September/October 2021 - Bay of Plenty Business News

September/October 2021 BAY OF PLENTY BUSINESS NEWS 9
BOP
PERSONALITY
PROFILE
Trustpower Baypark Arena:
A great investment by Council
If there’s one person you need to talk to about what makes Trustpower Baypark Arena tick, that person is probably Bay Venues
commercial manager Ervin McSweeney. Ervin has been commercial manager of the facility for seven years. Before that he was CEO of
Baypark’s former council operator, Tauranga City Venues Ltd
By ALAN NEBEN
Ervin explained to me the earlier history
of what he affectionately terms the ‘long
journey’, when the old Baypark area
was largely taken over for residential housing
and Baypark raceway and stockcar track was
replaced by the new stockcar track, ultimately
resulting in the Baypark we see today.
In 2005 the decision was made to build
what is now Trustpower Baypark Arena. Construction
commenced in February 2010 and
the building opened a year and a half later.
Hawkins Construction was the lead contractor
for that project.
According to McSweeney, “the Arena is in
superb condition, particularly considering the
number of people who have used it over the
last 10 years.”
“It really has proved to be a fantastic facility,”
he says with a certain degree of pride.
Is there need for expansion? McSweeney
is quite objective: “The numbers say it all –
the sheer volume of users is evidence of the
demand. That demand has clearly been identified
and continues to grow and grow.”
He points out the venue has also provided
a lot of opportunities for the community to be
involved in numerous ways.
He estimates that in early July 2021 the
Arena welcomed its 4 millionth user – not an
insignificant number by any standards.
Operationally, a facility such as Trustpower
Baypark Arena, with users numbering
in the millions over a few short years,
requires a skilled team of personnel; The
Arena activities are broadly divided into two
categories: the community sports and events,
and the business activities. Servicing these
broad categories is a catering team, a production
team, venue and event operations staff,
and the set-up and take-down staff who make
the venue presentable. At any one time there
can be 50-60 people working directly on an
event – where there are very big events on,
this number can be far bigger.
It’s been a fantastic
experience to be so closely
involved.”
– Ervin McSweeny
“It’s one thing having some walls and
a roof, but it’s what happens inside
that counts”
“Big events give us the opportunity to ultimately
offer employment to large numbers
of people, if not directly by us, then certainly
enabled by our provision of the facilities –
consider the labour force required to serve a
meal for 600 people at an event for example,
or at the other end of the scale, the numerous
referees and support people who are needed
to organise and officiate at community sports
events held regularly at the arena.”
“But it is far more than a building. It’s one
thing having some walls and a roof, but it’s
Ervin McSweeney, commercial
manager, Bay Venues. Photo supplied.
what happens inside that counts.”
“I think that’s where the Arena really has
provided such a fantastic facility for the community
to enjoy,” says McSweeney.
The fact that the usage numbers have
grown as dramatically as they have in recent
years is proof of the demand.
“From a commercial business perspective,
our facilities are leading edge. Businesses
often need a turnkey solution for their business
events, from training days, client and
supplier functions or exhibitions to conferences
and shareholder meetings – we have
it all covered. We have a support team that
really does it well with provision for business
requirements of all types,” he says
“It’s just a great experience for a lot
of people”
The Trustpower Baypark Arena now regularly
hosts music and entertainment events
that, until the arena was built, would never
have come to the region.
In particular McSweeney points to the
Beachboys concert, the Davis Cup tennis tie
and international basketball and netball games
as absolute personal highlights for him.
“From ‘Tumble Time’ for the tots, to
pickle ball played by seniors – it’s just a great
experience for a lot of people,” he says.
As for suggestions that extensions to the
arena may come to fruition sooner rather than
later, McSweeney is hopeful: “The work is
being done on looking at the city’s needs,
demand has been identified, so we look forward
to seeing developments.”
His verdict so-far: “What a good investment
it was; A very good decision was made
by Council all those years ago.”
Considering it has only been 10 years, to
have built and grown a facility that is now
unequivocally regarded as a success and a
key foundation for the community really is
remarkable.
Keeping Trustpower
Bay Park Arena Cool
0800TEMP4U
www.technicool.net.nz
www.trustpowerbaypark.co.nz