Ahead of the first fully ticketed event at One New Zealand Stadium, John MacDonald caught up with Greg May, owner of central city bar, Smash Palace.

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Ahead of the first fully ticketed event at One New Zealand Stadium, John MacDonald caught up with Greg May, owner of central city bar, Smash Palace.
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Newstalk ZB Canterbury Mornings 9am-12pm with John MacDonald on 100.1FM and iHeartRadio.

Every weekday join the new voice of local issues on Canterbury Mornings with John MacDonald, 9am-12pm weekdays. It’s all about the conversation with John, as he gets right into the things that get our community talking. If it’s news you’re after, backing John is the combined power of the Newstalk ZB and New Zealand Herald news teams. Meaning when it comes to covering breaking news – you will not beat local radio. With two decades experience in communications based in Christchurch, John also has a deep understanding of and connections to the Christchurch and Canterbury commercial sector. Newstalk ZB Canterbury Mornings 9am-12pm with John MacDonald on 100.1FM and iHeartRadio.

Every weekday join the new voice of local issues on Canterbury Mornings with John MacDonald, 9am-12pm weekdays.It’s all about the conversation with John, as he gets right into the things that get our community talking.

Canterbury Mornings with John MacDonald

Smash Palace Bar owner Greg May on the new stadium

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/860e61e6-1bf0-48f2-8ae2-b436004f15e6/transcript

Ahead of the first fully ticketed event at One New Zealand Stadium, Venues Ōtautahi CEO took John MacDonald on a tour of One New Zealand Stadium.

LISTENABOVE

Ahead of the first fully ticketed event at One New Zealand Stadium, Venues Ōtautahi CEO took John MacDonald on a tour of One New Zealand Stadium.
LISTEN ABOVE

Venues Ōtautahi CEO takes John MacDonald on a tour of One New Zealand Stadium

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/07985066-ff20-4584-82db-b436004ad327/transcript

Make no mistake, today is a massive day for Christchurch.  

Normally, you’d say the official opening - when the ‘hoi-polloi’ gather to cut ribbons and make speeches - is massive. 

But today’s the day. Because today, the stadium becomes ours. 

And I’m with Mayor Phil Mauger who is saying that it has been worth every penny. 

It’s a spend that not everyone has been and will be happy about. But as the mayor is also saying today, he doesn't think people realise yet the benefits it’s going to bring the city. 

Primarily, he’s talking about the economic benefits. And who can argue with the benefits from this weekend alone? 

25,000 people at the stadium tonight. Tens of thousands more tomorrow and Sunday. 

And, as ChristchurchNZ boss Ali Adams is saying today, the stadium will bring people here who will leave with a changed view of the city and some of them will come back. Not just for another visit - but to study, work and invest here. 

But it’s also the social benefits that the stadium is going to bring us.      

It’s a bit of a cliche - but, isn’t it amazing, how things change over time? 

I can still vividly remember going to the old AMI stadium at Lancaster Park with my mate, Adam, taking our two first-borns to see the Crusaders play under the lights. 

My daughter and my mate Adam's son were preschoolers and we had it all organised with enough snacks to keep them happy and enough clothes to keep them warm and all of that. 

Sometimes, of course, half a game would be enough for the wee ones, and we’d shoot off home at half time. 

I can still see the photo. My little girl in her black and red poncho and black and red beanie. 

Fast forward to today and it’s the kids arranging to take me to the big opening game. 

Buying me a ticket for Christmas, telling me the social plan beforehand and afterwards. Which I suspect will see me heading home to bed long before they’re ready to call it a night. 

And just like Lancaster Park or Jade stadium or AMI stadium (whatever you want to call it), I know that our new stadium is going to be the place where future generations of Cantabrians fall in love with the thrill of rowdy togetherness. 

Because this isn’t just a massive pile of concrete and steel in the centre of town. This is going to be the place where we will celebrate the wins. Together.  

Where we’ll accept the losses. Together.  

Where we’ll be moved by the artists and performers who will come to Christchurch from all over the world. We’ll do all of that together.  

And if you’re going to any of the super round matches this weekend - or whenever you end up going - I guarantee that’s one of the first things you will feel.  

I know that because, even at the crusaders training run last week, the overwhelming thing that got me as I walked through those shiny new doors was “here we all are again”. 

15 years later - here we all are again.  

And that’s why I am absolutely fizzing today.

LISTEN ABOVE

Make no mistake, today is a massive day for Christchurch. &nbsp;
Normally, you’d say the official opening - when the ‘hoi-polloi’ gather to cut ribbons and make speeches - is massive.&nbsp;
But today’s the day. Because today, the stadium becomes ours.&nbsp;
And I’m with Mayor Phil Mauger who is saying that it has been worth every penny.&nbsp;
It’s a spend that not everyone has been and will be happy about. But as the mayor is also saying today, he doesn't think people realise yet the benefits it’s going to bring the city.&nbsp;
Primarily, he’s talking about the economic benefits. And who can argue with the benefits from this weekend alone?&nbsp;
25,000 people at the stadium tonight. Tens of thousands more tomorrow and Sunday.&nbsp;
And, as ChristchurchNZ boss Ali Adams is saying today, the stadium will bring people here who will leave with a changed view of the city and some of them will come back. Not just for another visit - but to study, work and invest here.&nbsp;
But it’s also the social benefits that the stadium is going to bring us. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
It’s a bit of a cliche - but, isn’t it amazing, how things change over time?&nbsp;
I can still vividly remember going to the old AMI stadium at Lancaster Park with my mate, Adam, taking our two first-borns to see the Crusaders play under the lights.&nbsp;
My daughter and my mate Adam's son were preschoolers and we had it all organised with enough snacks to keep them happy and enough clothes to keep them warm and all of that.&nbsp;
Sometimes, of course, half a game would be enough for the wee ones, and we’d shoot off home at half time.&nbsp;
I can still see the photo. My little girl in her black and red poncho and black and red beanie.&nbsp;
Fast forward to today and it’s the kids arranging to take me to the big opening game.&nbsp;
Buying me a ticket for Christmas, telling me the social plan beforehand and afterwards. Which I suspect will see me heading home to bed long before they’re ready to call it a night.&nbsp;
And just like Lancaster Park or Jade stadium or AMI stadium (whatever you want to call it), I know that our new stadium is going to be the place where future generations of Cantabrians fall in love with the thrill of rowdy togetherness.&nbsp;
Because this isn’t just a massive pile of concrete and steel in the centre of town. This is going to be the place where we will celebrate the wins. Together. &nbsp;
Where we’ll accept the losses. Together. &nbsp;
Where we’ll be moved by the artists and performers who will come to Christchurch from all over the world. We’ll do all of that together. &nbsp;
And if you’re going to any of the super round matches this weekend - or whenever you end up going - I guarantee that’s one of the first things you will feel. &nbsp;
I know that because, even at the crusaders training run last week, the overwhelming thing that got me as I walked through those shiny new doors was “here we all are again”.&nbsp;
15 years later - here we all are again. &nbsp;
And that’s why I am absolutely fizzing today.
LISTEN ABOVE

John MacDonald: Why the new stadium means so much to us

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/bb137052-cf89-40bf-ad96-b436000d1547/transcript

Ahead of the Super Round weekend in Christchurch, John MacDonald caught up with former All Black and Crusaders legend, Dan Carter.

They discuss Dan's time as a Crusader during the earthquakes, what he reckons of the new One NZ stadium, and the 'Every Drop Challenge' that Dan is hosting at half time on Super Round Sunday.

LISTEN ABOVE

Ahead of the Super Round weekend in Christchurch, John MacDonald caught up with former All Black and Crusaders legend, Dan Carter.
They discuss Dan's time as a Crusader during the earthquakes, what he reckons of the new One NZ stadium, and the 'Every Drop Challenge' that Dan is hosting at half time on Super Round Sunday.
LISTEN ABOVE

Dan Carter on playing for the Crusaders during the earthquakes

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/919c6375-3962-404a-a62c-b4350184fbe2/transcript

Smash Palace Bar owner Greg May on the new stadium

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