Vector Arena
Introduction |
Transport and access | Noise
| Facts at a glance
|
Parties
| QPAM Limited | What's a BOOT? | The Quay Park site | Services
and facilities
| Key milestones | Student information
Facts at a glance
In 1996, Auckland City Council started planning for an indoor arena. It envisaged developing a world-class facility which would enable
Auckland (and New Zealand) to host a widevariety of international-standard sports and entertainment events.
What is Vector Arena
Vector Arena is a multi-functional and technically
sophisticated facility that caters for large and small events.
The indoor arena seats up to 12,000 people for a wide
variety of events - ranging from international netball and basketball to family
shows, opera, rock concerts, business events and exhibitions. It is possible to
"section off" areas to create intimate spaces for smaller events.
Included in the arena are food and beverage facilities as
well as spaces for corporate entertainment.
The need for an arena
Auckland City Council deems a facility like Vector Arena to
be an essential part of the infrastructure of a vibrant city.
Vector Arena brings business and employment opportunities
for Aucklanders, and contributes to the cultural and sporting vitality of the
city.
The arena's development contributed to the revitalisation
of an area of long-neglected downtown waterfront space.
Who's who on the arena project
Auckland City Council was the principal funder of Vector
Arena under a BOOT (build, own, operate, transfer) arrangement.
QPAM Limited built Vector
Arena. It also owns, operates and maintains the facility under a 40-year rights
agreement with Auckland City Council. At the end of 40 years, ownership of the
arena will transfer to Auckland City Council at no further cost to ratepayers. A
condition of the agreement is that the arena is in good working order at the
time of transfer.
The Sydney-based company, Jacobsen Venue Management Limited, owns QPAM
Limited.
Vector Limited is the naming rights sponsor.
NZ firm Mainzeal was the construction company for Vector
Arena.
The site
Vector Arena is located at Quay Park, alongside the old
Auckland Railway Station in Beach Road. The site is leased by Auckland City
Council from Ngati Whatua o Orakei Maori Trust Board. The council chose this
site because it is easy to access by road and public transport and is within
easy walking distance of the CBD's hotels, restaurants and parking as well as
ferry, bus and train services.
In June 1998 the Hillary Commission endorsed the Quay Park
site as the best of three proposed arena sites in the Auckland region, saying:
"This site is an opportunity which will not be repeated. It provides a location
with the dual advantages of excellent access for all transport modes and a place
along Auckland's waterfront".
The cost
Auckland City Council invested $71.1 million in the
development of Vector Arena. QPAM Limited contributed $12.75 million plus the costs of
getting the arena operational.
The only ongoing cost to the council will be reimbursement
of rates on the arena site - 100 per cent for the first 15 years, 50 per cent
for the second 15 years and 25 per cent for the final 10 years of the 40-year
BOOT agreement.
The council will receive a royalty of 20 cents for every
ticket sold, which will go into a fund for community events. It will also
receive a royalty from arena rental revenues once these reach a specified level.
Consultation
The council has consulted extensively - first on the
proposal to build an arena and then on the proposal to contribute to its cost.
Most people who responded to these consultations supported the proposals.
There was extensive consultation with the event promoters
and sports organisations that intend to use the arena, to ensure that the
building met their requirements.
