NZ Exhibition and Events Company has a one-year license to operate the Auckland venue. Photo Credit: Facebook/ASB Showgrounds
The show will go on at ASB Showgrounds for now, with NZ Exhibition and Events Company (NZEEC) appointed as its new operator under a one-year license.
Former operator Auckland Agricultural Pastoral and Industrial Shows Board, trading as ASB Showgrounds, went into voluntary liquidation in June due to the impact of Covid-19.
It is believed that the venue would be renamed.
Landlord of the venue, Cornwall Park Trust Board (CPTB), confirmed in a media statement that “Auckland Showgrounds” would continue operating as an events and exhibition centre under an agreement with NZ NZEEC.
CPTB chair Adrienne Young-Cooper commented that securing a new operator within a month was “a tremendous outcome”, according to a Stuff news report.
This is coming as a relief for organisers with upcoming events at the venue. ASB Showgrounds' liquidator had previously stated that he was unable to honour bookings at the risk of becoming personally liable for seven-figure rent demands, Newsroom reported.
Auckland Agricultural Pastoral and Industrial Shows Board, which has run major events over 50 years, was NZ$4.6 million (US$3.2 million) in debt leading up to its liquidation.