At the risk of boring my readers rigid with yet another post about the Sky City Convention Centre, let me be as brief as I can.
The New Zealand Herald has been highly critical of Sky City Entertainment Group Ltd [SKC.NZX] in the past in its pages but has come out earlier this week and fully backed the company in its proposal to fund a National Convention Centre for the benefit of all New Zealanders:
The strongest argument for Sky City building and fully funding its construction and ongoing costs is encompassed in the following key paragraphs:
"But if SkyCity can make a convention centre pay without need of a public subsidy, its case is better. It means the public will not be taking on the risk that the centre will not attract sufficient conferences on the scale required - a risk all the greater when it is operated by a public body with public finance to fall back on.
SkyCity will carry the risk, giving it every incentive to compete keenly with other international conference destinations. Auckland's interest will be carried by a company that already runs a smaller convention centre with its casino. It is, as a Labour Party spokesman complains, a "multinational". It knows the business and must have confidence that Auckland can compete.
It is not clear whether the company's request for additional casino capacity is vital to its convention plans. It may be that the only thing the company needs from the Government is an assurance that it will not fund a competing facility. No business can compete with a bottomless public purse.
SkyCity has proven its competence and its commitment to Auckland. This investment offers more jobs, more visitors, more business for the city at no public outlay. In the end, that must recommend it." NZ Herald, 14 June 2011
The issues over negotiating details around gaming law changes are a moot point and sides taken by various members of the public must not cloud the ultimate aim of the convention centre and that is to provide a stimulas to the economy at a time when the country is suffering the worst recession since the Great Depression at no risk to the local or state governments.
That clearly must be applauded whatever side you come down on in terms of politics and attitudes to gaming.
Disc: I own SKC shares in the Share Investor Portfolio
Sky City Convention Centre @ Share Investor
VIDEO - Sky City Entertainment Group : Parliamentary Question related to Convention Centre
Sky City to pay for National Convention Centre
Share Investor discusses Convention Centre proposal with CEO Nigel Morrison
Sky City Convention Centre Expansion a Money Loser: Part Two
Sky City Convention Centre Expansion a Money loser
SKC Convention Centre power-point slide illustrations & SKC submission to Auckland City Council
Sky City Entertainment Group @ Share Investor
Share Investor's Total Returns: Sky City Entertainment Group Ltd
Sky City Entertainment Group Ltd: Presentation to Macquarie Group
Morningstar Revalues Sky City Entertainment Group
Guest Post - Michele Hewitson Interview: Nigel Morrison
Failed Sky City bid for Christchurch Casino good news for Shareholders
Sky City Entertainment Group Ltd: Christchurch Casino bid falls short of Investment Criteria
Sky City Entertainment Group Ltd: Never mind the width feel the volume
Sky City Annual Meeting & 2011 - 2012 Profit Forecast
Stock of the Week: Sky City Entertainment Group Ltd
Sky City set to lose National Convention Centre bid
Sky City Entertainment Group: Australian Acquisition on the Cards?
Sky City Entertainment Group Ltd: 2010 Full Year Profit Analysis
Sky City Entertainment Group 2010 Full Year Profit Preview
Chart of the Week: Sky City Entertainment Group Ltd
Share Investor discusses Convention Centre proposal with CEO Nigel Morrison
Share Investor Q & A: Sky City CEO, Nigel Morrison
Sky City Entertainment: CEO Nigel Morrison discusses 2010 HY
Sky City Convention Centre Expansion a Money Loser: Part Two
Sky City Convention Centre Expansion a Money loser
Sky City Entertainment Group Ltd: Download full Company analysis
Sky City 2010 full year profit looking good
Long Term View: Sky City Entertainment Group Ltd
Sky City Entertainment: CEO Nigel Morrison discusses 2010 Half Year
Sky City Entertainment Group 2010 Interim Profit Review
Sky City to focus on Gaming
Sky City debts levels now more manageable
Insider Trading on Sky City shares
Sky City Profit Upgrade: Always on the Cards
Sky City's Current Cinema "Boom" a Horror Story in Disguise
Stock of the Week: Sky City Entertainment Group
Are Insiders selling Sky City Stock?
Sky City Entertainment 2009 Interim Result Preamble
2008 Sky City profit analysis
Sky City share offer confusing and unfair for smaller shareholders
Sky City Entertainment 2008 Full Year profit results , NZX release, 2008 full year presentation, result briefing webcast, financial statements
Sky City 2008 profit preamble
Sky City outlines a clear future plan
As recession bites Sky City bites back
Sky City Assets: Buy, sell and hold
Why did you buy that stock? [Sky City Entertainment]
Sky City Share Volumes set tongues wagging
Sky City half year exceptional on cost cutting
NZX Press release: Sky City profit to HY end Dec 2007
Sky City Cinemas no Blockbuster
Sky City Entertainment share price drop
New Broom set to sweep
Sky City Management: Blind, deaf and numb
Sky City sale could be off
Opposition to takeover
Premium for control
Sky City receives takeover bid
Sky City Casino Full Year Profit to June 30 2007
Setting the record straight
Sky City CEO resigns
Sky City Casino: Under performing
Sky City Casino 2007 HY Profit(analysis)
Sky City Casino 2007 HY Profit
Discuss SKC @ Share Investor Forum
Download SKC Company Reports
Recommended Amazon Reading
The Intelligent Investor: The Definitive Book on Value Investing. A Book of Practical Counsel (Revised Edition) by Benjamin Graham
Buy new: $14.95 / Used from: $6.99
Usually ships in 24 hours
c Share Investor 2011
