• Work on Christchurch’s $683m stadium is on schedule and within budget, set to open in April 2026.
• The stadium will have a 35,000 capacity for sports and 37,500 for concerts, with multiple bookings secured.
• Mayor Phil Mauger admits uncertainty about parking but emphasises public transport and foot traffic accessibility.

Work on Christchurch’s new $683m covered stadium is running on time and on budget but the city mayor admits he has “no idea” where fans will park.

Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger today took local media on a tour inside One New Zealand Stadium at Te Kaha, with the city’s long-awaited new stadium just a year away.

With the building site a hive of activity as the giant new-build now looms high on the cityscape, construction director Brian Hayes says exterior cladding is a main focus, as is interior fit-outs on food and beverage stands.

The roof is partially closed, but more importantly, the grass is growing offsite, ready to be rolled out once construction is complete.

Hayes says this will be common practice for the stadium, as damaged grass will be replaced with offsite grass to ensure consistent optimal pitch conditions.

Workers take a break on the stadium which is well on track to be finished on time and within budget. Photo / George Heard

With around a 35,000-person capacity for on-field play and 37,500 capacity for concerts, Te Kaha has already got event bookings.

Mauger says Venues Otautahi have already had multiple bookings for the stadium, but the first event is yet to be announced.

He says the venue will bring major financial gains to the city, comparing it to Te Pae Convention Centre which he says brings in $60m a year.

The stadium is a hive of building activity. Photo / George Heard

Further features include four changing rooms and warm-up areas, 23 private suites and a function room with a 900-person capacity.

When getting food at one of the 32 food and beverage stands, gameplay will be unmissed thanks to unobstructed views of the field.

The two main gates are located on Tuam and Barbadoes streets, however, the question of parking still looms.

Mauger says he has “no idea” where people will park, but is adamant that public transport provided by ECan, along with foot traffic will make the stadium easily accessible.

Photo / George Heard

He says Christchurch should look to places like Melbourne for inspiration where game day transport flows well.

The mayor also expects road construction to also be completed soon.

“I would say in about a month and a half’s time, maybe even less than that, all the street stuff will be finished, but a bit of work will need to be done to the footpaths.”

Mauger says overall the project has gone extremely well and that he cannot wait to have major sporting events back in Christchurch.

The project is continuing to run on time and budget to be opened in April 2026.