It has been a weird week or two in Christchurch. New Zealand's second biggest city has been a little empty, and as this week unfolds, there will be a serious population drift south.

From a Kiwi fan's point of view, Ed Sheeran is the hottest ticket in music right now. I think everyone knows someone who has either gone across the Tasman, up to Auckland, or is about to get on the wagon trail to the two Dunedin concerts. Both my wife and daughter are heading in that direction in different groups.

Forsyth Barr Stadium is a massive win for Dunners. 100,000 fans attending the two concerts, with 60,000 out-of-towners-rolling in. The suggestion of a $50 million economic benefit for the region from the concerts sounds a little over the top, but there's no doubt the weekend will be a little like a second gold rush for Otago.

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Meanwhile in Christchurch, seven years on from the devastating earthquakes, and still nothing is happening regards a new stadium. The tinny temporary stadium is still there, and the fans are voting with their feet. Actually, they are voting with their remotes, and watching sport from the comfort of their homes. And who can blame them?

The initial 100 day build of the "temporary" stadium at the time was a triumph.

There was a very real possibility that the-then seven times Super Rugby champion Crusaders franchise would fold. The speed of the build and the return of home games gave a much needed morale boost to the quake weary sports fans of Canterbury. It also sent a signal that there were "can do" people running the show, and the Christchurch rebuild was going to be fast, and innovative. We were all wrong.

At the time, Earthquake Minister Gerry Brownlee was the hero of the hour but got buried and sidetracked in a series of ongoing scraps, while the Council just talked. And talked. And talked. The problem with the Council was that quite simply, they were lacking advocates for sport. They weren't interested. Totally different scenario with the Arts.

12 months ago, there seemed to be some quiet progress being made in the background. The pre-feasibility study was pointing the way forward. Then came the election. A new gig for Labour's Megan Woods: Minister in charge of EQC and Regeneration Minister. Naturally,a new Minister is going to ask some tough questions, like why does the (separate project) Metro Sports Hub have a $75million cost blow out when they haven't even started building it yet? To be fair, that's not a bad question.

I was amazed several years ago the stories that were told on the occasion celebrating the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Lyttelton Road Tunnel. A cost of 2.7 million pounds - apparently the equivalent of about $100million now. This at a time of high wages, often single income families, and rampant trade unionism. At the end of the project, they were under budget so they tiled the entire tunnel. In 2018, based on the evidence of the Metro Sports Hub, the $100m would be eaten up before a shovel was put into the ground. Who is devouring all of this money?

So now it's "almost" back to square one, with the Minister muddying the waters by suggesting that perhaps the stadium and Metro Sports Hub could be combined. Never mind the small issue of land availability. So all this does is further drag out the time line. Quiet whispers going on in the background suggest that the government is desperate to save costs and want a new stadium but without a roof. In other words, a white elephant. Any new build must be future proofed. Dunedin has set the minimum standard. 

There is a cold harsh reality that Christchurch's assets were under insured and there is a shortfall of about $100million. Not good. But here's the thing - elected officials get the gigs because they tell us that they are the problem solvers, the ones who can get things moving. So get on with it - you weren't elected just to be decorations.

How much thought has been given to integrating retail and hospitality into a new stadium? Ongoing revenue sources outside of events! Westfield Stadium perhaps ?

Sadly, Christchurch people are left begging for the things they had pre-quake, let alone getting on with building things that will future proof the city. It’s taken a natural disaster to provide a blank canvas, but the canvas is being wasted by painting stick figures onto it. Instead of enhancing the second biggest city in the country, the mentality is one of building a pumped up version of 1960s hydro town. All short term thinking.

Am I jealous of Dunedin? You bet. Despite their accommodation issues, they'll be rolling in it this weekend, and that's before we even start talking about what an amazing venue the Forsyth Barr Stadium is for sport.

Meanwhile up the road in Christchurch, nothing to see here!

As Roger Daltrey screamed out in the last words of the Who's 1971 classic Won't Get Fooled Again; "Meet the new Boss, same as the old Boss".

Follow Brian on Twitter: @brianashby2