Editorial: Deans Stand a show of confidence

OPINION: The opening of the Deans Stand at AMI Stadium is a significant event in the life of Canterbury.

It signals a further commitment to the province's outstanding sporting tradition – and on the ground that has seen some of that tradition's greatest events.

From its earliest days, Lancaster Park provided a venue for sports that realised sound finances and good player and spectator facilities were the necessary foundation for their codes to flourish. On October 15, 1881, when the park opened as a fenced-off ground, sports were able to charge for entry, which displeased some supporters but provided vital funds. The result, in terms of club facilities, was greatly beneficial to Canterbury sport.

This history is worth remembering because it emphasises that money has always been vital to organised sport, even though their players were amateur for so long, and is even more so today.

The building of the Deans Stand came about because of the need to provide adequate facilities for the 2011 World Cup, a huge money earner for international rugby, and to have a stadium that meets the expectations of today's fans.

As Dunedin is painfully learning, international fixtures demand modern facilities that look good on TV and provide state-of-the-art support for players, the media and spectators. Without them, professional sport will not turn up to play.

Many people object to the imperatives of commercial sport and the changes it demands. New Zealand rugby supporters find fault with night games, ticket prices and the cost of food and drink at venues.

In Christchurch this discontent is strong. Other things contributed to last season's poor spectator turn-out at AMI Stadium, but the alienation of supporters must have been a significant cause.

Canterbury Rugby has taken notice and is using the Deans Stand opening as an opportunity to reinvigorate spectator support. The "It's not the same without you" campaign will not succeed unless the raft of grievances is attended to and Canterbury Rugby listens to fraying supporters and tries to ease their gripes.

Today's free day at AMI Stadium is a display of the openness that is needed. With the ground's facilities available for inspection and a happy programme of entertainment, people have a chance to begin rebonding with the centre of Canterbury's sport, and an entertainment venue.

What is on show is impressive – a new stand that provides quality seating and gives architectural symmetry to the ground, much improved hosting facilities, easier access and an overall improved atmosphere. The stadium simply looks better than it ever has.

To non-attenders, that might seem to be the only good thing about the revamp. It has cost ratepayers about $50 million, an unwarranted raid on the city's coffers in the eyes of those with no interest in sport or modern music.

They should reflect on the reality that civic quality of life depends on catering to diverse interests. While the cultural elite have been given an expensive art gallery, sports people have been given an improved stadium.

Also, the financial benefits that flow from such facilities benefit all citizens. The confident estimates of officials about the financial gains to be made from hosting popular events might look somewhat speculative, but plainly an influx of visitors increases the city's money supply.

For events like the Rugby World Cup, in which we are the venue for several games including two quarterfinals, and which the completion of the Deans Stand allows us to host, the financial boost will be significant.

But the lasting value of the expanded stadium is that it is another star piece of the infrastructure that makes Christchurch remain attractive to visitors and residents.

The past half century has seen a remarkable investment in facilities that contribute to the outstanding quality of life here. It is important that this investment continues.

The Deans Stand is a sign that Christchurch still has the confidence to back itself.

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