\u201cAt the start, the first half was really hot,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
On Monday, the average temperature inside the venue was 28C, and the highest temperature was 32.5C. Photo \/ Alyse Wright <\/p>\n
\u201cThey let us know on Saturday, so two days ago, that we were going to have [hydration] breaks.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve probably lost about three or four kilos.\u201d<\/p>\n
Speaking on Newstalk ZB\u2019s Canterbury Mornings with John MacDonald, Venues \u014ctautahi chief executive Caroline Harvie-Teare said there was \u201cno hiding from the fact it was really warm\u201d \u2013 or that there was more work to be done to mitigate temperatures.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is safe \u2013 but it\u2019s not particularly comfortable in some areas and we\u2019re very, very conscious of that,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s no hiding from the fact that we need to do a bit of work on this.<\/p>\n
High temperatures on Labour Day saw 4000 bottles of water sold at One New Zealand stadium as temperatures soared. Photo \/ Alyse Wright <\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got to look at the forecast event schedule coming up and look at the times of the day and where we might have any risk.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve also got to work with the council and the engineers and figure out whether there are any other permanent ways in which we can mitigate this.\u201d<\/p>\n
Harvie-Teare said there was a potential for making the venue unavailable at certain times of the day.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf it is going to be warmer, we can\u2019t be playing sport in the daytime,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t control broadcast, we don\u2019t control the draw, but we can certainly have influence on how those decisions are made.\u201d<\/p>\n
Harvie-Teare said 4000 bottles of water were sold yesterday as temperatures soared, with free water also available.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was our biggest queue at halftime,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
More than a dozen fans from US company Big Ass Fans are deployed inside the stadium to help to regulate the temperature.<\/p>\n
However, Harvie-Teare reiterated that the fans are not just cooling fans.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are moving the air around, which does give you a sense of cool when you get a breeze,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Harvie-Teare said there were pitchside fans that could mist; however, these couldn\u2019t be used before sport or when the public is attending an event, but could be used beforehand to cool the venue.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey bring the temperature down about four or five degrees.\u201d<\/p>\n
Harvie-Teare said staff had \u201ca lot more mitigation in place\u201d during yesterday\u2019s heat \u2013 including hydration breaks for the players.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur guest comfort is obviously absolutely paramount,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe didn\u2019t get any feedback from the players either. They certainly weren\u2019t experiencing any barriers to their performance.\u201d<\/p>\n
Harvie-Teare also acknowledged that in summer, many events would be held in the evening when it would be cooler.<\/p>\n
She also said there wasn\u2019t a design flaw within the stadium that caused the heat.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat we\u2019re probably seeing is we\u2019ve got warmer temperatures on average for this time of the year,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got rugby that\u2019s going a little later, like we obviously had a collision between rugby and cricket this year, which isn\u2019t always the case.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd we\u2019re also looking at an El Ni\u00f1o summer, which we\u2019ve got to be really cognisant of as well and perhaps wasn\u2019t as considered.\u201d<\/p>\n
Harvie-Teare said guests should \u201ctreat attending the stadium as you would for any outdoor venue\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile the stadium is covered, the roof allows for 90% of the sun\u2019s UV rays through to allow for grass growth,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n
\u201cSo, if you are sitting in the sun for extended periods, wear a hat and sunglasses, put on sunscreen, and keep hydrated.\u201d<\/p>\n
No formal complaints had been made regarding the heat, Harvie-Teare said. <\/p>\n
The transparent roof of the venue allows natural light to flood the stadium. Photo \/ Alyse Wright <\/p>\n
It comes after much was made of the heat inside the stadium in Canterbury\u2019s quarter-final against Waikato a fortnight ago.<\/p>\n
At the time, the venue sweltered above 30C as fans flocked to the NPC quarter-final and the women\u2019s Farah Palmer Cup final.<\/p>\n