I read the Sun's article on TCC councillor Matt Cowley's opposition to Mayor Stuart Crosby's idea for a new 15,000 seat stadium.

I agree, as most people do, that Tauranga needs an international standard sports stadium. But I suggest the city capitalise on existing facilities at ASB Baypark.

Namely, the space to expand and improve parking and egress from the site.

Plus, it has easy motorway access from all directions and offers possible future passenger rail access to the site from other major cities.

Build a multi-purpose international stadium with a modifiable playing surfaces that can readily be changed to artificial turf - waterproof membrane - for aquatic sports and hard surface for outdoor tournaments.

Combine such a multi-purpose outdoor stadium with the ASB arena, for indoor events, and the city will posses a world class complex suitable for most any major crowd-drawing event including trade exhibitions, pop concerts (either indoor or outdoor), international guest speakers, and major music and theatre performances. In fact, nearly every type of large crowd-drawing event could be staged. This concept would be more commercially viable than a single-purpose stadium sited in Tauranga Domain; and will be recognised as a real investment in the future of our city.

M Lewis, Mount Maunganui.