There is a gap then between that one and this one (posts that is) for no reason other than I haven’t.
Since then – 22nd September – and now seems like a life time.
I’ve been to Eden Park for the League tests. Apart from a weird decision to close the over bridge at Kingsland which prevented me going to the pub pre-game it worked out well.
The bus from Albany to the Stadium was awesome – and free- the longest part of the journey along the torturous road past St.Lukes. I’m sure they’ll not fix that before the RWC arrives – I’m not holding my breath.
At the stadium however they need to figure out the method of getting in at which gate, and where and why some of the concession places are there. Clearly for an event of 4 hours there was a need for refreshment, but there are ways to try and minimise over consumption.
For a single event though why sell beer? Who can’t go 90 minutes without a beer, or wine? The same people who need blaring music every time the game stops for any reason, just in case we get bored?
And when “we” the crowd get bored what happens – “we” entertain ourselves – with the mexican wave. The throwing things in the air bit is a mystery – but hey they sell beer in plastic bottles that gather around your feet – what else to do with them?
And if beer is such an issue I’d suggest that having staff wandering around selling directly to the crowd from shoulder bags may not be a good idea – host responsibility and all that.
The stadium does look half finished though, 4 stands – all different – I’m sure some of the seats are better than others – but lets put on record that I wouldn’t particularly pay hundreds of dollars for one for any event.

Abbey Dubbel
Abbey Tripel
Abt/Quadrupel
Altbier
Amber Ale
Amber Lager/Vienna
American Dark Lager
American Pale Ale
American Strong Ale
Baltic Porter
Barley Wine
Belgian Ale
Belgian Strong Ale
Belgian Style Wit
Belgian White Witbier
Bière de Champagne / Bière Brut
Bière de Garde
Bitter
Black IPA
Bohemian Pilsener
Brown Ale
California Common
Cider
Cream Ale
Czech Pilsner
Doppelbock
Dortmunder/Helles
Dunkel / Munich Lager
Dry Stout
Dunkler Bock
English Pale Ale
English Strong Ale
Flanders Red Ale
Foreign Stout
Fruit Beer
German Hefeweizen
German Kristalweizen
Golden Ale/Blond Ale
Grodziskie Lichtenhainer
Heller Bock
Imperial Stout
Imperial/Double IPA
Imperial/Strong Porter
IPA – India Pale Ale
Irish Ale
Kolsch
Lambic
Low Alcohol
Mead
NZ Pale Ale
Old Ale
Pale Ale
Pale Lager
Pilsener
Porter
Premium Bitter/ESB
Premium Lager
Red Ale
Russian Imperial Stout
Sahti
Saison
Schwarzbier
Scotch Ale
Session IPA
Smoked ale
Sour Red/Brown
Sour/Wild Ale
Specialty Grain
Spice/Herb/Vegetable
Stout
Strong Pale Lager/Imperial Pils
Sweet Stout
Traditional Ale
Weizen Bock
Wheat Ale
Wit Beer
Zwickel/Keller/Landbier
American Beer
Australian Beer
Austrian Beer
Belgium Beer
Canadian Beer
Chinese Beer
Danish Beer
Dutch Beer
English Beer
French Beer
German Beer
Icelandic Beer
Irish Beer
Italian Beer
Japanese Beer
New Zealand Beer
Norwegian Beer
Peruvian Beer
Polish Beer
Russian Beer
Samoan Beer
Scottish Beer
Singaporean Beer
Spanish Beer
Swedish Beer
Tahiti Beer
Ukraine Beer
Wales Beer