The Sports Park has been confirmed as the venue for the December 2010 New Zealand Secondary School Athletics Championships.
"We’ve just received confirmation from the Sports Council of the New Zealand Secondary Schools Association and we’re delighted," says Allan Potts, Chair of Hastings Athletics. "The Nationals are the first major athletics event that will use the new grandstand. It’s going to be a great. We know the track is fast and I’m confident records will be broken," he says.
Hosting rights for the Secondary Schools Champs follows earlier confirmation that the Primary School equivalent – the Colgate Games – will also be held at the Park, in February 2011.
The two events are expected to bring over 8000 athletes and supporters into Hawke’s Bay.
"One of the reasons we were concerned about legal delays in building the grandstand was because it placed these events in jeopardy," says Sports Park Trust Chair Lawrence Yule. "However the grandstand will be built on time and these two events alone will bring about $3 million into the local economy. It just shows what facilities like this can bring to the Bay."
"Imagine what a sporting and economic engine room we’re going to have if we get the green light for the Unison Velodrome," he says.
SPARC is undertaking a review of major sporting facilities and Hawke’s Bay is one of several regions bidding to be the centre for an indoor velodrome. If the region receives SPARC’s endorsement, it stands a strong chance of attracting the necessary funding to make the velodrome a reality.
In August Unison announced a $1 million sponsorship package in support of Hawke’s Bay’s bid.
