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| Mt Smart Stadium | |
|---|---|
| Name | Mt Smart Stadium |
| Caption | Aerial view of Mt Smart Stadium |
| Location | Penrose, Auckland, New Zealand |
| Opened | 1967 |
| Owner | Auckland Council |
| Operator | Auckland Unlimited |
| Capacity | 30,000 (concerts), 18,000 (sport) |
| Surface | Grass |
| Tenants | New Zealand Warriors, Auckland Rugby League |
Mt Smart Stadium is a multi-purpose outdoor venue in the suburb of Penrose in Auckland, New Zealand. The stadium sits on the volcanic cone of Māngere Mountain within the historic One Tree Hill volcanic field and has hosted professional rugby league, rugby union, association football, athletics, and large-scale concerts. Over decades it has been a focal point for sporting clubs, touring artists, and regional events involving organizations such as New Zealand Rugby League, Auckland Council, Auckland Cricket, NZ Football, and international promoters.
The site was originally part of the volcanic landscape associated with the Auckland volcanic field and nearby landmarks such as One Tree Hill (Maungakiekie), Mount Eden and Mount Wellington. After World War II, the area underwent industrial development tied to companies like Fletcher Building and transport hubs including the Auckland Railway Station network. The stadium was constructed in the 1960s during an era of urban expansion alongside projects such as the Auckland Harbour Bridge and opened in 1967, contemporaneous with venues like Eden Park and Western Springs Stadium. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s the ground hosted regional fixtures involving clubs from the Auckland Rugby League competition, touring sides from Australia national rugby league team, and concerts promoted by firms linked to Countdown Concerts and international agents representing acts such as U2 and The Rolling Stones. In the 1990s the venue became the home ground of the professional rugby league team established in partnership with the Australian National Rugby League club structures and later hosted fixtures for the newly formed Auckland Warriors and their successor, the New Zealand Warriors. Governance shifted over time among entities including local borough councils and, after amalgamation, Auckland Council.
The stadium complex features a natural grass playing surface, corporate hospitality suites, and broadcast facilities compliant with governing bodies like International Rugby League and FIFA interim standards for international friendlies. Capacity varies: seated arrangements for Auckland Nines rugby league events contrasted with in-the-round staging for tours by artists represented by agencies such as Live Nation Entertainment and AEG Presents. Onsite amenities include training fields used by development programs aligned with New Zealand Rugby pathways, medical rooms consistent with World Anti-Doping Agency protocols for elite athletes, and a scoreboard and floodlighting system meeting requirements similar to those used at Forsyth Barr Stadium and Yokohama Stadium. The precinct incorporates parking areas connected to industrial zones near the Auckland Airport arterial routes.
The venue regularly hosts fixtures for the New Zealand Warriors in the National Rugby League, domestic competitions organized by Auckland Rugby League, and occasional matches for the All Blacks Sevens and developmental sides associated with New Zealand Rugby League. It has been selected for concert residencies by global performers such as Adele, Taylor Swift, Bruce Springsteen, and Ed Sheeran, promoted through international tours coordinated with venues like Wembley Stadium and Rod Laver Arena. The stadium has accommodated community events, charity matches involving organizations such as St John New Zealand, and fixtures in qualification tournaments managed by confederations like the Oceania Football Confederation. It has also hosted boxing and motorsport exhibitions promoted by companies akin to Duco Events.
The site is accessible via arterial roads connecting to the Southern Motorway (New Zealand) and freight corridors near the Auckland Port. Public transport links include bus services integrated into the Auckland Transport network and shuttle services operated during major concerts similar to arrangements at Eden Park. Cycling routes and pedestrian access are coordinated with nearby industrial and residential areas such as Onehunga and Penrose Park, and temporary traffic management plans have been implemented in partnership with New Zealand Police for high-attendance events.
Major upgrades have been delivered in phases, with projects addressing spectator amenities, corporate facilities, and playing-surface drainage using contractors comparable to Fulton Hogan and engineering consultants of the type used on projects like Wellington Regional Stadium. Redevelopments included improved hospitality suites, player facilities meeting International Rugby League standards, and acoustic and staging support to attract international tours represented by Live Nation Entertainment. Investment decisions have been influenced by regional planning processes under Auckland Council and funding partnerships with national sporting bodies such as Sport New Zealand.
Attendance records vary between sporting and concert configurations; peak concert attendance has approached the venue’s maximum of around 30,000 spectators, matching large shows at venues like Western Springs Stadium and Mt Smart Stadium-era comparisons elsewhere. Notable match attendances include high-profile National Rugby League fixtures and representative tests involving touring Australian national rugby league team sides. The stadium’s pitch dimensions align with international standards recognized by International Rugby Board-era regulations for hosting professional matches.
The stadium has appeared in coverage by media outlets including TVNZ, Radio New Zealand, and international broadcasters through rights deals akin to those negotiated by Sky Sport (New Zealand), and has been referenced in local music scenes alongside venues such as Spark Arena and Victorian-era theatres in cultural reporting. It has hosted film and television shoots tied to productions using Auckland locations promoted by Screen Auckland and features in touring itineraries documented by international music press including Rolling Stone and Billboard.
Category:Sports venues in Auckland Category:Music venues in New Zealand