About Our Stadium

MORE THAN 30,000 AVID FANS!

Total capacity in maximum event mode is approximately 30,500: Main South Stand (10,800), North Stand (8,500), East Stand (6,000), West Stand (5,200).

 

UNBEATABLE ATMOSPHERE

The rectangular pitch and seating angle get fans closer to the action than any other major stadium in New Zealand.

 

MULTIPURPOSE

Forsyth Barr Stadium will have the flexibility to host a wide range of conferences, meetings and events – from large-scale staged concerts to main pitch sporting events and exhibitions.

 

UNIVERSITY PLAZA

University of Otago will become New Zealand’s first and only university with a stadium on campus. The connection will be close with new University buildings located on the plaza at the western end of the Stadium. The first stage of the building programme will include a gymnasium and recreation space, physiotherapy clinic, teaching and learning space and a cafeteria. The second stage is likely to provide expanded student health facilities and health research facilities.

 

2011 RUGBY WORLD CUP

The new Stadium is planned to be ready for the 2011 Rugby World Cup – a unique opportunity to showcase the region to New Zealand and a worldwide audience of billions. Dunedin will host three matches: Scotland against the top European qualifier on 14 September, England against the top European playoff winner on 24 September and Ireland against Italy on 2 October.

 

Construction

PROJECT & JOBS

Construction of the Forsyth Barr Stadium at University Plaza began in June 2009. The project is on track and on budget for completion by August 2011. More than 600 people are expected to work on construction at peak. By October 2009, an average of 130 people, and growing, were working on site daily. The main contractor is Hawkins Construction Limited and construction project manager is Arrow International Limited. The Guaranteed Maximum Price for construction is $130.4 million.

 

CONSTRUCTION NUMBERS

530	foundation piles driven to a typical depth of 16.5-18 metres. (An uncut pile is 24 metres long and 0.45 metres square)
3,200	tonnes of structural steel and 2,000 tonnes of steel reinforcing
22,000	cubic metres of excavated fill
524	precast concrete seating bleachers in South and North Stands (1,840m3 concrete)
1,000	precast concrete flooring units in South and North Stands (11,343m2 floor area using 1,500m3 concrete).

 

CAPACITY

• For a main pitch event, the overall venue capacity is 30,500 fans:
  • South Stand - 10,800
  • North Stand - 8,500
  • West Stand - 6,000
  • East Stand - 5,200
• In major concert mode, the venue capacity is 35-38,000 fans.
• The Stadium footprint (including buildings, pitch and service yards but excluding University Plaza) is 31,050m2 (3.1 hectares or 7.7 acres).

 

FACILITIES

• Four stands around a rectangular pitch (South, North, West, East)
• The Main South Stand has five levels including two seating tiers
• Five lounges and 21 Corporate Suites (South Stand)
• Twelve food and beverage outlets/bars (eight on South Stand, four on North Stand, plus additional outlets on East and West Stands).

 

ROOF

The Forsyth Barr Stadium will have the first ever permanent roof over a natural playing surface, using ETFE (ethylene tetrafluoroethylene) – a transparent roofing material that allows grass to grow underneath. The ETFE roof is designed to maximise sunlight, angled towards the north to optimise sun in the Southern Hemisphere winter.

• Area of fuxed roof: 27,200m2
• Area of ETFE roof: 20,558m2
• Main Truss Length (South Stand) 130m
• Five roof arches each with a 105m span
• Maximum external height of the main roof is 47, equivalent to a 12 storey building.

 

INTERNAL ROOF HEIGHT

Forsyth Barr Stadium will be New Zealand’s largest indoor arena. The internal height of roof has been carefully designed to allow room for rugby balls to be kicked.

The highest up-and-under rugby kick observed in international and Super 14 games at sea level was 29.4 metres, well within the roof height on the centre line of the pitch at 37 metres. By way of comparison, the usual height of rugby goalposts is around 16 metres.

• Roof clearance above centre line of pitch: 37 meters
• Highest observed rugby kick: 29.4 metres
• Typical height of rugby goal posts: 16 metres

 

PITCH

The rectangular pitch is 132 metres long and 81 metres wide with a natural turf area of 126 by 75 metres and an artificial turf perimeter of 3 metres.

The Forsyth Barr Stadium playing area meets the pitch requirements for major sporting codes:

• Rugby Union 120x70m (max)
• Football (Soccer) 105x68m
• Rugby League 112-122x86m