Carlaw Park

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Carlaw Park in November 2006, in use as a carpark
Carlaw Park in November 2006, in use as a carpark

Carlaw Park was a multi-use stadium in Auckland, New Zealand. The stadium's grandstands and terraces were built in 1916, and it became the home of rugby league in Auckland from 1921. During its long history it hosted many matches in various Rugby League World Cups. The stadium capacity was officially listed as 17,000 when it closed in 2002 due to health and safety reasons. It is still owned by the Auckland Rugby League but is currently being used as a carpark.

In August 2006 the Auckland Rugby League reached an agreement to lease the property off to be developed as a retirement home. No development has started as of August 2007.[1]. However the site has been officially 'handed over' in August 2007 in a ceremony involving Prime Minister Helen Clark.

Carlaw Park was one of the venues under consideration for Stadium New Zealand, a proposed stadium to host the 2011 Rugby World Cup.[2] Complications over the lease of the property, the requirement for additional land to be taken from Auckland Domain, and the proximity of the heavy traffic on Stanley Street led to other options being preferred by the Government.[3] The backers of Carlaw Park hosting the Cup secured NZ$200 million for its possible development[4], but the government finally chose Eden Park to host the World Cup games.

Carlaw Park is to be closed for parking from 26th September 2007 in order to make preparations for a development of the land.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Carlaw Park for Cup final?. Retrieved on 2007-02-24.
  2. ^ Carlaw Park pitched as World Cup venue. Retrieved on 2006-11-12.
  3. ^ Stadium decision: Mallard dismisses Carlaw Park proposal - New Zealand Herald, Monday 13 November, 2006
  4. ^ $200m cash injection for Carlaw Park as World Cup host.