Auckland city casino

Entertainment complex and casino in Auckland, New Zealand

Skycity Auckland is an entertainment complex and casino in the central business district of Auckland, New Zealand, between Victoria and Federal Streets. Located at the base of the Sky Tower, it was the second casino in New Zealand, and is the only casino in Auckland.

Facilities[edit]

The complex includes the Sky Tower, the Sky City Theatre with an auditorium with seats, many bars and restaurants, and three hotels, with one scheduled to open in The casino was last refurbished in , and has approximately 1, gambling machines, gambling tables and rooms for VIP / high-stakes gamblers.^{[1][better&#;source&#;needed]}

In September , it was announced that Skycity Auckland had purchased a 21m motor yacht "Horizon II" for corporate entertainment.^[2]

In February , Skycity Auckland opened New Zealand's first purpose-built e-sports broadcasting studio, located on Level 2 of the Sky Tower, formerly known as XO Bar.^[3]

History[edit]

The Sky Tower, convention centre and hotel were all built by Fletcher Construction and completed by ^[4]

Skycity's casino was the second casino in the country. At the time of its construction, it was controversial, just like the Sky Tower itself. Unlike the city's icon towering above it, major figures like former Auckland Mayor Dick Hubbard have remained critical of the casino, though he acknowledged that the complex itself has been positive for the city. However, there is criticism from various sources that the casino creates problem gambling and does not ban problem gamblers proactively enough.^[5]

The casino provides almost jobs and has returned NZD $ million in dividends to mainly Australian shareholders, from more than eight million visitors that have passed through, 15% from overseas. NZD $ million was also paid to community organisations and trusts in the same time. % of the operating profit has to be paid out to charity according to law.^[5]

With profits at its parent, the Skycity Entertainment Group falling, it was announced in May that around staff of SkyCity Auckland would be let go within the following 12–18 months, though it was thought likely to be mostly through turnover attrition, and would be focused on management staff.^[6][7]

On 11 May , SkyCity announced that it would be slashing jobs as a result of the economic effects of the COVID pandemic in New Zealand. A month earlier, SkyCity had slashed jobs.^[8][9]

Hotels[edit]

Skycity Hotel, Auckland is a four-star hotel and was opened in February It is one of New Zealand's busiest hotels and is located inside the main Auckland complex and serves mainly families, business travellers and gamblers who play at the casino. It offers rooms which were refurbished in ^[10] Hotel guests may use all the facilities in the complex.

The Grand by Skycity is a luxury 5 star hotel which was officially opened by Prime Minister Helen Clark in April after costing $85 million to construct. It is not located inside the main complex but is located on Federal Street which is adjacent and is also connected by a skybridge.

Events[edit]

In , the Skycity Convention Centre played host to two world boxing title events, promoted by Bruce Glozier and Steve Deane of Rival Sports Promotions. The first event took place on March 30 Geovana Peres took on Lani Daniels for the WBO World women's light heavyweight title dubbed History in the making.^[11] The event sold out with table tickets and was prerecorded to broadcast on Sky Sports TV later in the week.^[12] On 30 July, Bruce Glozier of Rival Sports Promotion announced the second world title event, Geovana Peres vs Claire Hafner.^[13] As part of promoting the event, Geovana Peres did a world first by doing boxing pad work outside on top of the Sky Tower, metres in the air.^[14] The event sold out with over tickets and was broadcast live on Sky Sports 3 TV.^[15]

New convention centre[edit]

In May , the Government came to a deal with Skycity to build a new convention centre worth $ million in exchange for gambling concessions. The concessions would allow Skycity to install an extra poker machines, 40 gambling tables, as well as a further 12 gambling tables that could be substituted for automated table game player stations (but not poker machines). Skycity would also receive an extension to their casino licence, from its expiry in until In exchange, Skycity would be required to meet the full costs of the convention centre project.^[16]

Describing the benefit for New Zealand, Economic Development Minister, Steven Joyce said the convention centre would add an estimated $90 million a year to the local economy, create 1, jobs during construction and jobs once the centre is running.^[16]

In it was announced that the anticipated cost of the convention centre had increased by $70–$ million, to a total maximum of $ million. Prime Minister John Key said he was considering making up the shortfall by giving Skycity public tax money to finish the project – as it would be an "eyesore" if the extra funding was not made available.^[17] Two days later on 12 February, following criticism in the media and in Parliament, the Prime Minister described the use of taxpayer funds as the "least preferred option".^[18] Subsequently, on 15 February, it was announced that instead of seeking funding from the government for project over-runs, Skycity would instead be allowed to build a convention centre which was slightly smaller, so that total costs would remain about $ million. The other option was that Skycity could put in funds of its own to build a large convention centre. The Labour Party claimed the move was a win for those who were opposed to public money bailing out the deal.^[19]

convention centre fire[edit]

Main article: New Zealand International Convention Centre fire

A fire in the roof and upper part of the new convention centre started on 22 October while the building was still under construction. The fire burned for about two days, partly as a result of a decision to sacrifice the roof in order to try to save the lower part of the building by improving safety and access for firefighters working under the roof. After the roof had mostly burned away the remaining fire was extinguished.

The fire caused widespread disruption to Auckland's central business district and the air pollution in the city to exceed safe levels for the first time in over ten years.^[20][21]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

External links[edit]

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