New Venue For Wellington?

The Wellington City Council is considering whether to build a NZ$100 million (US$77.1 million) concert venue in the New Zealand city.

While the Wellington Venues organisation is undertaking an investigation into its economic benefits to the city, it has commissioned international sports architecture firm Populous to draw up plans by mid-2012.

Promoters have long complained there is a need for a venue in between the 34,500-capacity Westpac Stadium (which faces noise restrictions that limit the amount of major concerts) and the city’s largest indoor concert venue, the 5,600-capacity TSB Bank Arena.

Many international acts bypass the city preferring Auckland’s 12,000-seat Vector Arena.