Two Tauranga venues have been left reeling after the region's international sporting schedule was hit by a change in Covid alert levels.
The New Zealand Women's Netball team and both the men's and women's New Zealand cricket teams were set to play in the city this weekend.
The Silver Ferns were due to take on the Australian Diamonds at Trustpower Baypark Arena on Saturday, March 6, and Sunday, March 7, while the Blackcaps and the White Ferns were all set to face Australia and England in a T20 double-header at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui.
Due to the change in alert levels across the country, however, the Silver Ferns will now play all four games of their Constellation Cup test series in Christchurch. Meanwhile, the cricket will be played in Wellington. All fixtures will now go ahead behind-closed-doors.
'We are obviously really disappointed,” says Bay Oval general manager Kelvin Jones.
'We're disappointed for the fans and everyone involved - the food vendors and service providers. We are disappointed that we won't have 10,000 people here enjoying fantastic games of cricket.
'But it is what it is. It is not the end of the world. We just have to put it into perspective. We have been really fortunate to have a fantastic summer until now, and we have avoided any Covid issues, so in many ways we should count ourselves lucky.”
Silver Ferns assistant coach Debbie Fuller lives in the Mount, whilst head coach Dame Noeline Taurua is based in Pukehina Beach. Both are disappointed not to be able reward the netball community in the Bay of Plenty with high-class international competition against the number-one ranked Diamonds.
'We will have to wait for another time,” says Debbie. 'It's a real shame, because Tauranga and the wider Bay of Plenty area support netball so well. To have the top international teams come head-to-head on local soil would have been a lovely way to celebrate sport in the Bay of Plenty. To not have it now is a bit disappointing.”
Whilst missing out on a Bay clash is disappointing, Debbie is thankful to get the chance to play, even with the reduced attendance.
'I guess with the way the world is at the moment, you have to be agile and flexible,” she admits. 'It is disappointing not to be in the Bay, but you have to put your focus on the job in hand.”
Baypark previously hosted the Silver Ferns in September 2018, when the home side triumphed 61-37 over South Africa. Missing out on this occasion is a blow.
'We are obviously very disappointed that the Constellation Cup matches will not be happening at Trustpower Arena as scheduled,” says Ervin McSweeney, commercial manager at Bay Venues.
'The events were going to be a sell out and a rare opportunity for the city to host another international sporting fixture. It was a chance for netball fans in this area to see the two best teams in the world, live in action.”
However, Ervin is hopeful the Silver Ferns will be back in Tauranga soon. 'We hope there will be another opportunity before too long.”
Kelvin is equally hopeful of more international cricket heading back to the Bay Oval soon, with Australia still his white whale.
'Australia are still the one team we have never had at the Oval, but it wasn't to be this year. Hopefully they'll come back.”