Herald on Sunday, October 26, 2025

Business Duo Pitch Health and Sports Hub to Keep Racing at Western Springs

By Bernard Orsman

Two wealthy businessmen are teaming up to keep speedway at its Western Springs home of 97 years and build a health, sports and lifestyle complex at the Auckland landmark.

Weeks after American billionaires Bill Foley and Bennett Rosenthal, alongside former All Black and Warriors and Kiwis coach Tony McGahan, walked away from a proposed $200 million to $300m football stadium at Western Springs, details of a new plan have emerged.

Terry Michaels, owner of Health & Sports Fitness Club in Mairangi for the past 17 years, has joined forces with Western Springs Speedway Association (WSSA) to propose a major redevelopment of the Western Springs site.

The plan includes reinstating the speedway track and building a new health and sports facility that could accommodate Ponsonby Rugby.

WSSA chairman Lance Anderson said he would like to establish a charitable trust to oversee operations at the historic Western Springs site.

Anderson estimated it would cost about $500,000 to restore the speedway track. A broader redevelopment, including new clubrooms and a speedway museum, could cost up to $20m, he said.

“We want to bring speedway back and create a hub of community, council, rugby and speedway,” said Anderson, a truck driver who has been involved in speedway for 40 years.

He said the plan would be a “win-win” for Auckland Council, which owns the land, and the community.

Anderson said he and Michaels had been in touch with New Zealand Rugby and Ponsonby Rugby.

Michaels said he had been a speedway fan since childhood and was excited about the opportunity to work with Anderson and WSSA.

He said he had been talking to a number of parties about the plan, including Auckland Council, and was confident it could be delivered.

“It’s a substantial investment and it’s only worth it with a long tenure,” Michaels said, adding there would be no call on council funding. He planned to invest his own money in the project and, if necessary, bring in additional investors.

“We want to do something that could be an asset to the country. It could be anywhere but we chose Western Springs because of its history, its location and its community. It’s an iconic site,” he said.

He decided to shelve the “Auckland Arena” stadium proposal, which he co-led with football interests, Talati Holdings and Rosenthal, because of the lack of council support.

The full council voted 12-8 in favour of a motion from Mayor Wayne Brown to reject the stadium proposal and instead plan for Western Springs to be used for speedway, rugby and other sports.

Rosenthal and Talati Holdings had also backed the stadium plan, which included a new proposal for a 20,000-seat stadium at Waikaraka Park in Onehunga.

Council is continuing to explore the possibility of relocating speedway from Western Springs to Waikaraka Park.

Anderson was concerned the agreement offered no long-term security for speedway at Waikaraka Park beyond the next two seasons.

“Stock cars have got everything they wanted. Waikaraka Park speedway is a dump. It was a mess, and I whole heartedly agree something had to be done, but it’s not the answer,” said Anderson.

Rosenthal confirmed the two-year agreement to move speedway to Waikaraka Park was not a long-term solution and the future of Waikaraka beyond that period.

“The proposal was not formally considered as it was non-compliant,” he said, noting the latest plan appeared to differ from earlier versions.

WSSA has warned that if Western Springs were to close, it would be before the upcoming season.

The council has been unable to reach an agreement over costs with speedway operators to reinstate the track and clubrooms.

The speedway season is due to start at Waikaraka Park until 2026.

Councillor Christine Fletcher said she backed the long-term use of Western Springs’ Hill site.

She said the council should have considered the Michaels-Anderson plan before this month’s local body elections.

“Our facilities have to begin paying their own way. We are in a very serious financial situation and we need to be looking at all options,” she said.

Since Anderson and others were sacked in 2012, the park has been used by the Auckland Tuatara baseball team, the Blues and Storm, and Ponsonby Rugby.

The rugby club teamed up with two music promoters to challenge the “Auckland Arena” proposal. The plan involved building concert infrastructure and clubrooms and facilities for Ponsonby Rugby and other sports.

The council has been advised that restoring speedway at Western Springs could cost $16m-$20m, which was less than the cost of moving it to Waikaraka Park.

Anderson said the site has always been used for speedway and there is a lot of water to go under the bridge.

“This is a serious and substantial investment for speedway and the stadium proposal is a very serious matter,” he said.

Photo caption: Western Springs Speedway Association chairman Lance Anderson at Western Springs.