Big Stadium, Small City: A Catalyst for Turbulence and Governance Reforms. Issue 3 (3rd July 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sam, Michael P.; Scherer, Jay
• Is Part Of: Urban policy and research. Volume 37:Issue 3(2019)
• Page Start: 310
• Page End: 323
• Publication Date: 2019-07-03
• Subjects: Stadium financing -- governance -- council controlled organisations -- consultants -- small cities -- turbulence; City planning -- Australia -- Periodicals; City planning -- New Zealand -- Periodicals; City planning -- Pacific Area -- Periodicals; Urban policy -- Australia -- Periodicals; Urban policy -- New Zealand -- Periodicals; Urban policy -- Pacific Area -- Periodicals; 307.7609905
• DOI: 10.1080/08111146.2019.1610869
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0811-1146

Abstract

ABSTRACT: New sport stadia are always contentious projects but in small cities, the stakes may be proportionally higher. This study analyses the turbulence generated by a stadium's approval and financing in Dunedin, New Zealand (2004-2017).It analyses: 1) the city's deferment of advice and fundraising to a charitable trust, 2) the financing apparatus that used council-owned companies (COCs) to obfuscate costs, and 3) the resultant consequences including legal proceedings, COC reforms and company failures. It is suggested that the porousness of governance arrangements invited scrutiny of the links between the city and its COCs, and by extension induced a temporary halt to the softening public-private boundary.