Auckland’s Eden Park might be scrapped as an international cricket venue because of its high rental cost, and New Zealand Cricket (NZC) is looking for an alternate “fit-for-purpose” venue, wrote David White, the NZC chief executive, in a submission to the Auckland Council on Tuesday, May 22.
Eden Park has been one of the most prominent cricket centres in New Zealand, hosting international cricket since 1930. With a capacity of over 40,000, Eden Park is a multi-sport venue that has hosted rugby matches – union and league – along with football and cricket.
The Eden Park’s shape, a rectangular football-sized field, is also one of the concerns for NZC, as it “continually risks compromising the integrity of cricket matches hosted there”.
White said that the Western Springs stadium in the city could be turned into “a full-sized, oval-shaped playing arena; able to cater for both small and large crowds in a relaxed, grass-banked, more cricket-centric surrounding”.
