The owners of the Warriors NRL rugby league club say they will invest "whatever it takes" over the next five years in initiatives to take the club to new levels - including an elite academy and upgrading Mt Smart Stadium.
Warriors co-owners Eric Watson and Owen Glenn have confirmed Mt Smart Stadium is the club's preferred venue for the future and the proposed Mt Smart upgrade could begin as early as next year.
Watson and Glenn met with board members, management and coaching staff last weekend in Auckland to flesh out their pledge back in March, when they announced their 50-50 joint venture, to make the Warriors the most successful club in the NRL.
Watson says the Warriors want to become the best single sporting franchise in Australasia, taking it to levels never seen before in this part of the world.
As well as the elite academy, the owners have pledged to upgrade all off-field areas of training, sports science, medical, talent identification and other team support facilities.
A Warriors First XIIIs championship for Auckland secondary schools will be established and a Warriors charitable trust will be formed.
