### ODT Fri, 6 Mar 2009
By Steve Hepburn
Highlanders chief executive Richard Reid says people in the South need to realise there is a risk they may lose the Highlanders.
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So it is too risky to build the stadium
ODT Online comment by dunedinBlogAl on Fri, 06/03/2009 – 9:12am.
If there is a risk that Dunedin may lose the Highlanders, then it is too risky to build the new Stadium. The financial viability of the Stadium relies on large crowds at rugby. But projected crowds are based on those during the golden years of Otago Rugby in the 1990’s. Otago Rugby has now lost its fan base. The fundamental problem expressed by Richard Reid is the same as that expressed by opponents of the Stadium: Dunedin just does not have a big enough population base to support it. It is notable that Richard Reid has waited until the decision has been made to proceed with the Stadium, before expressing these views. Over the last couple of years, Otago Rugby has been very quiet about the crowd numbers at Carisbrook.
Losing the Highlanders franchise
ODT Online comment by bensan on Fri, 06/03/2009 – 9:35am.
As Peter Chin pointed out on TV some time ago, it would make the Stadium more marginal.
There is a complete denial of this statement in the Council since not one member has taken any notice of Peter Chin’s statement.
Do they really know what they are doing, taking this project on when there is so little interest in the Highlanders? The winning streak of this team is not exactly well known and to be frank, having this group of dubious rugby players as a draw card for the stadium is to say the least, being extremely optimistic.
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Filed under Economics, Geography, Hot air, Media, Name, Other, Politics, Stadiums
Tagged as Carisbrook, Crowd size, Crusaders, Dunedin, Highlanders, ORFU, Richard Reid
