January 20, 2025 • 18 mins
On Sports Fix with Jason Pine for 20 January 2025, Piney recaps his weekend at the New Zealand SailGP in Auckland.
Event promoter Dean Lonergan joins the podcast to discuss the importance of the investment in exciting events, for the vibe of big cities.
Newstalk ZB sport journalist Elijah Fa'afiu is in the Chamber to talk about Auckland FC"s return to form and the boisterous crowds at the Australian Tennis Open.
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
You're listening to a podcast from News Talks EDB. Follow
this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
This is Sportsfix Howard By News Talks EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Hi there and welcome back to the Sports Fixed podcast.
For the first time in twenty twenty five, we are
back in your podcast feed. Every weekday a fresh episode
of sportsbooks will drop in there with interviews, news opinions
and lots more. So let's get under way for today, Monday,
January twenty I'm Jason Fine on the pod. Today we're
(00:42):
going to talk big events and how important they are
to the vibe of a city. Sale GP oupened over
the weekend and absolute success in many many ways. So
should there be more investment from local and central government
and getting events like this to our big cities. Dean Lonigan,
one of our best promoters, as along on the podcast,
shortly Elijah, a few pops into the chamber as well,
(01:04):
as we kick around a number of sporting issues including
sale GP, including orphand FC and should you be allowed
to be boisterous at the tennis? Let's get into it.
In other news, let's get underway with some of the
big sports stories around today. He would go for Daniel Hilly,
a finishing second at the European Tours lucrative Dubai Desert Classic,
(01:28):
having led by a stroke hitting into the final rounds.
Speaker 1 (01:30):
It's a bit a sweet, that's for sure.
Speaker 3 (01:32):
Yeah, I mean I didn't have my best today obviously,
but before art all day. Yeah, I'm proud to give
himself cars downstretch and yeah, I mean it's necessarily there's
pretty sold downstretch there and his class quite under.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
Daniel Hilly still picks up nine hundred and sixty one
thousand euro for his second placing. Chris Wood has again
been among the goals, the All White skipper, scoring his
fourteenth of the Premier League season for Nottingham Forest against Southampton.
Speaker 4 (01:55):
Towards Wood Chris Land again wing of Forest, darning a
party this afternoon.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
You just knew he was going to get out of
the acts. And Australia toasting a sale GP win on
New Zealand Waters, driver Tom Slingsby saying conditions were tough
yesterday out on Waitamata Haaba.
Speaker 5 (02:14):
That was as hard as sailing as I've ever done,
really on that sort of racetrack with those paths and gusts,
and I can only sort of take my hat off
to those teams who are new trying to navigate that,
because they all did such an amazing job.
Speaker 1 (02:27):
News had abdion It's Sports Fix with Jason Vine.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
I was lucky enough to be at a sal GP
Auckland over the weekend the inaugural event. I'm certainly not
what you'd call a Diet and the Wall sailing fan,
but I thought it was just terrific. The on water
action really exciting, bite sized, the speed of the boat spectacular,
the proximity to shore a real feature. The thousands that
(02:54):
packed into the grandstands got a truly close up view.
You could even see the expressions on the sailor's faces
as they came in close to the shore. The sle
GP complex of Winyard Point in Auckland really cool, had
a bit of a formula no one feel about it.
Lots of merchandise stands, food and beverage, obviously, opportunities to
have a go at grinding if you wanted to that
(03:15):
sort of thing, and the sailors seemed really accessible as well,
not only to the media but also to the fans.
I saw plenty of autographs being signed and selfies being taken.
When it comes to the crowds, there's certainly what you'd
call a sailing set, perhaps those who are more deeply
invested in sailing and love to watch it live. But
(03:36):
there were all sorts of people there over the weekend, families, couples, grandparents, kids,
all sorts, and the spectator craft all around the fringes
of the course just added another dimension to it. The
aerial shots that I saw on the television coverage absolutely spectacular,
showing off Auckland's harbor and the skyline, the kind of
(03:57):
shots that you would pay thousands and thousands of dollars
for in a tourism campaign. The vibe in the village
was positive and upbeat. I really couldn't fault in. Auckland
Council pitched in a million dollars to help secure and
stage this event. Sale GP CEO Sir Russell Coots told
me on zb over the weekend that they're keen to
enter into a long term deal with Auckland to host
(04:20):
a sale GP leg annually. He's talking about five years
and beyond that. Who knows. If I'm a decision makeup
at Auckland City Council. I'm sitting down around a table
right now to work out how to make that happen.
Speaker 1 (04:34):
Beating a VEX. We've got just the ticket. It's sports
X how It by Newstalks V on.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
The Sports Fix podcast. More than twenty five thousand people
attended the inaugural Auckland leg of Sale GP over the weekend.
That's excluding those who watched along in bars and out
on the water and Sale GP CEO Sir Russell Coots
has signaled interest in a long term deal. Let's bring
in one of New Zealand's biggest and best events promoters
and former professional rugby league player with the Canberra Raiders
(05:02):
and the kiwi's Dean Lonegan. Dean, what did you make
of Sale GP over the weekend in Auckland? Would you
label it a success?
Speaker 6 (05:10):
I would label a massive success. I think there's a
great synergy between Auckland and the water and particularly sailing.
You know, we're not called the City Sales for nothing,
so it's a perfect kind of event. Seeing we didn't
have the America's Cup to have here, and I think
you know, those boats are absolute rocket ships on the water.
It's quite incredible watching them go. It's a great way
to show off Auckland Harbor. I know he's broadcast all
(05:30):
around the world to all sorts of different countries now
and all sorts of different formats. You're going to have
to have a whole lot of stuff up social media
which is also distributed, and it brings a lot of
people into town and they've been in the event's business.
That's the sort of event you want to see. You know,
that feeds of the publican feeds and the restaurants, it
feeds into taxis and the hotel room nights. And of
(05:51):
course on the same night we had Combs the Two
Knights selling out Bloody Eden Park. So Auckland City, you're
doing a good job to attract some of the major events.
It'd be nice to see them have a bit more
money to get a bit more in, but they do.
They do their best on a limited budget.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
Auckland City Council contributed one million dollars to sle GP.
Is that a good invest.
Speaker 6 (06:09):
Personal opinion is yes, one hundred percent. You know because
sale GP in particular or sailing brings a certain high
end of town from all over the place. So you know,
at the end of the day, the metrics that they run,
how many hotel rooms were full. That running it the
same day is as Luke Coombs was probably I don't know,
to stroke a genius or it could have been spreads
(06:30):
done separately. But my personal opinion, it's a great investment
and it's a great way to show off Auckland Harbor,
which is what major events in the city do.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
Of course, the counterpoint to this is always that rate
payer money would be better used elsewhere. What's your response
to that view, Well, you.
Speaker 6 (06:45):
Know, rate payer money. It's not as if we get
a million dollars in a rate payer funding and that's
all it goes to is events. It spread across a
huge amount of stuff, from building public toilets to parks
to you know, improving roadways. All sorts of money gets spent,
all sorts of different places. And of course, coming from
the event industry and wanted to see a vibrant city,
I'd like to see a lot more. I've got to
(07:06):
be honest. I would love to see and this happens Las Vegas.
If that was in New York, a bed tax put
on every single hotel n it's been sold in New
Zealand or sold in Auckland. That gets contributed, you know,
putting one to or three dollars per room night as
a bed tax against hotels and airbnbs just quietly, but
I think you'd see a whole lot more revenue raised
(07:27):
to be put back straight into the creation of great
events here. And I think I'm bringing great events here
and I think i'd lot to see a combination of
tax for a funded events as well as you know,
the bed tax. But that seems to be pretty controversial
and apparently hotels they can't understand. They seem to think
it's going to cost them room nights when a three
dollar charge goes on a two and fifty dollars room night.
(07:48):
So I don't understand what the resistance to it, but
it is what it is.
Speaker 2 (07:51):
Yeah, I think Wayne Brown's on record is saying he's
in favor of that as well. Dean, do you think
there's any likelihood of it happening.
Speaker 6 (07:58):
Well, from what I can understand, in the council, the
mayor and Wayne Brown are only one vote. But I
think Wayne Brown's a bit of a genius and I'd
love to see him get an initiative like that through.
While main the current level of taxpayer funded or ratepayer
funded for events because made if you want to have
a vibrant city, you've got to have events happening, and
the bigger the cities you go to, like if you
(08:19):
have a look at say New South Wales as an example,
their event budget per year is something like one hundred
and eighty million dollars. Same visit Victorian and Victoria in Australia.
So our guys are up against those sorts of budgets
to try and attract events here. So maybe it's a
hard road behome. And the more money you've got to
put into funds that allow events to come here, the
better it's going to be for the vibrancy the city
(08:41):
and ultimately economically sound business.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
Well let's go from ratepayer to taxpayer money. What your
view on central government Dean being more active, even proactive
in bringing big events to New Zealand.
Speaker 6 (08:53):
I'm not going to argue with you there on that one.
Planning I'd like to see more of it. I personally
think the ten million dollars at the Major Events Fund
has got as nothing short or pathetic when you've put
it up against the single states of Australia. You know
where they've got one hundred and eighty million dollars a
state to spend on events, and it makes it difficult
to attract major events. But on the flip side of
the corn, they have they have special funding for special events,
(09:16):
like when a woman's Rugby World Cup came here. I
think they usually government put one hundred million dollars in there.
And also we've had the you know, the Rugby World
Cup in the past, so you know, they do when
when it's required, they do come to the party. And
of course the controversy of the America's Cup was held here,
it was certainly funded centrally by a huge amount of money.
So they do step up when they need to. But
(09:38):
I'd like, again, because I'm in the industry, I'd like
to see more of it done.
Speaker 2 (09:41):
And you alluded to it before, but how important are
major events to the overall vibe of a big city.
Speaker 6 (09:47):
Well, if you have they're incredibly important, you know, And
if you have a look at what's happening internationally with
major events, you know, particularly for right now Saudi Arabia,
they're sport washing for one of the better term, but
they're trying to trying to bring the vibrancy to the
thea Saiti that they don't currently have, and they're doing
through events, and they're doing a huge amount in boxing.
I wouldn't surprise me if they try and or a
(10:08):
Soccer World Cup there, and they're not too distant, teacher
in a number of other major events, because they've got
the one thing that events desperately need an event organizer there,
and it's money. So it comes down to know what
you got. This is different, but on the whole, basically
money is the driver of these things, and money creates
money when it comes to events. So you just got
to I think you've got to invest and keep investing,
and you've got to try and find it from all
(10:30):
over the place because it's politically sensitive and some people
like it and some people don't, but ultimately it creates
jobs and that's how you really add to the vibrancy
of the city.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
Good Man Dane, thanks for joining us.
Speaker 1 (10:40):
The Chamber is now in session on Sportsfax on the.
Speaker 2 (10:45):
Sports Flex podcast for the first time in twenty twenty five,
we pop inside the Chamber and as you know if
you're a regular listener, Monday is the People's Chamber. Elijah
a few who joins us. Elijah a lot to talk
sale GP. Let's start with that. We've heard from Dean
Lonigan on the podcast today. He's a big fan of
getting this back year after year after year. What sort
(11:05):
of vibe did you sense around the city over the weekend, I.
Speaker 4 (11:08):
Mean Saturday, Auckland was the place to be on Saturday
given sale GP Auckland f C, the Luke Combs console
was on. I'm not much of a country music fan,
but I am a sporting nuts, so yeah, the vibe
was amazing from what I saw. And I managed to
go to the viaduct for dinner after the Aukland FC game,
which I attended, and the vibes were just immaculate, just
(11:28):
walking along seeing everyone you know, have drinks, a lot
of private functions on for a lot of the sailors
to sort of, I guess, debrief or catch up after
the sailing. But the actual sailing itself was so exciting.
And we know the sale GP is an exciting events
to watch, but seeing it take place in Auckland, in
the appropriately named city of Sales, yeah, it was just
awesome to see sale GPN. I would love to see
(11:50):
it for in the.
Speaker 2 (11:52):
Long term moving forward, Yes, so would I, So would
I and we know that Sir Russell Cooch is keen
to open that conversation with with you know, the powers
to be, whoever makes that decision in Auckland. Look if
I'm if I'm those powers that be, I'm getting around
the table with them and saying, hey, how can we
have this every year? It's only going to get bigger.
Sir Russell Cooch wants to expand from twelve to fourteen,
maybe to sixteen teams. He's got fourteen events. He wants
(12:16):
to get up over twenty the Formula One model. So yeah,
I don't know that you want to be left behind.
I think you want to. I think you want to
secure the future in Auckland and who knows maybe in
other parts of New Zealand as well as time goes on.
For sale GP. You mentioned the football. I was there,
you were there. Good to see Auckland the FC back
to winning ways.
Speaker 4 (12:35):
Oh for sure, and good to see them scoring goals
as well. I know they haven't found the back of
them there in the last couple of games, and I
think Gazermo may set the tone with that absolute screamer.
That's one of the goals of the season for Aukland.
F C at least, and he set the tone. I
sort of jumped the gun because I did post on
my social media that auklen nef Cy were back on
top of the table. So that lasted about four hours
(12:57):
until you Adelaide and I had won their match and
now they're on top of the table. But hey, AUKLANNIFC
back to winning ways. That was a great game and
a great spectacle.
Speaker 2 (13:05):
Now when you posted it it was correct. You know
you would You wouldn't leading Australia you were at the
time they were, and that The other part of this
which is so exciting now was that, as you say,
Adelaide United had their win as well. A few hours later.
Auckland FC next play Adelaide United in Adelaide on Wednesday night.
Adelaide twenty seven points, Auckland FC twenty six points. What
(13:26):
a way to make a statement. You know what other
way is there than going to the team that's top
of the table and winning over there hard place to
go Adelaide, But the way Auckland f C are playing
that backed themselves, wouldn't they, Oh for sure?
Speaker 4 (13:38):
And I think this is the sort of run they're
sort of running the gorton it at the moment, you know,
coming off against that Melbourne City game where they were
top of the table Melbourne City and now going up
against Adelaide Knights and that needs these sort of tough
games to sort of see where they're at Auckland f C.
At this stage of the season. And I definitely think
they're among the contenders and it's definitely going to be
an exciting one against Adelaide.
Speaker 2 (13:59):
United absolutely, and back home Auckland FC in early February
as well, just so I'm pressed with the way the
crowds are turning out in all different parts of the ground.
We've got the port obviously the boisterous home support, but
all around the ground as just Ali, D're on a
weekend where there were so many other things going on,
you know, Luke Holmes sale GP up here, there was
(14:20):
a hot rod show which which got about twenty thousand
people along to still get over fifteen or close to
fifteen thousand at the football. I mean, this club has
very very quickly become you know, a really really exciting
proposition for fans to watch live.
Speaker 4 (14:37):
Yeah, I guess that was the concern when there's so
much going on in Auckland, and I attended the New
Year's Day game and that was I guess a concern
with the crowds because a lot of people tend to
leave Auckland over the summer. But that crowd was probably
one of the top crowds, or at least the most
attended games for Auckland f C so far this season.
I think probably the third or fourth most attended. So yeah,
(14:57):
I think everyone is getting behind Auckland f C. The
game day experience is awesome, like making it so it's
for families and all football fans and they're all coming
together in United mount smart So yeah, Awkings, they have
done an amazing job.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
There was speaking of boisterous crowd You expect them at
the football, but not necessarily at the tennis. The Australian
Open tennis crowds have been in the spotlight a little
bit over the last week to ten days or so.
Certain players haven't been particularly enamored with the way they've
been heckled to, you know, not to too fine a
point on it, what do you make of tennis crowds
(15:31):
getting into the players a little bit?
Speaker 4 (15:34):
I think there is a line in terms of you know,
what is being said and what's being thrown at some
of the athletes. I think athletes have different ways of
handling that sort of thing. I think Daniel Collins in
her second round match when she won her second round
and I guess cupped her hands to her ears and
was giving the bit of stick back to back to
the crowd and you know, snapping her backside, you know,
(15:57):
showing the audience, you know what's what. So I think personally,
as a fan, I sort of enjoy that stuff. It's entertaining,
It gets the crowd involved, finds it gives you a
reason as a fan to you know, either chair for
someone or booth for someone. So it makes tennis a
lot more entertaining from my point of view. But again
there is that line of what's being said in the
(16:18):
abuse that's been held. But I personally I'm a fan
of Daniel Collins now for the way she handled it all.
Speaker 2 (16:24):
Yeah, oh look, and I think I think you won't
be the only one. The only counterpoint I guess is
that tennis has has built a tradition and is steeped
in tradition on being a sport where where that doesn't happen,
where you're quiet when they're serving, where you're watching it
with hush tones where you show respect to pretty much everybody,
and whether you know that, I you know, all sport
(16:44):
has to innovate and has to move on, and we've
seen golf with party holes and things like that. Whether
the Grand Slams are the place for it, I'm not
sure whether whether perhaps you need to target other tournaments
where you try to attract the younger set, people like
you who enjoy that sort of thing and and get
it done there rather than at the majors. I mean,
I wouldn't like to see it at Wimbledon, for example.
(17:05):
It just wouldn't feel right to me.
Speaker 6 (17:06):
I don't know.
Speaker 4 (17:07):
Yeah, I think wimbled it will be the last place
I'd ever expect to see that sort of action. Barguess,
you know, as much as sports that have evolved, I
guess sporting crowds have evolved in as well. So it's
finding ways to get them involved. And if that's the
way to do it at the Aussie Open, then so
be it. But I guess for players who are keen
to buying so that sort of stuff, good on them,
And those who choose to ignore it and maybe use
(17:30):
it as motivation, then good for them.
Speaker 6 (17:32):
As well.
Speaker 2 (17:32):
Indeed, indeed, let lots of talking points when it comes
to that and other bits and pieces too great to
be underway in twenty twenty five in the People's Chamber
with you, Elijah. I know it is Auckland Anniversary next Monday,
so I'll check the roster to see if you and
I can chat, But no doubt we will continue to
talk with one another on Mondays across the year. Thanks
for popping it as.
Speaker 1 (17:53):
Always dissecting the sporting agenda. It's Sportsfix with Jason Vine,
and that.
Speaker 2 (18:01):
Brings to an end the first Sports Fox podcast for
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And for more from News Talks ab Sports, tune into
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Speaker 1 (18:23):
For more from News Talks EDB listen live on air
or online and keep our shows with you wherever you
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You're listening to a podcast from News Talks EDB. Follow
this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
This is Sportsfix Howard By News Talks EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Hi there and welcome back to the Sports Fixed podcast.
For the first time in twenty twenty five, we are
back in your podcast feed. Every weekday a fresh episode
of sportsbooks will drop in there with interviews, news opinions
and lots more. So let's get under way for today, Monday,
January twenty I'm Jason Fine on the pod. Today we're
(00:42):
going to talk big events and how important they are
to the vibe of a city. Sale GP oupened over
the weekend and absolute success in many many ways. So
should there be more investment from local and central government
and getting events like this to our big cities. Dean Lonigan,
one of our best promoters, as along on the podcast,
shortly Elijah, a few pops into the chamber as well,
(01:04):
as we kick around a number of sporting issues including
sale GP, including orphand FC and should you be allowed
to be boisterous at the tennis? Let's get into it.
In other news, let's get underway with some of the
big sports stories around today. He would go for Daniel Hilly,
a finishing second at the European Tours lucrative Dubai Desert Classic,
(01:28):
having led by a stroke hitting into the final rounds.
Speaker 1 (01:30):
It's a bit a sweet, that's for sure.
Speaker 3 (01:32):
Yeah, I mean I didn't have my best today obviously,
but before art all day. Yeah, I'm proud to give
himself cars downstretch and yeah, I mean it's necessarily there's
pretty sold downstretch there and his class quite under.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
Daniel Hilly still picks up nine hundred and sixty one
thousand euro for his second placing. Chris Wood has again
been among the goals, the All White skipper, scoring his
fourteenth of the Premier League season for Nottingham Forest against Southampton.
Speaker 4 (01:55):
Towards Wood Chris Land again wing of Forest, darning a
party this afternoon.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
You just knew he was going to get out of
the acts. And Australia toasting a sale GP win on
New Zealand Waters, driver Tom Slingsby saying conditions were tough
yesterday out on Waitamata Haaba.
Speaker 5 (02:14):
That was as hard as sailing as I've ever done,
really on that sort of racetrack with those paths and gusts,
and I can only sort of take my hat off
to those teams who are new trying to navigate that,
because they all did such an amazing job.
Speaker 1 (02:27):
News had abdion It's Sports Fix with Jason Vine.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
I was lucky enough to be at a sal GP
Auckland over the weekend the inaugural event. I'm certainly not
what you'd call a Diet and the Wall sailing fan,
but I thought it was just terrific. The on water
action really exciting, bite sized, the speed of the boat spectacular,
the proximity to shore a real feature. The thousands that
(02:54):
packed into the grandstands got a truly close up view.
You could even see the expressions on the sailor's faces
as they came in close to the shore. The sle
GP complex of Winyard Point in Auckland really cool, had
a bit of a formula no one feel about it.
Lots of merchandise stands, food and beverage, obviously, opportunities to
have a go at grinding if you wanted to that
(03:15):
sort of thing, and the sailors seemed really accessible as well,
not only to the media but also to the fans.
I saw plenty of autographs being signed and selfies being taken.
When it comes to the crowds, there's certainly what you'd
call a sailing set, perhaps those who are more deeply
invested in sailing and love to watch it live. But
(03:36):
there were all sorts of people there over the weekend, families, couples, grandparents, kids,
all sorts, and the spectator craft all around the fringes
of the course just added another dimension to it. The
aerial shots that I saw on the television coverage absolutely spectacular,
showing off Auckland's harbor and the skyline, the kind of
(03:57):
shots that you would pay thousands and thousands of dollars
for in a tourism campaign. The vibe in the village
was positive and upbeat. I really couldn't fault in. Auckland
Council pitched in a million dollars to help secure and
stage this event. Sale GP CEO Sir Russell Coots told
me on zb over the weekend that they're keen to
enter into a long term deal with Auckland to host
(04:20):
a sale GP leg annually. He's talking about five years
and beyond that. Who knows. If I'm a decision makeup
at Auckland City Council. I'm sitting down around a table
right now to work out how to make that happen.
Speaker 1 (04:34):
Beating a VEX. We've got just the ticket. It's sports
X how It by Newstalks V on.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
The Sports Fix podcast. More than twenty five thousand people
attended the inaugural Auckland leg of Sale GP over the weekend.
That's excluding those who watched along in bars and out
on the water and Sale GP CEO Sir Russell Coots
has signaled interest in a long term deal. Let's bring
in one of New Zealand's biggest and best events promoters
and former professional rugby league player with the Canberra Raiders
(05:02):
and the kiwi's Dean Lonegan. Dean, what did you make
of Sale GP over the weekend in Auckland? Would you
label it a success?
Speaker 6 (05:10):
I would label a massive success. I think there's a
great synergy between Auckland and the water and particularly sailing.
You know, we're not called the City Sales for nothing,
so it's a perfect kind of event. Seeing we didn't
have the America's Cup to have here, and I think
you know, those boats are absolute rocket ships on the water.
It's quite incredible watching them go. It's a great way
to show off Auckland Harbor. I know he's broadcast all
(05:30):
around the world to all sorts of different countries now
and all sorts of different formats. You're going to have
to have a whole lot of stuff up social media
which is also distributed, and it brings a lot of
people into town and they've been in the event's business.
That's the sort of event you want to see. You know,
that feeds of the publican feeds and the restaurants, it
feeds into taxis and the hotel room nights. And of
(05:51):
course on the same night we had Combs the Two
Knights selling out Bloody Eden Park. So Auckland City, you're
doing a good job to attract some of the major events.
It'd be nice to see them have a bit more
money to get a bit more in, but they do.
They do their best on a limited budget.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
Auckland City Council contributed one million dollars to sle GP.
Is that a good invest.
Speaker 6 (06:09):
Personal opinion is yes, one hundred percent. You know because
sale GP in particular or sailing brings a certain high
end of town from all over the place. So you know,
at the end of the day, the metrics that they run,
how many hotel rooms were full. That running it the
same day is as Luke Coombs was probably I don't know,
to stroke a genius or it could have been spreads
(06:30):
done separately. But my personal opinion, it's a great investment
and it's a great way to show off Auckland Harbor,
which is what major events in the city do.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
Of course, the counterpoint to this is always that rate
payer money would be better used elsewhere. What's your response
to that view, Well, you.
Speaker 6 (06:45):
Know, rate payer money. It's not as if we get
a million dollars in a rate payer funding and that's
all it goes to is events. It spread across a
huge amount of stuff, from building public toilets to parks
to you know, improving roadways. All sorts of money gets spent,
all sorts of different places. And of course, coming from
the event industry and wanted to see a vibrant city,
I'd like to see a lot more. I've got to
(07:06):
be honest. I would love to see and this happens Las Vegas.
If that was in New York, a bed tax put
on every single hotel n it's been sold in New
Zealand or sold in Auckland. That gets contributed, you know,
putting one to or three dollars per room night as
a bed tax against hotels and airbnbs just quietly, but
I think you'd see a whole lot more revenue raised
(07:27):
to be put back straight into the creation of great
events here. And I think I'm bringing great events here
and I think i'd lot to see a combination of
tax for a funded events as well as you know,
the bed tax. But that seems to be pretty controversial
and apparently hotels they can't understand. They seem to think
it's going to cost them room nights when a three
dollar charge goes on a two and fifty dollars room night.
(07:48):
So I don't understand what the resistance to it, but
it is what it is.
Speaker 2 (07:51):
Yeah, I think Wayne Brown's on record is saying he's
in favor of that as well. Dean, do you think
there's any likelihood of it happening.
Speaker 6 (07:58):
Well, from what I can understand, in the council, the
mayor and Wayne Brown are only one vote. But I
think Wayne Brown's a bit of a genius and I'd
love to see him get an initiative like that through.
While main the current level of taxpayer funded or ratepayer
funded for events because made if you want to have
a vibrant city, you've got to have events happening, and
the bigger the cities you go to, like if you
(08:19):
have a look at say New South Wales as an example,
their event budget per year is something like one hundred
and eighty million dollars. Same visit Victorian and Victoria in Australia.
So our guys are up against those sorts of budgets
to try and attract events here. So maybe it's a
hard road behome. And the more money you've got to
put into funds that allow events to come here, the
better it's going to be for the vibrancy the city
(08:41):
and ultimately economically sound business.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
Well let's go from ratepayer to taxpayer money. What your
view on central government Dean being more active, even proactive
in bringing big events to New Zealand.
Speaker 6 (08:53):
I'm not going to argue with you there on that one.
Planning I'd like to see more of it. I personally
think the ten million dollars at the Major Events Fund
has got as nothing short or pathetic when you've put
it up against the single states of Australia. You know
where they've got one hundred and eighty million dollars a
state to spend on events, and it makes it difficult
to attract major events. But on the flip side of
the corn, they have they have special funding for special events,
(09:16):
like when a woman's Rugby World Cup came here. I
think they usually government put one hundred million dollars in there.
And also we've had the you know, the Rugby World
Cup in the past, so you know, they do when
when it's required, they do come to the party. And
of course the controversy of the America's Cup was held here,
it was certainly funded centrally by a huge amount of money.
So they do step up when they need to. But
(09:38):
I'd like, again, because I'm in the industry, I'd like
to see more of it done.
Speaker 2 (09:41):
And you alluded to it before, but how important are
major events to the overall vibe of a big city.
Speaker 6 (09:47):
Well, if you have they're incredibly important, you know, And
if you have a look at what's happening internationally with
major events, you know, particularly for right now Saudi Arabia,
they're sport washing for one of the better term, but
they're trying to trying to bring the vibrancy to the
thea Saiti that they don't currently have, and they're doing
through events, and they're doing a huge amount in boxing.
I wouldn't surprise me if they try and or a
(10:08):
Soccer World Cup there, and they're not too distant, teacher
in a number of other major events, because they've got
the one thing that events desperately need an event organizer there,
and it's money. So it comes down to know what
you got. This is different, but on the whole, basically
money is the driver of these things, and money creates
money when it comes to events. So you just got
to I think you've got to invest and keep investing,
and you've got to try and find it from all
(10:30):
over the place because it's politically sensitive and some people
like it and some people don't, but ultimately it creates
jobs and that's how you really add to the vibrancy
of the city.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
Good Man Dane, thanks for joining us.
Speaker 1 (10:40):
The Chamber is now in session on Sportsfax on the.
Speaker 2 (10:45):
Sports Flex podcast for the first time in twenty twenty five,
we pop inside the Chamber and as you know if
you're a regular listener, Monday is the People's Chamber. Elijah
a few who joins us. Elijah a lot to talk
sale GP. Let's start with that. We've heard from Dean
Lonigan on the podcast today. He's a big fan of
getting this back year after year after year. What sort
(11:05):
of vibe did you sense around the city over the weekend, I.
Speaker 4 (11:08):
Mean Saturday, Auckland was the place to be on Saturday
given sale GP Auckland f C, the Luke Combs console
was on. I'm not much of a country music fan,
but I am a sporting nuts, so yeah, the vibe
was amazing from what I saw. And I managed to
go to the viaduct for dinner after the Aukland FC game,
which I attended, and the vibes were just immaculate, just
(11:28):
walking along seeing everyone you know, have drinks, a lot
of private functions on for a lot of the sailors
to sort of, I guess, debrief or catch up after
the sailing. But the actual sailing itself was so exciting.
And we know the sale GP is an exciting events
to watch, but seeing it take place in Auckland, in
the appropriately named city of Sales, yeah, it was just
awesome to see sale GPN. I would love to see
(11:50):
it for in the.
Speaker 2 (11:52):
Long term moving forward, Yes, so would I, So would
I and we know that Sir Russell Cooch is keen
to open that conversation with with you know, the powers
to be, whoever makes that decision in Auckland. Look if
I'm if I'm those powers that be, I'm getting around
the table with them and saying, hey, how can we
have this every year? It's only going to get bigger.
Sir Russell Cooch wants to expand from twelve to fourteen,
maybe to sixteen teams. He's got fourteen events. He wants
(12:16):
to get up over twenty the Formula One model. So yeah,
I don't know that you want to be left behind.
I think you want to. I think you want to
secure the future in Auckland and who knows maybe in
other parts of New Zealand as well as time goes on.
For sale GP. You mentioned the football. I was there,
you were there. Good to see Auckland the FC back
to winning ways.
Speaker 4 (12:35):
Oh for sure, and good to see them scoring goals
as well. I know they haven't found the back of
them there in the last couple of games, and I
think Gazermo may set the tone with that absolute screamer.
That's one of the goals of the season for Aukland.
F C at least, and he set the tone. I
sort of jumped the gun because I did post on
my social media that auklen nef Cy were back on
top of the table. So that lasted about four hours
(12:57):
until you Adelaide and I had won their match and
now they're on top of the table. But hey, AUKLANNIFC
back to winning ways. That was a great game and
a great spectacle.
Speaker 2 (13:05):
Now when you posted it it was correct. You know
you would You wouldn't leading Australia you were at the
time they were, and that The other part of this
which is so exciting now was that, as you say,
Adelaide United had their win as well. A few hours later.
Auckland FC next play Adelaide United in Adelaide on Wednesday night.
Adelaide twenty seven points, Auckland FC twenty six points. What
(13:26):
a way to make a statement. You know what other
way is there than going to the team that's top
of the table and winning over there hard place to
go Adelaide, But the way Auckland f C are playing
that backed themselves, wouldn't they, Oh for sure?
Speaker 4 (13:38):
And I think this is the sort of run they're
sort of running the gorton it at the moment, you know,
coming off against that Melbourne City game where they were
top of the table Melbourne City and now going up
against Adelaide Knights and that needs these sort of tough
games to sort of see where they're at Auckland f C.
At this stage of the season. And I definitely think
they're among the contenders and it's definitely going to be
an exciting one against Adelaide.
Speaker 2 (13:59):
United absolutely, and back home Auckland FC in early February
as well, just so I'm pressed with the way the
crowds are turning out in all different parts of the ground.
We've got the port obviously the boisterous home support, but
all around the ground as just Ali, D're on a
weekend where there were so many other things going on,
you know, Luke Holmes sale GP up here, there was
(14:20):
a hot rod show which which got about twenty thousand
people along to still get over fifteen or close to
fifteen thousand at the football. I mean, this club has
very very quickly become you know, a really really exciting
proposition for fans to watch live.
Speaker 4 (14:37):
Yeah, I guess that was the concern when there's so
much going on in Auckland, and I attended the New
Year's Day game and that was I guess a concern
with the crowds because a lot of people tend to
leave Auckland over the summer. But that crowd was probably
one of the top crowds, or at least the most
attended games for Auckland f C so far this season.
I think probably the third or fourth most attended. So yeah,
(14:57):
I think everyone is getting behind Auckland f C. The
game day experience is awesome, like making it so it's
for families and all football fans and they're all coming
together in United mount smart So yeah, Awkings, they have
done an amazing job.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
There was speaking of boisterous crowd You expect them at
the football, but not necessarily at the tennis. The Australian
Open tennis crowds have been in the spotlight a little
bit over the last week to ten days or so.
Certain players haven't been particularly enamored with the way they've
been heckled to, you know, not to too fine a
point on it, what do you make of tennis crowds
(15:31):
getting into the players a little bit?
Speaker 4 (15:34):
I think there is a line in terms of you know,
what is being said and what's being thrown at some
of the athletes. I think athletes have different ways of
handling that sort of thing. I think Daniel Collins in
her second round match when she won her second round
and I guess cupped her hands to her ears and
was giving the bit of stick back to back to
the crowd and you know, snapping her backside, you know,
(15:57):
showing the audience, you know what's what. So I think personally,
as a fan, I sort of enjoy that stuff. It's entertaining,
It gets the crowd involved, finds it gives you a
reason as a fan to you know, either chair for
someone or booth for someone. So it makes tennis a
lot more entertaining from my point of view. But again
there is that line of what's being said in the
(16:18):
abuse that's been held. But I personally I'm a fan
of Daniel Collins now for the way she handled it all.
Speaker 2 (16:24):
Yeah, oh look, and I think I think you won't
be the only one. The only counterpoint I guess is
that tennis has has built a tradition and is steeped
in tradition on being a sport where where that doesn't happen,
where you're quiet when they're serving, where you're watching it
with hush tones where you show respect to pretty much everybody,
and whether you know that, I you know, all sport
(16:44):
has to innovate and has to move on, and we've
seen golf with party holes and things like that. Whether
the Grand Slams are the place for it, I'm not
sure whether whether perhaps you need to target other tournaments
where you try to attract the younger set, people like
you who enjoy that sort of thing and and get
it done there rather than at the majors. I mean,
I wouldn't like to see it at Wimbledon, for example.
(17:05):
It just wouldn't feel right to me.
Speaker 6 (17:06):
I don't know.
Speaker 4 (17:07):
Yeah, I think wimbled it will be the last place
I'd ever expect to see that sort of action. Barguess,
you know, as much as sports that have evolved, I
guess sporting crowds have evolved in as well. So it's
finding ways to get them involved. And if that's the
way to do it at the Aussie Open, then so
be it. But I guess for players who are keen
to buying so that sort of stuff, good on them,
And those who choose to ignore it and maybe use
(17:30):
it as motivation, then good for them.
Speaker 6 (17:32):
As well.
Speaker 2 (17:32):
Indeed, indeed, let lots of talking points when it comes
to that and other bits and pieces too great to
be underway in twenty twenty five in the People's Chamber
with you, Elijah. I know it is Auckland Anniversary next Monday,
so I'll check the roster to see if you and
I can chat, But no doubt we will continue to
talk with one another on Mondays across the year. Thanks
for popping it as.
Speaker 1 (17:53):
Always dissecting the sporting agenda. It's Sportsfix with Jason Vine,
and that.
Speaker 2 (18:01):
Brings to an end the first Sports Fox podcast for
twenty twenty five. It'll be back at tomorrow and every
day of the week, dropping into your podcast feed at
around about this time. If you subscribe, that will happen automatically.
And for more from News Talks ab Sports, tune into
Sports Talk every weeknight between seven and eight all weekend
Sports Saturday and Sunday between midday and three.
Speaker 1 (18:23):
For more from News Talks EDB listen live on air
or online and keep our shows with you wherever you
go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio
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