Christchurch stadium opening a mixed bag for local businesses

The much-anticipated opening of Christchurch’s new covered stadium has widely been deemed a success. But for some local businesses, its arrival hasn’t brought the economic windfall they had hoped. Indiana Bell reports.

Sanila Tandukar expected the opening of nearby One New Zealand Stadium to bring extra customers to her food truck, Flame 5.

Instead, its location, just east of Barbadoes St, on Tuam St, has become her “biggest challenge,” as Flame 5 grapples with road closures and low foot traffic.

Tandukar said her business was not alone and others in the area have also been struggling to find the “economic boost” Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger promised Te Kaha would bring.

The 30,000-seat stadium officially opened on March 27 and generated $21 million in 60 days, according to the Christchurch City Council.

“We initially thought that the stadium’s going to open and we’re going to have more crowds,” Tandukar said.

Sanila Tandukar. Photo / Indiana Bell

In the week of its opening, Flame 5 began preparing its Indian and Latin street food one week in advance, ordering extra stock in expectation of thousands of visitors passing through the area.

But the opening week was a major disappointment.

Twelve roads were temporarily closed to traffic, restricting access before and after events at the stadium, including parts of Tuam, Madras, Hereford, Barbadoes, Cashel, Lichfield, High and Worcester streets.

This not only kept new customers away but made it hard for their regulars who pull up on Tuam St to collect their takeaway meal.

“Everybody [on the street] was hoping for the stadium and it just went the opposite way for everyone,” Tandukar said.

“It’s not only about us. It’s about the whole street. The supermarket is losing money and the cafe is for sale because everybody was hoping for the stadium.”

Flame 5 was not the only business that failed to see the expected boost.

Blissful Brew, a Tuam St cafe, also “didn’t get much benefit”.

Ramandeep Kaur said the biggest challenges the stadium brought were during its construction.

She said the roads were closed, and traffic was low, which “affected our customers”.

“That time was tough. We suffered for the last one-and-a-half years because of the construction.”

Now that the stadium is open, she has seen little benefit to her cafe.

“There is no impact from the stadium on our business. It’s still the same before the stadium and after the stadium,” Kaur said.

She said customers often ate inside the stadium rather than at nearby businesses.

But not every business has shared their experience.

Scott Walklin, who is the strategic director of Sign Network Ltd on Saint Asaph St, said his business has been unaffected.

“I have been impressed,” he said, “considering our proximity to the stadium, we haven’t actually had any interruptions.”

Scott Walklin, strategic director of Sign Network Ltd on Saint Asaph St, said the stadium had not adversely affected their operations. Photo / Indiana Bell

He thinks the stadium is “awesome” for Christchurch and has loved seeing the influx of foot traffic in the area.

Although “it doesn’t make much of a difference to our type of business, I have definitely seen some of the uptake in local cafes and bars and it’s just great to have that vibe in the city”.

Venues Ōtautahi chief executive Caroline Harvie-Teare said it understands the traffic management plan may have had some “unexpected consequences” for local businesses.

Venues Ōtautahi has been working with these businesses to reduce the footprint of the traffic management plan and the time that the plan is in place.

“We don’t want the stadium to have any kind of negative impact on anyone,” she said.

However, Tandukar said the reduced trade has left her questioning whether continuing the business is worth it. Alongside fewer customers, three break-ins this year have added further pressure.

She said the thieves would have got maybe $3, $4 from her truck, since little money is kept in it.

But this has not stopped thieves from stealing a gas cylinder, chairs, tables and food from the freezer, including beef and fries and leaving the owners to pay to fix the damage.

“We’re not making any money. We’re putting money in from our own pockets to serve the community good food.”

Tandukar hopes businesses like hers will eventually see the benefits they had expected when the stadium opened.

“We opened this food truck to connect with more people ... to make a place where people can come, sit and enjoy good food. That’s why we’re still here.”