New management of Invercargill’s Rugby Park to deliver new opportunities

With Invercargill City Council set to take on the management of the debt-ridden Rugby Park as early as this week, the venue is seen as offering massive potential for sport and entertainment events.

The Council is expected to pass a resolution to transfer ownership from the Southland Outdoor Stadium Trust (SOST) at a meeting on Tuesday (19th May), with the Council budgeting $290,000 each year for operating and maintenance costs as well as funding the settlement of a $400,000 debt owed by the SOST to the Community Trust of Southland.

When licensing and related issues are resolved,the venue will be managed by Invercargill Venue and Events Management Ltd  - the Council Controlled Organiation (CCO) that manages the South Island city’s Scottish Hall and Civic Theatre.

Rugby Park is seen as having huge opportunity as a venue, with Sport Southland Chief Executive Brendon McDermott highlighting how the home of the Southland Stags would be boosted by improved management and marketing.

Earlier this year McDermott suggested that Sport Southland could be interested in assisting the Council, based on its expertise in sports and event management.

McDermott stated "I think there's huge opportunity. (However), there's been no marketing strategy around getting extra usage.”

Sport Southland used Rugby Park in December last year for its Mitre 10 Mega Tough Kids challenge, with over 800 children from 19 schools taking part in the challenge.

McDermott said the park could be - size limitations dependent - used by any grass-based sport and there had been discussions over the years about trying to organise a rugby 10s tournament there.

While some sports have been deterred from using Rugby Park because of its perceived high hire costs, McDermott hope that events such as the Tough Kids challenge would regularly use the venue.

Rugby Southland, whose future had been in question before the Council's decision to take over Rugby Park, recently forecast a surplus of about $174,000 for its 2014 accounts.

10th April 2015 - NEW MANAGEMENT FOR INVERCARGILL’S RUGBY PARK