight is $2.8 million in operating costs, plus DVML’s $2M or so administration costs and the $5M or so they need to pay DVL, so they need revenue of about $30-$50 per visitor. At the moment, the average ticket price is around $20/person (student tickets sell at around $12 each), or a shortfall of $4M, which squares with the reported figures.
Plus one: Big Night In – around 20,000 visitors (zero income); in addition to the $100K opening costs, DCC paid [$70K] for the event to take place.
(ODT Link)
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SPREADSHEET
Supplied. Entries verifiable from public sources. It may be possible in most cases to report the ticket prices for sales via Ticket Direct website for past events.
### ODT Online Wed, 9 May 2012 Dunedin stadium posts $19m loss
By Chris Morris
The size of the financial hole occupied by Dunedin Venues Management Ltd – the company tasked with running the Forsyth Barr Stadium – has been confirmed. Figures released at a media conference this afternoon showed the company had lost $1.9 million in the first six months of the 2011-12 financial year. Projected full-year results were yet to be released, but were expected to be worse.
Losses were now also expected for the following two financial years, and expected to be confirmed when DVML released an updated statement of intent later today.
Attempts to question Mr Davies about his working relationship with the Dunedin City Council and Carisbrook Stadium Trust were initially blocked by a communications contractor working for DVML, who interjected to stop the question at yesterday’s press conference.
### ODT Online Fri, 4 May 2012 Mayor promises stadium shake-up
By Chris Morris
Forsyth Barr Stadium and the company running it are in for a reorganisation, after the shock announcement chief executive David Davies plans to quit Dunedin. Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull yesterday confirmed a review of the stadium and the company that ran it, Dunedin Venues Management Ltd, would be unveiled within weeks and completed later this year. The review would look at the financial, operating and governance models of the stadium. It was expected to spell changes for DVML and whoever replaced Mr Davies as chief executive, Mr Cull confirmed. Read more
The David Davies era (via ODT)
• Appointed chief executive of Dunedin Venues Management Ltd in October 2009.
• Selected from 92 candidates after an international recruitment drive that cost Dunedin City Council about $66,000.
• Role includes running Forsyth Barr Stadium and other council venues under DVML umbrella, including Dunedin Town Hall once reopened.
• Plans to quit confirmed on Wednesday, citing family reasons.
• Will continue until March next year to prepare succession plan.
****
### ODT Online Fri, 4 May 2012 Stadium hits a few speed bumps
By Chris Morris
The fans have flocked in, but the road has been rocky for David Davies since the opening of the Forsyth Barr Stadium. Chris Morris looks back. David Davies says his sense of humour has proved invaluable. It perhaps explains why he smiles when asked about criticism of the Forsyth Barr Stadium project, and himself personally, after two and a-half years in Dunedin. The questions came at yesterday’s press conference, as Mr Davies explained the reasons behind his shock decision to quit his post and return to England next year. Read more
### ODT Online Sun, 8 Apr 2012 Team effort – stadium show requires really big cast
By Mark Price
Staging an event at Dunedin’s new stadium is a team effort.
“We’ve learned a huge amount about being flexible in terms of trying to deliver a product for all the different user groups. And I would like to think with each event we get slightly better.” -Coryn Huddy, DVML operations manager
Forsyth Barr Stadium was opened eight months ago, on August 5, 2011. Since then it has hosted the following events:
• 4 Rugby World Cup matches
• North Otago v West Coast rugby
• Selwyn v Knox rugby
• Otago v Canterbury [ITM Cup rugby]
• Otago v Manawatu [ITM Cup rugby]
• Highlanders v Crusaders [Super 15 rugby]
• Highlanders v Waratahs [Super 15 rugby]
• 2 Wellington Phoenix v Brisbane Roar football games
• Elton John concert [crowd 35,500]
• Otago Daily Times Big Night In concert [crowd 18,000]
• Orientadium [crowd 16,500]
• Masters Games
• National Leisure Marching
• 9 conferences
• 80 meetings
• 51 social functions.
Events in the pipeline, in addition to rugby:
• VW Club – April 8, 2012
• Menopause: The Musical – May 10, 2012
• 16 conferences [average 150 delegates]
• 20 meetings [average 40 people].
Number expected to rise significantly.
• 25 social functions [average 200 people].
Stuff: North versus South game could become fiasco
The fundraising match for the embattled Otago union is likely to be scheduled for the first weekend in June. Although details are still being discussed, the Sunday Star-Times understands some Super rugby coaches feel reviving the historical game is problematic and it doesn’t have universal appeal. Read more
“PS Is it true that the roof of the new stadium in Dunedin is not strong enough to support the lighting equipment for Elton John’s concert and that special modifications will have to be made? Someone screwed up!”
Funny, when the whole “promoters don’t like it” red herring was thrown up middle last year, I was taken by how incredibly short sighted many were on this. When the hell have Kiwis ever been told by 1-2 people that they can’t do something – was there a shift in the Kiwi psyche happening?
Then comes the news from the Otago Daily Times today that the promoter critic of the stadium is working to get the first big act into the stadium.
“Dunedin’s new stadium could host a major international act and several smaller concerts every year, with three to four acts having already expressed interest in the stadium, “
Of course I had some ideas as to what was going on at the time, and it seems that they may have borne some fruit. Because nothing has changed between then and now except the certainty that the stadium is to be built, and the very real possibility that some other promoter might get in first.
My initial reaction was that they were protecting their own ‘Patch” ie Wgtn, and it would appear there seems to be something in this.
I also had concerns over his comments about getting acts to Dunedin (as echoed ad nauseam by ‘anti’ folk here) but suddenly this doesn’t seem to be such an issue. Sure it’s not going to be the easiest thing in the world, but obviously he doesn’t see it as such a big hurdle as some, as he wouldn’t be working on bringing acts to the lower south.
There was no talk of too small a population, no talk of not the right equipment, none of the defeatist stuff. The promoter with the biggest potential losses (as demonstrated by his Heavy Metal Easter event in wgtn) doesn’t see these as issues for concerts big and smaller to be at our stadium.
The other events promoter at the CST media briefing, “Mr Goldsmith said the stadium would be the only covered entertainment venue of its size in the southern hemisphere.
It also turns out that the roofed stadium is also an asset to holding concerts at the stadium, lights etc can be hung from it.
Sprey went on to say “Dunedin can attract the big concerts”. Really, I thought you told us it can’t, could it be it can, and it will so you want part of the money that will be involved?
But at the end of it all, the dear old ODT still allows the stupid to hang themselves with their comments – and good luck to them too.
Submitted by MikeStk on Wed, 13/05/2009 – 11:51am.
So he needs 54,000 attendees to break even – that’s half of Dunedin’s population – but the stadium seats something under 30,000 …. oops!
You arrogant stupid man, this was 54,000 for the TWO concerts, not one. Westpac stadium doesn’t hold 54,000 it has roughly the same capacity as ours will have, and sorry but Ozzy, Kiss and Alice Cooper have a rather narrow appeal, even if it were held in West Auckland it would have struggled to fill a stadium there.
I was accused of ringing the ‘build it and they will come bell’, when I first questioned the motives for their original negative comments, seems that bell is well in tune, and they are coming.
Good on the CST for holding this press conference, they have been criticised for not doing enough of this public information work, not that it satisfies everyone, MichaelA (David’s twin brother?), this public information is now labelled brainwashing. I guess there’s just no pleasing anyone.
Confirmation today of AC/DC coming to both Wellington and Auckland illustrates the money that is involved in these things, and blows a few myths out of the water.
“The top-selling Australian rock band, which has sold more than 200 million albums, will play Westpac Stadium on January 30 and Auckland on February 6.”
Right bang smack in the middle of the Southern Hemisphere concert schedule. But the next paragraph was the most interesting, telling and pertinent to Dunedin and our stunning new stadium.
“Wellington City Council events manager John Dawson said because of AC/DC’s wide appeal the band had the potential to sell more than 35,000 tickets. Based on concerts at the stadium, including The Rolling Stones in 2006, up to 50 per cent of ticket buyers would be from outside the region. A Saturday concert meant many fans would stay the weekend. Overall, it could contribute about $10 million to the capital’s economy.
Mr Dawson said the estimate was based on analysis of the Neil Diamond concert in 2005, which sold 32,000 tickets and injected about $8 million into the city.”
The most important things we can take from this is the fact that they are looking for up to 50% of the tickets coming from outside the region – that’s right 50%. We’ve been told time and time again by some that Dunedin is too small and that people don’t travel to concerts, this shows us that this simply isn’t the case. When we have the likes of these sorts of concerts we are looking for only 15,000 to come from the city of the immediate region. In the light of the All Blacks – France test selling about 20,000 tickets to the locals only, this doesn’t seem insurmountable (even more so when we are told that Rugby is in crisis and that people aren’t going any more).
But as I have stated time and time again in this forum, the appeal of a top act will see people come from all around the country. Also if we time these concerts right, they will be attractive to the tens of thousands of people on holiday in the South – if you are like me and have lived in Wgtn for a decent length of time, you will appreciate what a relative Ghost Town it is in Jan. But then so is Dunedin, so it has to be around the time when tourists are still on the go and the 22,000 students are back in town, well that’s not hard a couple of weeks later in middle Feb.
Then there is the seemingly other insurmountable issues of transport to the city. Not sure if you’ve lived in Wgtn, it’s a shocker of a place to get to, a 3.5hr ferry ride after a 4hr drive from CHCH, an 8hr drive from Auck (pushing it) or flights only. As I would imagine the majority of these people would actually be flying into the city, then as we all know Dunedin is perfectly situated to meet these needs. Further if we are to capture the tourists (yes tourists do go to concerts internal and foreign) then rather than a flight or an 8hr drive from Auk, it’s a leisurely couple of hr drive from Central Otago to here.
Other possibilities, and I know how the nay-sayers don’t like talking about possibilities, how about selling these things as packages. We all know there is a train that goes right past the stadium, and that we have one heck of a world class Taieri Train, how about selling a travel – stay – concert package to train in from Central to Dunedin, likewise from CHCH or even as far as Picton.
Wouldn’t it be nice to have some of that $8-$10 million dollars injected into the economy too!
It’s simply a matter of getting the right acts to come to the south (we know they already relax and holiday in the luxury resorts of Central Otago sometimes), at the right time and these concerts in Wgtn show people will come, and from far a field.
“It is smiles all round in Highlanders country.
The rugby team scored a gritty 6-0 victory over last year’s champions, the Crusaders, rockers Shihad kept a packed terrace entertained and, importantly, spectators turned up in good numbers.
Though the exact crowd number would not be known until today, estimates put it at between 12,000 and 13,000.”
Murray Stott and others have time and time again told us that Dunedin has the wrong Demographic to hold concerts at the stadium.
I’ve always argued that I find this exceedingly hard to believe considering that there are some 22,000 students in the city, and 3/4 of the population of the South Island is within 3-4hr drive from us.
Now they would be the first to agree (although not happy about it) but Shihad are not the powerhouse of NZ rock that they used to be, so I was pleasantly happy to see the massive crowd at the game and concert afterwards.
There would have been people there who couldn’t give a toss about Shihad and possibly likewise people there who weren’t really into Rugby, but the bright spark that thought of having the band play after the game (with a longer set of hits etc) instead of before the game, deserves a medal and illustrates the whole basic argument I hold for this stadium – if people think outside of the box this has a potential to be a massive success.
The moans about the crowd at the first game were a little disingenuous, in that there was about 3-4 other sporting and cultural events on in town that weekend, it is well acknowledged that people are annoyed at how early the Rugby Season starts, quite simply it was still summer, people are into summer sports. I love rugby, but I don’t go to early season games, it’s Cricket, Softball and other sports time in the sun, not rugby.
So well done everyone for turning up to the game/concert, lets see what other thinking outside the box they can come up with next – and no Pipe Bands is not a plausible suggestion.
See, why did he have to do that. Dougal was making perfect sense until he went off on a disingenuous tangent. His argument around cost and debt etc all made sense and of course is perfectly cautionary. However as Mr Stevenson {ed correction hideous spelling mistake, so sorry Dougal} is a very intelligent man, these were not flippant words, they were well chosen and deliberately designed to throw more false barriers to this development.
“As things stand, no pun intended, Rugby is about the only sport that can be played under the stadiums plastic roof, on the field, above the gravel and the mud below. Geology to test an Engineer and confound accurate costing.”
See why did he put that in there? He’s a very intelligent person, astutely following the comings and goings of this saga. I saw him at the crucial Council vote the other week, dictaphone in hand making notes all along.
For a start, yes the ETFE roof is a form of plastic, but to use the word plastic is in itself is designed to be derogatory, invoking imagery of cheap, perishable and possibly prone to failing. After all rubbish bags are made of plastic, cheap things are made of plastic. But lets look at that so called ‘plastic roof’ as so many detesters call it. Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene or ETFE has “high corrosion resistance and strength over a wide temperature”, further “Compared to glass, ETFE film is 1% the weight, transmits more light and costs 24% to 70% less to install. It’s also resilient (able to bear 400 times its own weight, self-cleaning (due to its nonstick surface) and recyclable.” Continue reading →
Ed Sheeran, oil painting by Belfast based artist Colin Davidson
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![Leonard Cohen [AP]](https://dunedinstadium.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/leonard-cohen-ap.jpg)
What if? Dunedin... 
