The Crusaders have labelled their home ground AMI Stadium as the worst venue in Super Rugby, as they push for a new indoor stadium in Christchurch.
At a Christchurch City Council meeting to address the city's long-term planning, the Crusaders delegation, which included All Blacks captain Kieran Read and coach Scott Robertson, talked about their vision for a future stadium, and the shortcomings of the current one.
"It is no longer a symbol of progress for the city. Sadly, it's become the opposite," Read told the assembled council.
"It highlights what we are missing out on."
Robertson was more damning in his assessment of the stadium which was originally intended to be a temporary solution, designed for a five-year lifespan from 2012 to 2017.
"We are struggling at the current stadium," said Robertson.
"People are paying to be hailed on. Our stadium is the least suitable in Super Rugby by over 8,000 people."
But the team and their fans will have to put up with it for a few years at least.
It's estimated a 25,000-seat indoor stadium would cost around $400 million, and so far there have been no specifics released on what it would look like, how it would be funded, or when it would be completed.
Council has $253m earmarked for the new stadium, but the money is on budget between 2022-23 and 2024-25.
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