New home on the cards for Crusaders?

News that the Government has commissioned a pre-feasibility study for a new multi-purpose arena in Christchurch has been welcomed by the Crusaders, with Chief Executive Officer Hamish Riach calling it a positive step forward for the project.

"We consider this to be a significant and positive step in the right direction," Riach said. 

"The pre-feasibility study is important for the Government and Christchurch City Council to fully understand the benefits and financial implications of this project, and we hope that it will provide the information they need to then press ahead with planning for this essential piece of our city's infrastructure. We are available to assist this process in any way we can and have already conveyed that to the Christchurch Stadium Trust.

"Through independent research commissioned by the Crusaders and CRFU at the end of 2015, we received the clear message from Cantabrians that they want to see a new multi-use venue built in Christchurch. 94 percent of those surveyed said they believe Christchurch needs a modern outdoor events facility and 91 percent believed it should be a mixed-use venue. 

"Only four percent of the 770 residents surveyed said that they did not think the city needs a modern outdoor events centre. We are therefore very pleased to see that the Government has funded the study to progress this project."

The study will include costs and specifics of the project and the report is expected to be completed by the end of July.

The Crusaders currently play their home games at AMI Stadium in Christchurch, which has a capacity of 18 000, after Lancaster Park (Jade Stadium) was damaged during the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake.