Benny’s Hangar hanging in the balance

Friday, 24 May 2024

A proposed Christchurch indoor entertainment venue has failed to reach 10% of its crowdfunding goal — but its creator has reassured the public “we’re trying our best to get this open”.

Benny’s Hangar creator Ben Scott had hoped to raise $750,000 through a PledgeMe campaign, which finished on Wednesday night. However, the pledges only reached a fraction of the goal, closing with $72, 711.

Despite the lukewarm response to his fundraising efforts, Scott said he had back-up plans to ensure his dream had the best chance of getting off the ground, and suggested investors could be waiting in the wings.

“We’ve got other options. There are some people in the background looking at it; they haven’t pledged yet, but you just don’t know.”

He said contractors and suppliers were owed about $400,000 in total “hence doing the crowdfunding to pay that down”.

He had been transparent with all parties involved throughout the build, he said.

“I’ve contacted everyone single one of the contractors that is owed money, talked them through the whole process of what we’re doing and how we’re trying to do it — they’ve been aware of it.”

During the fundraising, work on the hangar was halted and redundancies were made to ensure no more debt was incurred, he said.

“The goal is to pay down all the debt.

“To liquidate is not an option.”

Scott told The Press earlier this month the “kids-gone-wild dream” in the Wigram hangar was 80% complete, kitted out with a variety of activities and games for kids - and adults who can’t kick their inner child. Activities include a pump track, archery, axe throwing, a baseball batting cage, several simulators, paintball, a half pipe, and mini golf.

He hoped to have the venue open by the July school holidays with an entry price of $40 for a two-hour session, allowing entrants to do as many activities as they wanted.

“We’re trying our best to get this open,” he said this week.