AMI expands horizons

NICK TOLERTON | 27th January 2010

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The Phoenix V Adelaide A-league soccer on Saturday night looks set to kick off new ventures for the redeveloped AMI Stadium.

Seven matches in next year's rugby World Cup are the biggies on the horizon.

But Red and Black fans should have several new opportunities at AMI to prove they are the sports fanatics they claim to be.

Vbase is negotiating to get rugby league tests, on top of the NRL match between the Roosters and Warriors that's been secured for June.

It's a little ironic that in its new configuration the historic rugby ground's first match is going to be 11-aside.

However, CEO Bryan Pearson predicts its first A-league match will not be the last.

"Whenever top level soccer has been brought to Christchurch, it's been well-supported, and if we get a good crowd as I expect we will, it bodes well for the future," he said.

The Phoenix have averaged less than 10,000 for home matches in Wellington.

"We went in with an expectation of 10,000, which would be a good outcome, but we now expect beyond 10,000," Pearson said.

The Roosters will play a "home" match at AMI in June - the first NRL footie at the stadium since Wests Tigers played the Warriors there three consecutive years from 2004.

Turnouts for these matches were "pretty good" with crowds from 12,000 to 18,000, said Pearson.

However, the commercial arrangements for staging the Wests Tigers matches were "a little bit tough," he said.

They had been able to reach a "more preferred" arrangement to host the Roosters-Warriors, he said.

"We've agreed with the Roosters to do a one-game trial, but if it goes well, it also bodes well for the future."

And Vbase had also been speaking to NZ Rugby League about options for hosting an international league game again this year or next year, he said. The last test at AMI was the Kiwis' 18-14 win over Great Britain in 2006.

With the opening of the Deans Stand last week, AMI's seating capacity is now 38,600. However, extra seating in front of the stands will swell that to 45,000 for the rugby World Cup - the biggest outside Eden Park. If pool play follows seedings, the All Blacks will meet England and France play Argentina in the Christchurch quarter-finals.

An open day on Saturday to show off the new facilities drew more than 17,000 people to AMI, said Pearson.