Stadium Auckland’s Trump Card

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30606, 24 November 1964, Page 15

Stadium Auckland’s Trump Card

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, November 23.

Provided the Mount Smart stadium is satisfactorily completed, including a large stand, and the proposed indoor stadium at Mount Roskill built, “nothing extra” need be provided by Auckland for the possible staging of the Empire Games in 1970 or 1974.

This was stated today by Mr A. Moon, secretary of the Auckland Amateur Sports Association, which is preparing an application for the Games.

However, Mr Moon said that he thought there was a “moral obligation” for the 1970 Games to be given to Edinburgh. He felt there was the same obligation for the 1974 Games to return to the Southern Hemisphere—“and Auckland’s prospects must be good.” “I wonder,” said Mr Moon, “if many people in New Zealand who were talking grandly about staging the Games—and aiming at 1970 realise just what is involved. “The major central stadium needs to be of great proportion.

“Auckland will have its new athletics stadium at Mount Smart, which should

have been developed so that it will hold 80,000. As I see it this is Auckland’s trump card—particularly with a cinder track in comparison to the all-weather tracks being built around the country.” Mr Moon said only two sports were definitely on the Empire Games calendar—athletics and swimming—and the rest would depend on the decision of the staging country. “For example,” said Mr Moon, “it could well be that New Zealand would decide to include yachting—and Auckland has good and convenient facilities for this.”