Two Crusaders coaches have blasted the ongoing delays that have halted the construction of a new stadium in Christchurch.
Plans to build an enclosed 30,000-capacity multi-use arena near the city’s centre hit a speed bump last week when it was revealed that the expected cost of its construction had jumped from $533m to $683m.
As such, questions have been raised among city and regional councillors as to who should pay for the venue to be built.
That, in turn, has resulted in a delay in construction, which was last December scheduled to begin midway through this year and expected to be completed in mid-2025.
Now the stadium won’t be opened until 2026, drawing the ire of Crusaders assistant coach Jason Ryan, who described the situation as “pretty shambolic” to Newstalk ZB on Thursday.
“Somebody’s got to be brave. It’s been something that’s been continually going around in circles,” Ryan said.
“As a citizen of Christchurch, someone who’s lived here all my life, who’s got my family here, I think it’s pretty shambolic to be honest, of how the council are acting.
“I’m not sure [Christchurch Mayor] Lianne Dalziel has ever wanted one. What’s it going to take?
“I feel sorry for kids, I feel sorry for older people that probably don’t want to come to games anymore.”
Ryan’s comments have since been met with criticism by Crusaders chief executive Colin Mansbridge, saying it was “unfair” to lay blame Dalziel, who he said is a “passionate and outspoken” advocate for the stadium’s construction.
“She’s been talking about cracking on, and getting on with it, ever since council took over responsibility, so it’s a bit unfair that she gets singled out,” Mansbridge said, as per the New Zealand Herald.
“From Jason’s perspective, he’s not across the detail [but] he’s right across the frustration about not having an arena here.”
