The ground’s new embankment was officially opened at its launch last night, as councillor Andrew Whiley cut the tape.
Built at a 1:12 gradient the embankment, which cost $750,000 to expand and redevelop, would increase the ground’s capacity to 6000, while keeping the boundary sizes the same.
The upgrades also included a new scoreboard, costing about $110,000.
With the Otago Volts set to play their first game game at the ground on November 5, Otago Cricket Association chief executive Mike Coggan said the upgrade was 95% complete.
"The scoreboard needs to be covered at all times when it’s not in use. It’s modern technology and as much as it’s waterproof, to make sure that we have a warranty on it for the next little while it’s got to be covered to make sure it’s protected," Coggan said.
"So we’ve got to work with engineers and look at a cover ... that’s easy to [get] on and off, particularly for four-day cricket when there’s only one or two people around."
The cover needed to be one which would not touch the LED panels at the front, meaning things such as flapping in the wind needed to be taken into account.
Coggan said it was not a challenge, just one of the last things that needed to be done.
"We’ve got to build some steps over the eastern embankment so that people can access the toilets and the water fountains over the back field when the test cricket is on.
"We’ve got to relocate toilets and the water fountains from the Cricket World Cup and we’re also going to get the Sky television camera tower at midwicket on the western embankment up.
"Then there’s all the planting around the back of the embankments that still has to be completed. But other than that, the embankments themselves are looking great, fully grassed and all ready for domestic cricket."
The ground though has greened up well, thanks to spring rain and should be all set to go next Saturday for the first match involving Otago and Central Districts in a Plunket Shield match.
Several people involved with Otago cricket spoke at the opening, including new chairman James Lovelock, who takes over from Murray Hughes.
Lovelock was appointed to the role unanimously by the OCA board after Wednesday’s annual meeting.
"James has been on the board for seven or eight years prior to when he stood off the board this time last year, because he had a conflict with his role as the manager of the Otago Volts," Coggan said.
"He was probably always one of the successors of Murray if he stayed there and he put his name forward. There was two or three other high quality candidates on the board that just didn’t have time to commit to that role at this stage in their business life.
"[Lovelock has a] good understanding and relationships with New Zealand cricket and the wider association to be successful and seamlessly move into that role."
