The Government might contribute $2 million towards the cost of rebuilding ILT Stadium Southland, Prime Minister John Key said in Invercargill yesterday.
The city's covered sports and entertainment stadium has been rebuilt and enlarged at a cost of about $43 million, after its roof collapsed under the weight of an unexpected snowfall in September, 2010.
Speaking at the lunchtime official reopening function, Mr Key received thunderous applause when he said the Government would contribute something.
''Come and see us and we will see what we can do,'' he told about 150 invited guests.
He said he would like to see the new stadium opened debt-free.
''You rattle the tin at your end and we might finish the job ... We financed enough stadiums during the Rugby World Cup. Let's call this a late Rugby World Cup bid.''
Later in the afternoon he told media the contribution could be ''a couple of million''.
Discussions under way with the Southland Indoor Leisure Centre Trust were close to being finalised he said, saying he expected a decision ''sooner rather than later, perhaps within a month''.
After the old stadium collapsed, only the core central services area remained undamaged. But as plans were being drawn up for the repair it was discovered that section failed to meet the new earthquake standards of the rest of the building and the trust made the decision to bring it up to code.
Trust chairman Acton Smith said at yesterday's function the trust did not have all the money it needed to pay for the rebuild. The shortfall was about $5 million but the exact figure was not known because the trust was still negotiating with the stadium's insurers on the final payout.
The new stadium reopened to the public in February, after a 40-month construction programme. Among its facilities are a main court with fixed seating on one wall and three sets of retractable seating, giving a total capacity of 4017 - 880 more than previously.
The number of courts for community use has been increased to seven. Foyer, lounge and ticketing areas have been enlarged and the number of toilets doubled. Facilities for players and officials have also been significantly upgraded.
- by Allison Beckham
