March 6, 2011
Stadium tackles its biggest logistical challenge
Stadium Southland staff tackled the biggest logistical challenge in the venue’s history today, transforming its ILT Velodrome into a multi-functional event arena of international calibre.
The installation of a Juncker wooden court in the centre of the velodrome was a significant milestone for stadium staff.
“Aligning all aspects of this project is the biggest operational challenge we’ve faced since the stadium opened,” general manager Nigel Skelt said.
“But being awarded an international netball test shows the faith sports’ governing bodies have in our ability to pull this ambitious plan off.
“Our team are so excited about the next phase in our development … since that fateful day in September we haven’t had the razzmatazz in the venue so we are eager to host more exciting world-class events.
“This is something new, it’s innovative and you can guarantee no other velodrome in the world looks like this.”
Construction of the “giant jigsaw” began early yesterday morning and took seven hours for the 10-strong team to complete. Each of the 882 European beech court pieces was numbered to ensure smooth installation in the future.
“It’s very satisfying to see the floor in place and to see our vision finally become a reality,” Skelt said.
“The Southern Steel and the Sharks now have a home court but the success of this venture rests with their parochial fans and their ability to recreate the intimidating atmosphere our fallen fortress was famous for.”
Hardwood Technologies project supervisor Jason Smith, of Auckland, was on-site to assist with the court’s installation.
An agent for Juncker, the Auckland firm has completed 24 gyms in the past year and is in the process of installing 10 wooden courts at the new Wellington Stadium, which will earn the title of New Zealand’s largest sporting venue.
Smith said wooden surfaces were simply the standard athletes has come to expect in the modern sporting era.
“Rubber is for outside, timber is for inside – athletes from any sport will tell you they would rather play on wood,” he said.
“What Stadium Southland is installing here is as good as it gets – they’ve just had the World under-20 championships on this floor and Juncker has supplied surfaces for the Olympic Games in the past.”
He applauded the innovation shown by Southlanders to convert the velodrome into a multi-purpose facility.
“It’s going to be fantastic – I can’t wait to see it completed with all the seating in place.”
