Questions & Answers
What sports will be available at the sports park?
The main sports accommodated at the Park are athletics, football, touch, netball, tennis, gymsports and cycling. A range of additional activities are potentially available, especially in the indoor venues. The cycling velodrome will host events and indoor sports such as a futsal, tennis and netball. The Gymsports centre will host specific training for mainstream sports such as rugby and netball, and also for non-mainstream sports such as snowboarding and skateboarding.
How long will it take to develop?
The first stage - the athletics track, grandstand and associated parking will be complete in June 2010. Development of the subsequent stages will occur as funds are raised. Click here to find out more...
How will the Park address the region's poor record in health and crime?
The Park's management will incorporate three programme managers. It will be their job to partner with existing health and crime service providers to ensure those who should be accessing the Park, are. They will also be proactive in targeting particular sectors. For example the Gymsports facility has excellent programmes for rest home residents and pre-schoolers.
How will the Park pay for itself?
All of the facilities attract revenue to varying degrees. Some make a profit and some a loss. The GymSports centre and Velodrome are the main drivers of revenue because of the numbers they attract. Revenue comes from hireage for indoor sports such as Futsal, tennis and cycling and also through holiday and school programmes at the GymSports centre. Other venues are lower drivers of revenue but have strong community value - for example the sports fields and netball courts.
Overall the completed facility is forecast to make an operating profit after three years of operation.
What is " economic benefit" and what drives it?
Economic benefit refers to increases in GDP [Gross domestic product], to household income and employment. The Park contributes to these measures the construction activity, ongoing operations and through its ability to attract people to the region for events. The main magnets for attracting athletes and their supporters are the athletics track and the velodrome. As an example one event, the 2010 New Zealand Secondary Schools athletic champs will attract 2950 athletes and spectators into the region with each spending an estimated $91 per day culminating into a $850,000 injection into the regional economy.
What happens in the Unison Velodrome, apart from track cycling?
The Velodrome will be a magnet for individuals and events from throughout NZ because it will be the only covered venue in the North Island. However experience at New Zealand's only other Velodrome, in Invercargill, suggests it will be mainly used by the community for such things as "learn to ride" for youngsters, business house leagues for work groups and indoor cycling for older people.
The inner track will be used for netball and tennis (4 courts), indoor football (futsal) and exhibitions.
