More Interest In The Game Than Finishing Touches

Newcastle Herald

Monday April 18, 2005

By ALICE KELLY and JACQUI JONES

THE grandstand may have been incomplete but it didn't seem to worry the fans.

Patrons in EnergyAustralia stadium's new $32 million eastern grandstand gave it a glowing report at yesterday's Knights game.

No one seemed to mind that a few finishing touches were still to be added, they just wanted to watch the footy.

They said they had no trouble getting service at food and beverage outlets or access to toilets.

And they were able to leave the ground quickly after the Knights lost the match 30-26 in the final minute.

Hunter International Sports Centre Trust president Ted Atchison said the debut of the grandstand "went exceptionally well" despite being six weeks from completion.

The catering was done off-site with the main kitchen under construction and the interior still needing tiling and a coat of paint.

But the important parts functioned without a hitch.

The toilets, mostly untested until yesterday, worked, meaning emergency banks of portable loos were not needed and there was enough temporary seating in the grandstand for the crowd of about 10,000.

"The whole new grandstand went exceptionally well and the only sad part of the day was we lost the game," Mr Atchison said.

Work still to be finished includes the staircase and ramps at the grandstand's northern end, the kitchens and interior.

Knights media manager Steve Crowe said there were a few teething problems with the kitchens and some toilets but they were little issues that would be fixed in a short time.

All the finishing touches from concreting to landscaping would be complete within weeks.

GRANDSTAND CHECKLIST

COMPLETED

11,000 seats available in

eastern grandstand

New turf on ground

All lower concourse amenities

open ? kitchens, toilets, kiosks

Most of corporate level open

Lift for disabled working

Toilets and seating complete on

upper level

TO BE COMPLETED

Northern staircase and ramps

Interior painting

Interior tiling

Main kitchen

One corporate box

One function room

© 2005 Newcastle Herald

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