Auckland FC speaks to Govt over ‘need for better high

“There may be interest in how central and local government can support investment in sporting infrastructure to meet growing demand and support both professional and grassroots football,” Watts was told.

Auckland FC play their matches at Go Media Stadium (formerly Mt Smart Stadium) and train at North Harbour Stadium. In the club’s founding year, 2024, a five-year deal was struck for the Auckland team to play its home games at Go Media.

Club owner, billionaire Bill Foley, has previously said the home stadium would be used for a “few years” before a new stadium is developed.

In July 2025, a bid for a stadium at Western Springs led by Anna Mowbray and Ali Williams, who have a smaller share of Auckland FC ownership, was scrapped and proposals were withdrawn.

The now-axed Auckland Arena plan was estimated to cost between $200 million and $300m to build.

At the time, investors said the process to deliver the project on public land in Auckland had “unique challenges” as well as “extended timelines and complexities”, prompting investors to pull the plug.

Before the meeting with Becker, officials also told Watts “Auckland FC is likely to advocate for improved facilities and support for community clubs”, as grassroots participation in football grows. It was noted this would align with broader Government objectives to increase participation in physical activity.

Officials advised Watts that Sport NZ has been leading a national sport facilities strategy, which will develop guidelines around improving co-ordination between Government agencies on infrastructure, but said the strategy is “on hold and will be revisited in the next parliamentary term”.

The briefing said Auckland FC had “strong attendance figures” as well as on-pitch success, which demonstrates “the potential for major sporting events to attract large crowds and create vibrant city experiences”.

Officials also told Watts the club’s success has had a broader impact beyond sport, “contributing to the city’s events calendar, supporting hospitality and local businesses, and building a sense of regional identity and pride”.

“The club’s fixtures and finals series have created major events attracting tens of thousands of attendees, as well as additional public viewing opportunities and celebrations across the city,” Watts was told.

Watts told Newstalk ZB he met with Auckland FC to congratulate the team on a successful run to the A-League championship in their second season.

The club won the championship in May with a 1-0 win over Sydney FC at Go Media Stadium that attracted 28,374 fans.

The minister said infrastructure was part of the discussion: “As part of that discussion, Auckland FC highlighted the importance of high-quality sporting and high-performance facilities to support the continued growth of sport in Auckland.

“No proposals seeking Government funding for specific stadium or infrastructure projects were discussed.”

Watts said any discussions relating to North Harbour Stadium and Go Media Stadium would involve the relevant venue owners and operators, as they are Auckland Council-owned facilities operated by Tātaki Auckland Unlimited.

In a statement, Becker said a number of topics were discussed, “including the need for better high-performance facilities in the city”.

“Auckland FC welcomes the opportunity to be part of the discussions on how we can invest in our teams. The benefit to the city is significant with Auckland FC’s recent Grand Final success generating over $2.5m for the city’s economy,” he said.

Becker said there had been no further discussions with Watts since the meeting.

The briefing notes from MBIE also listed every Auckland FC player, with key stats and career highlights, should the club’s CEO ask Watts who his favourite player was.

The briefing on players noted Dan Hall was a “key defensive starter with most minutes played” and labelled towering frontman Sam Cosgrove an “ex-Aberdeen standout”.

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