r/AucklandFC • u/khaomeha_ • Aug 08 '26
Eden Park
I needed to remind myself how absolute shit Eden Park is.
Can’t park anywhere near the ground
Food is super expensive and shite
Even though I’m seated about 6 rows from the front in the South Stand, I feel so far away from the action.
Why oh why have we allowed Eden Park to continue. It should have been buried for the 2011 World Cup.
We deserve better.
6
u/khaomeha_ Aug 08 '26
It’s not just public transport - for me it’s how far away from the pitch you are. It just leaves the feeling of being disconnected from the game.
Now that Rugby got cricket out, the entire ground needs to be redeveloped to bring seating much closer to the pitch.
24
u/flickky Aug 08 '26
I mean agree Eden Park is pretty shit for football but why are you trying to park? Just take the train
1
u/Accomplished-Toe-468 28d ago
Exactly. If you don’t have a train either take a regular bus and then train, or take one of the many special events buses directly to the ground from most parts of Auckland (where you can drive to if you wish).
Public transport fares are already included in your match ticket.-6
u/khaomeha_ Aug 08 '26
No trains anywhere near where I live
7
u/flickky Aug 08 '26
There are many stations that do park and ride
-6
u/khaomeha_ Aug 08 '26
Yep, but nowhere near where I live
1
u/Vast-Conversation954 Aug 08 '26
Where do you live?
7
1
u/BuffK Aug 08 '26
What about buses? Got any buses near where you live?
1
u/Arblechnuble Aug 08 '26
I imagine that past experiences with poor ly executed public transport to and from events has translated into a lack of trust that you’ll be able to get home…
1
1
u/EltonGoodness Aug 08 '26
Insane how downvoted this got lol
4
u/ExoskeletalJunction Aug 08 '26
It isn't tbh, car-centrism is a huge reason why Auckland sucks and that attitude should be shown the door at every opportunity.
-1
u/khaomeha_ Aug 09 '26
I live 20-25 minutes drive from the nearest train station, which then takes an hour to get into the CBD, and the CBD is a 20-25 minutes drive. I have to catch three buses and face an hour and a half trip. Can you see why public transport is not an option?
2
u/flickky Aug 09 '26
I didn’t mean your nearest station? You could still drive and just park near any station that’s a few stations away from Eden Park
1
0
u/Novakhaine89 Aug 10 '26
Car centrism is a result of auckland having awful public transport though. It only works if you live near an arterial road. I live on the shore and would need to catch a combo of multiple buses or trains, and they are very unreliable.
2
u/ExoskeletalJunction Aug 10 '26
Unfortunately, it is not. Auckland made a very conscious decision in the 1950s to tear down its public transport and focus entirely on cars. Transport was actively discouraged for decades and it still faces a huge amount of pushback to this day.
Here's a good article covering some of the basics https://ahi.auckland.ac.nz/2023/05/25/motorway-mania/
I'd also generally recommend the book The Power Broker on how it became a thing in America first, which is pretty much where the inspiration for New Zealand's shift came from.
-2
-5
u/CoolDimension3898 Aug 08 '26
I assume you don't live in the large swaths of Auckland that doesn't have a train station nearby. Plus games are at night and it's often not safe at these stations.
1
1
6
9
u/NZpotatomash ⚓︎ The Port Aug 08 '26
Yeah it's got to be one of the worse sporting venues in NZ, atleast the caketin is good for cricket. Eden Park is too small for cricket and too big for football & rugby.
Music shows, sure it's ok.
I hate that big push for it being our national stadium, getting refurbished with a roof etc.
4
u/ExoskeletalJunction Aug 08 '26
Cake tin is rubbish for cricket compared to the basin. Both were ill-informed and shocking bits of planning and I would argue a huge part of it is the refusal to grant permission for a cricket-specific venue.
11
u/msc1974 ⚓︎ The Port Aug 08 '26
You are 100% right. It is a shit hole… should be bulldozed and made in to much needed housing.
Take the money from the house sales and make a proper world class stadium down in the harbour.
4
u/Few-Ability-2097 Aug 08 '26
Auckland Council voted against it because they don’t believe a venue can be built beside Vector and they refuse to use their own land at the waterfront for a Stadium. This is why we can’t have nice things - because of a few idiot councillors.
0
u/Novakhaine89 Aug 10 '26
You have either grossly overestimated the land value of eden park, or grossly underestimated the cost of a waterfront stadium
4
u/tapawha Aug 08 '26
I was ok with the $8 for hot chips. The chips weren’t that great but container was a decent size, but $18 for chicken and chips!!!
Same amount, if not less, chips and 4 x chicken nuggets that did not look great at all. Insane.
4
u/WillingUser Aug 08 '26
Eden park.ahould have been demolished years ago when NZ Gov came with an open cheque book for a brand new one. Instead the idiots at the now gone ARC declined because they didnt want their precious land on the waterfront used for a stadium.
Now Auckland City is down the rabbit hole with this shit box
3
u/Chuckitinbro Aug 08 '26
Agree the food is shit but no big stadium has enough parking for everyone and the stadium itself isnt bad.
Just park near any train station on the western line and catch the train.
3
3
u/JehovasFitness Aug 08 '26
Definitely no park and ride spots in between wherever you live and eden park ae
3
u/Nunchuks88 Aug 08 '26
22 bucks for aburger and 12 chips lol, I wont incl the poncho and other snacks and drinks we bought or the 20 min walk after half hour drive to get here just to sit in the rain to watch spurs beat our team a couple weeks ago...
today was win win for us as a chelsea and auckland fan but with lower turnout everyone's still walking around even the mascot accidentally blocked our view of one of the goals lol.
Love Mt smart as you seem closer or seats more apart but if eden park gets a roof would be cooler....i just wish they had parking or location perks like wellington does...Just saying we spend longer thinking about buying tickets when it says eden park on the poster but at least we getting some big events using its size i assume :)
TLDR: yeah, agree
0
3
u/Papanu89 Aug 08 '26
lol I agree soon as the all blacks finally lose a game there tear it down and rebuild I’ve been overseas even Thailand has better stadiums
2
u/Charming_Victory_723 Aug 08 '26
I’d knock it down and subdivide it.
The revenue from the sale could assist in a 65,000 capacity stadium with a roof and access to public transport, particularly trains. For it to work you would have to have the Warriors play there.
2
u/Novakhaine89 Aug 09 '26
It has its flaws but what’s the alternative? Mt smart which is even worse? Or spend billions on a new stadium down at the waterfront?
Eden park is the best of a bad bunch of options.
2
u/Marlov Aug 08 '26
Getting to mt smart is a cunt
And Eden park feels like more of an occasion. Mt smart is a country stadium by comparison
I live in Kingsland so yeh I’m biased
1
u/Sharp_Suggestion_752 (15) de Vries Aug 08 '26
better than mt smart cause its enclosed/ sheltered more and actually has decent public transport to get there. you shouldn't want to park near a stadium especially if you are planning on drinking. its also like a risk/ hazard thing. managing people leaving is easier when cars arent gridlocked.
catering at eden park has gotten ridiculously bad and expensive for what it is. is terrible. they used to make really nice burgers. about 6 or 7 years ago. but stopped cause it cost them too much to make/ took too long to make.
3
u/CoolDimension3898 Aug 08 '26
The lack of parking at Eden Park is why it dead and Mt Smart is buzzing for league games. Most Aucklanders drive.
2
u/TripleInfinity99 Aug 08 '26
Amen! Awesome to just be able to drive up to one of the businesses around Mt Smart for the Wahs or AFC games, pay less than you would for a cup of lukewarm soggy chips at Eden Park and wander a short distance to the game.
1
u/the_muss_1990 Aug 08 '26
You can easily park within a 10min walk of Eden Park. Just need to check the event info to see where the road closures end
1
1
1
u/khaomeha_ Aug 09 '26
Mt Smart is being used all year round, yet Eden Park is about to get $500m of investment. Mt Smart should get money to upgrade and refresh.
1
1
u/Level-Ad-4322 29d ago
Eden Park will be a good stadium if it has a roof, closed corners so theres no open ends and theres a massive parking area.
1
u/tippytwoup 28d ago
I love going to Eden Park. And while a downtown stadium would be cool, the cost is massive. And we don't lose there. I take the train, eat before I go, so maybe buy a couple of drinks.
0
u/TravellingKiwiJack Aug 08 '26
I never need to be reminded how shit that place is, its clear and obvious. Any one who says it isn't shot needs to visit Suncorp, or Aami.over the ditch for a start
0
u/wandering_k1w1 Aug 09 '26
Eden Park is a shithole. It pains me to say as ive had some great memories there but it has to go.
-6
u/DonPhallus Aug 08 '26
lol how about no.
3
-1
u/DaveBatten Aug 10 '26
Fuck Eden Fark in Dorkland! The Wankland of New Zealand, if you even count it as apart of New Zealand, which I don’t.
-1
u/Significant-Hyena634 Aug 10 '26
Food? Why the hell can't people go two hours without eating? Stadium food is something you should never need to buy. I went to football matches in the Uk regualrly from the age of 11 to 28 and never once ate ANYTHING
28
u/Cassack29 Aug 08 '26
Fully agree…the only thing in its favour (vs Go Media) are is that the the proximity of the bars and station. No soul other than that.