A brand-new stand has been built to replace the old TSB stand, which was identified as earthquake-prone and could not be repaired as originally planned due to issues like poor ground conditions and insufficient foundation strength.
While this meant we had to look at changes to the overall budget to accommodate demolition costs and the construction of a new stand, it also created the opportunity to design a facility that is suitable for a wider range of uses, especially non-sport events such as conferences, trade shows and entertainment events.
The new stand offers more flexibility for sports users as it is ‘double sided’ so visitors can watch rugby, football and other sports on both the main pitch and the outer fields and facilities such as public toilets, changing rooms, showers and food/beverage areas are available to users of the outer fields without the need to open up the entire stand or rest of the stadium.
The rebuilt stand will also have flexible and scalable seating capacity so it can cater for events and fixtures at all levels.
We’ve worked closely with Ngāti Te Whiti on the new design and users can see this through the many cultural design elements in the new facility. This work has reconfirmed the strong links the Stadium has with the hapū.
East Stand at a glance:
- The old stand – known as the TSB Stand – was declared earthquake-prone in 2017 and was subsequently closed.
- That stand was originally going to be repaired but issues with the foundations and ground conditions meant it had to be demolished in November 2021.
- The new steel piles have been driven 30 metres into the ground.
- It has been built by New Plymouth-based Clelands Construction.
- The facility has hospitality facilities and there’s more space for conferences and trade shows.
- There are improved changing facilities for teams and match officials.