Big Screen For Aotea’s RWC Party Uptown Central
Posted by Jon C in Auckland CityNov 12th, 2009 | 8 responses
AOTEA: Repairs and upgrades will take until next October
How many party centrals do we need for the RWC?
I notice Auckland City Council’s Arts, Culture and Recreation committee has approved the purchase of a big screen in Aotea Square to be installed on the square-facing facade of the Skycity Metro building.
The price tag for the big screen? $1.65m.
Couldn’t they have scored a cheaper bargain at JB HI-FI just over the road a bit?
Or, better still and cheaper, maybe borrowed the IMAX screen from next door for a few weeks during the rugby cup?
This will happen as part of that square’s redevelopment, which will be finished in about a year’s time and in time for the RWC.
During the rugby cup time, Aotea Square is supposed to be an uptown festival venue while fans get drunk at Queens Wharf (Hmm.. hang on isn’t that on hold?)
In Melbourne, they use a big screen to help help people see concerts in their main centre Fed square and, during summer , broadcast live TV of local cricket. It’s a nice addition. I saw it in action one January and it seemed to get a lot of attention.
The redevelopment of Aotea Square is costing $80m and includes repairing the leaks of the civic car park roof and upgrading the car park as well as improving the centre’s entrance and improving the square, which they never got right and I’m not convinced they will this time.
8 Responses to “Big Screen For Aotea’s RWC Party Uptown Central”
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The big screen is meant to be a permanent fixture. It’s not just there for RWC. I think it will be a welcome addition.
It will be. It works well in Melbourne.
I think this is a terrible idea. You already can’t go into a pub/bar or ferry without having Rugby thrust upon you from multiple screens – why on earth do we need another TV outside? What’s it going to do after the RWC? – pump out advertising no doubt. They may as well finish the square upgrade with some velor couches and some lazy-boys!!
As mentioned above, Melbourne’s Fed Square works brilliantly with the screen.
The screen will be a great public addition for the rugby world cup and beyond. Good way to spice up the area. Also you do know that you are living in a rugby mad nation, the national sport which is apart of our National Identity.
Not tonight. Everyone I know is watching soccer – possibly for the first time in their life! If the All Whites move towards the World Cup, that may change the balance….
Haha, everyone will support them, it’s an accomplishment that we have not been able to do for years. It’s an great achievement however wont change the balance. If it comes down to rugby vs. soccer you know which will perceive the most support.
Brian Rudman had an interesting article about the screen in the Herald today:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10609455