Arena Manawatu

infobox stadium
name = FMG Stadium


location = Palmerston North Central, New Zealand
coordinates = coord|40|21|24.04|S|175|36|4.23|E|region:NZ_type:landmark
renovated = March 2005
owner = Palmerston North City Council
former_names = Palmerston North Showgrounds, Arena 1
tenants = Robertson Holden International Speedway
Manawatu Turbos
Wellington Hurricanes
capacity = 18,000+

Arena Manawatu is the current name of the 180,000 square metre publicly owned recreational complex just west of the Palmerston North city centre in the Manawatu-Wanganui Region of New Zealand.

It has three linked indoor stadiums, with movable tiered seating. Outdoor facilities include football fields and a speedway track with grandstand.

It claims to handle around 8,000 bookings per year, regularly catering for 36 different sporting codes in addition to annual or other infrequent events such as the "A & P Show", religious conventions and festivals.

Recent events gaining international coverage included the second netball test between New Zealand and Australia in the winter of 2004. It is also the venue of the third Silver Ferns vs. England International netball game to be played in Arena 2 on the October 18 2008.

FMG Stadium

FMG Stadium is home to Manawatu Rugby. Generally one club game will be played on the ground per week, whilst it is the Manawatu Turbos' home ground. Since Manawatu has been included in the Air New Zealand Cup, crowd attendances have been among the highest in the competition, averaging 7,000 per game.

The stadium is also being considered for a pool game in the 2011 Rugby World Cup, in which New Zealand is the host nation. With the city's central location, large student population, the stadium's close proximity to the CBD, International Pacific College, as well as the New Zealand Rugby Institute (a facility in which the All Blacks used to use), the idea of basing a team and having a pool game in Palmerston North is attractive.

Other users of the stadium include the Robertson Holden International Speedway, with the stockcar track encircling the field this is easy and it has been regarded as one of the country's premiere Speedways. The national Teams Championships are often held there, bringing racers from all over New Zealand.

The YoungHeart Manawatu football team used to play at the ground, however they have since moved to Memorial Park, Palmerston North.

Arena 2

Redeveloped in 2004, Arena 2 is a multipurpose indoor sporting facility, capable of holding exhibitions, conventions and entertainment events. It has been the host of International netball fixtures between New Zealand and Australia in 2004, international motor shows, conferences and is the home ground to the Manawatu Jets who play in the National Basketball League (New Zealand).

Capacity

FMG stadium has a capacity of 18,000. Meanwhile temporary seating is added sometimes for major events allowing the capacity to reach 20,000.

History

FMG Stadium was formerly known as Arena 1 and was the venue for the first ever Super 12 rugby match in 1996, which was played by the Wellington Hurricanes and the Auckland Blues.

External links

* [http://www.arenamanawatu.co.nz/ Official website]
* [http://www.manawatunz.co.nz/ Destination Manawatu]