Western Springs

PHOTO: The Dream That Vanished: Auckland Arena Proposal Pulled Last-Minute. Six60 at Western Springs | RNZ

In a stunning last-minute move, the Auckland Arena proposal — backed by some of New Zealand’s most recognisable names — has been pulled from the Western Springs Stadium redevelopment race.

An aerial view of Western Springs Stadium, the subject of Auckland Council’s public consultation on its future use.

An aerial view of Western Springs Stadium, the subject of Auckland Council’s public consultation on its future use. (Source: Local Democracy Reporting)

🧠 Who was behind the pitch?

  • 🏉 Former All Black Ali Williams

  • 💼 Entrepreneur and ZURU co-founder Anna Mowbray

  • 🏀 NBA superstar Steven Adams

  • 🇺🇸 US billionaire and sports mogul Bill Foley

These heavyweight backers planned a privately funded, world-class football and entertainment venue. But now, the proposal is officially off the table.

Western Springs Stadium Set for Major Transformation – The Bold Plans That Could Change Auckland Forever | WATCH

📉 Council “Disappointed” After Public Weigh-In

🔍 Tātaki Auckland Unlimited (TAU) had earlier signalled the Auckland Arena project as its preferred option for the future of the stadium.

But just days before making a recommendation to Auckland Council, the backers abruptly withdrew from the EOI process.

“We were disappointed to hear of the withdrawal. The panel deemed it the most positive solution for Auckland.”
— TAU Chief Executive, Nick Hill

TAU has now delayed its recommendation until after the October local elections, adding fresh uncertainty to the already tense debate.

Ali Williams’ Mind-Blowing $300M Stadium Plan Will Change Auckland Forever | WATCH

🗣️ Public Feedback: No Clear Winner

📝 From 14,894 public submissions, here’s how Aucklanders weighed in on the stadium’s future:

📊 Individual Submitters:

  • 🛠️ 33% — Explore other ideas (like returning speedway)

  • 🎤 30% — Support the Western Springs Bowl live events concept

  • 🏟️ 21% — Backed the Auckland Arena (now cancelled)

  • 💤 16% — Leave it as-is

🏢 Organisation Submissions:

  • 🔍 35% — Explore other options

  • 🏉 33% — Western Springs Bowl

  • 🤝 29% — Auckland Arena

  • ⏳ 3% — Status quo

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🏚️ What’s Next for the Site?

Now that the Auckland Arena bid is dead, the council has two major options left to review:

  1. The Western Springs Bowl – a 5,000–8,000 seat live music and semi-pro sports venue

  2. A return to speedway – reviving the century-long history of motorsport on-site

With the decision now postponed and election season looming, the fate of this iconic Auckland property remains up in the air.

🎯 Real estate watchers and investors will be following this closely — especially with the site’s location in a prime inner-city green space surrounded by high-value suburbs like Ponsonby and Grey Lynn.

🧭 Real Estate Angle: Inner-City Land With Untapped Potential

Western Springs Stadium is more than just a venue — it’s a multi-million-dollar piece of real estate sitting on some of the most desirable public land in Auckland. A successful development here would not only impact sport and entertainment, but also local house prices, tourism, and infrastructure investment.

With the richest backers now pulling out, is it a lost opportunity — or a chance to go back to the drawing board?

🔚 Final Word

One thing is clear: Western Springs is at a crossroads.
🏁 Speedway, 🎤 live music, or 🏟️ something entirely new — the community, investors, and property sector alike will be watching closely as Auckland Council rethinks its strategy.

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