Mt Smart Stadium

infobox stadium
name = Mt Smart Stadium


location = Beasley Avenue, Penrose, Auckland
coordinates = coord|36|55|05.85|S|174|48|43.80|E|region:NZ_type:landmark
owner = Auckland Regional Council
operator = Auckland Regional Council
surface = Grass
former_names = Ericsson Stadium (1995–2006)
tenants = infobox stadium/tenantlist
tenant_clubs = New Zealand Warriors (NRL)
Counties Manukau (Air New Zealand Cup)
tenant_years = 1995 - present
2006 - present
capacity = 30,000

Mt Smart Stadium, formerly Ericsson Stadium, is a stadium in Auckland, New Zealand. Built within the quarried remnants of the Mount Smart volcanic cone, it is located 10 kilometres south of the city centre, in the suburb of Penrose.

History

The stadium hosted track and field events including the highly successful Pan Am series during the early 1980s as well as the opening and closing ceremonies of the 1990 Commonwealth Games. It was where the New Zealand national football team (the All Whites) played all their home qualifying games for the 1982 FIFA World Cup. This was the only occasion New Zealand has qualified for a FIFA World Cup and the event captured the imagination of the nation with large crowds packing the stadium.

Tenants

It currently serves as the home ground for the New Zealand Warriors of the Australian National Rugby League, as well as the primary home ground of the Air New Zealand Cup team Counties Manukau Steelers.

It is the former home of the Football Kingz of the Australian National Soccer League; however, its A-League successor, the now defunct New Zealand Knights, played on the other side of Waitemata Harbour at North Harbour Stadium.

The Athletics Ground (officially Mt Smart Stadium Number 2) hosts athletics meets, right down to Primary School Level. It also holds local rugby league matches and serves as the home ground for the Auckland franchise in the Bartercard Premiership.

Music

Mt Smart Stadium is the Auckland venue of the Big Day Out music festival, and hosted the U2 Vertigo Tour in November 2006. The stadium has hosted many other large scale concerts before, including Queen and Michael Jackson. The temporary North Stand is taken out over summer to allow room for the large stage required for the Big Day Out, and for the U2 concert was placed behind the South Stand as a second tier. The capacity of the stadium for concerts is roughly 42,000.

Recent developments

The Eastern Stand, built in 1995 for the Warriors' first season, was demolished at the conclusion of the 2003 National Rugby League season to make way for a new stand, with a roof, corporate and dining facilities, training facilities for the Warriors as well as offices for the team management, which was completed in late 2004.

In preparation for the U2 concerts, the North Stand was shifted to sit behind the South Stand, effectively doubling the size of the South Stand, leaving a hill at the North end.

The new stand, and relocation of the North Stand has raised ground capacity to approximately 30,000. [http://www.mtsmartstadium.co.nz/about-mt-smart/]

Naming Rights

As of 12 July, 2006, the stadium reverted to its original name, Mt Smart Stadium. In a press release, the Auckland Regional Council, owners of the stadium stated they had considered other offers, but felt they did not suit. The Auckland Regional Council are not actively pursuing a replacement sponsor.

External links

* [http://www.mtsmartstadium.co.nz/ Official Website]

Notes

Bank of America Stadium, in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA, was also formerly known as Ericsson Stadium.