Mount Smart Stadium

Last updated

Go Media Stadium
EricssonStadium00.jpg
Mount Smart Stadium
Former namesMt Smart Stadium (1967–1995), (2007–2023)
Ericsson Stadium (1995–2006)
Address2 Beasley Ave
Penrose, Auckland 1061
Location Auckland, New Zealand
Coordinates 36°55′6″S174°48′45″E / 36.91833°S 174.81250°E / -36.91833; 174.81250
Owner Auckland Unlimited, Auckland Council (indirectly through Auckland Unlimited)
Operator Auckland Stadiums (division of Auckland Unlimited)
Capacity Sports: 25,000
Concerts: 47,000
SurfaceGrass
Construction
Broke ground1965
Opened1967
Tenants
New Zealand Warriors (NRL) / (SL) (1995–present)
Auckland Vulcans (NSWRL) (2008–2013)
Football Kingz (NSL) (1999–2004)
Counties Manukau Rugby Union (ITM Cup) (2006–2008)
Moana Pasifika (Super Rugby) (2022–2022)
Auckland FC (A-League Men) (2024–present)

Mount Smart Stadium, currently known as Go Media Stadium for sponsorship reasons, is a multi-purpose stadium in Auckland, New Zealand. It is the main home ground of the New Zealand Warriors of the National Rugby League and Auckland FC of the A-League Men, and occasionally hosts rugby union and international rugby league matches. Built within the quarried remnants of the Rarotonga / Mount Smart volcanic cone, it is located 10 kilometres south of the city centre, in the suburb of Penrose.

Contents

History

Big Day Out Double Stages, Auckland 2007 Big Day Out 2007.jpg
Big Day Out Double Stages, Auckland 2007

The Mount Smart Domain Board was established in 1943 with the purpose of transforming the former quarry site into a public reserve.[ citation needed ] In 1953, a plan was approved for a sports stadium which was officially opened in 1967. In 1978, it hosted 3 matches of the World Series Cricket tour of New Zealand. The stadium hosted track and field events including the highly successful Pan Am series during the early 1980s.

During the 1988 Great Britain Lions tour the Auckland rugby league team defeated the tourists 30–14 at Mt Smart before a crowd of 8,000. Mount Smart hosted its first rugby league international on 23 July 1989 when New Zealand and Australia played the third test of the Kangaroos 1989 New Zealand Tour. In front of 15,000 fans, Australia defeated the Kiwis 22–14 to wrap up the series 3–0.

The stadium was chosen as the Main Athletics Stadium as well as the opening and closing ceremonies venue of the 1990 Commonwealth Games. It was where the New Zealand men's national football team (the All Whites) played all their home qualifying games for the 1982 FIFA World Cup. This was the first occasion that New Zealand had qualified for a FIFA World Cup and the event captured the imagination of the nation with large crowds packing the stadium.

Adele holds the attendance record of the stadium, with 45,000 fans, who saw her play at Adele Live 2017. [1] Ericsson Stadium was the host of the Super League's 1997 World Club Championship Final between Australian teams the Brisbane Broncos and Hunter Mariners. In front of 12,000 fans, the Broncos defeated the Mariners 36–12. Ericsson Stadium hosted three-quarters of the 1999 Rugby League Tri-nations' games, including the final, which New Zealand lost 20–22.

Go Media Stadium at Auckland FC's inaugural A-League game Gomediastadium.jpg
Go Media Stadium at Auckland FC's inaugural A-League game

The stadium is now owned by the Auckland Council, following the merger of Auckland's regional authorities and managed by Auckland Stadiums. [2] During the late 1980s and early 1990s, the back of the grandstand roof at Mount Smart was used for Bungee jumping. Following the first rugby league test at the stadium in 1989, Australian captain Wally Lewis and teammate Peter Jackson both 'took the plunge'.

Mount Smart Stadium also hosted the first standalone NRL Women's Premiership match between the New Zealand Warriors and St. George Illawarra Dragons on 22 September 2019. [3] The Dragons won this match 26–6. [4]

Naming rights

Panoramic image of Mt Smart Stadium in 2006 MTSMARTPAN1.jpg
Panoramic image of Mt Smart Stadium in 2006

As of 12 July 2006, the stadium reverted to its original name, Mt Smart Stadium. In a press release, the Auckland Regional Council, owners of the stadium, stated they had considered other offers, but felt they did not suit.[ citation needed ] Auckland Regional Council did not actively pursue a replacement sponsor.

On 14 July 2017 the Stadium was temporarily renamed Manu Vatuvei Stadium for the Warriors vs Panthers game where the Warriors bid farewell to club legend Manu Vatuvei.

On 15 May 2023, the stadium became known as Go Media Stadium when Auckland Stadiums signed a naming rights deal with the advertising company. [5] [6] On 10 July 2024, the naming rights deal was extended until at least May 2028. [7]

On 18 August 2023, the stadium was renamed Daniel Anderson Stadium for one day only as a fundraiser for former NZ Warriors coach Daniel Anderson who became an incomplete quadriplegic after a bodysurfing accident in 2022. [8]

On 19 August, 2024, the stadium was renamed Shaun Johnson Stadium for one week to commemorate the final home game of Shaun Johnson's career on 23 August, 2024 before his retirement after the season. [9]

Aerial view of the stadium Mt SS.jpg
Aerial view of the stadium

Tenants

The South Stand at Mt Smart Stadium, shot from the northern end of the stadium. Warriors Open Day, February 2005. EricssonStadium02.jpg
The South Stand at Mt Smart Stadium, shot from the northern end of the stadium. Warriors Open Day, February 2005.

It currently serves as the home ground for the New Zealand Warriors in the Australian National Rugby League and NRL Women's Premiership. It is the former home of the Football Kingz of the Australian National Soccer League; however, its A-League successor, the now defunct New Zealand Knights, played on the other side of Waitematā Harbour at North Harbour Stadium.

The Moana Pasifika Super Rugby team started utilising the stadium as its home ground in 2022.

The Athletics Ground (officially Mt Smart Stadium Number 2) hosts athletics meets. It also holds local rugby league matches and serves as the home ground for the Auckland franchise in the Bartercard Premiership.

In March 2024, new A-League Men club Auckland FC was announced to be playing their first season at this venue. [10] In July 2024, it was announced that the club had signed a five-year deal meaning the stadium would be Auckland FC's home until at least 2029. [7]

Rugby league test matches

A list of rugby league test and World Cup matches played at Mount Smart Stadium.

Test#DateResultAttendanceNotes
123 July 1989 Australia  Flag of Australia (converted).svg def. Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 22–1415,000 1989–1992 World Cup Game 1
1989 Trans-Tasman Test series Game 3
28 July 1990 Great Britain  Flag of the United Kingdom.svg def. Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand 16–147,843 1990 New Zealand vs Great Britain 2nd Test
320 June 1993New Zealand Flag of New Zealand.svg drew with Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia 14–1422,994 1993 Trans-Tasman Test series Game 1
49 June 1995New Zealand Flag of New Zealand.svg def. Flag of France.svg  France 22–615,0001995 New Zealand vs France series
518 October 1996New Zealand Flag of New Zealand.svg def. Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Great Britain 17–127,400 1996 New Zealand vs Great Britain Game 1
615 October 1999New Zealand Flag of New Zealand.svg def. Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia 24–2222,540 1999 Tri-Nations Game 1
726 October 1999New Zealand Flag of New Zealand.svg def. Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Great Britain 26–414,040 1999 Tri-Nations Game 3
85 November 1999Australia Flag of Australia (converted).svg def. Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand 22–2021,204 1999 Tri-Nations Final
910 June 2001New Zealand Flag of New Zealand.svg def. Flag of France.svg France 36–04,500
1021 October 2005Australia Flag of Australia (converted).svg def. Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand 28–2615,400 2005 Tri-Nations Game 2
1114 October 2006Australia Flag of Australia (converted).svg def. Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand 30–1817,887 2006 Tri-Nations Game 1
1218 October 2008New Zealand Flag of New Zealand.svg def. Flag of Tonga.svg  Tonga 56–8
1316 October 2010New Zealand Flag of New Zealand.svg def. Flag of Samoa.svg  Samoa 50–611,512
1428 October 2017New Zealand Flag of New Zealand.svg def. Flag of Samoa.svg  Samoa 38–817,857 2017 World Cup Group B
1525 November 2017England Flag of England.svg def. Flag of Tonga.svg  Tonga 20–1830,003 2017 World Cup Semi-final
1613 October 2018Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand def. Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 26–2412,763
1720 October 2018Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia def. Flag of Tonga.svg  Tonga 34–1626,214
1822 June 2019Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand def. Flag of Tonga.svg  Tonga 34–1423,634 2019 Oceania Cup
1925 June 2022Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand def. Flag of Tonga.svg  Tonga 26–620,766
202 November 2024Flag of Tonga.svg  Tonga def. Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 25–2422,363 2024 Pacific Championships

Concerts

The capacity of the stadium for concerts is roughly 47,000 people. This can be expanded to 60,000 when the temporary north and south stands are installed. A list of concerts held at the stadium are included in the table below:

Mount Smart Stadium was the Auckland venue of the Big Day Out music festival until 2012. In 2014, Western Springs Stadium served as the venue for the festival in Auckland. Among the concerts hosted were Rainbow Warrior Benefit Concert (Greenpeace 1986) featuring multiple artists including Neil Young on acoustic guitar and Jackson Browne, Graham Nash, Topp Twins, Dave Dobbyn and a Split Enz reunion [52] within Mt Smart Stadium.

An album of Maori artists who came to support the aims of the Mt. Smart Stadium project was released in 1981. [53] It was called The Mauri Hikitia . It reached no 4 on the New Zealand charts. [54] It featured Rhonda, Ken Kincaid, Deane Waretini, and the Lightwood family. [55]


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References

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  2. ↑ "Regional Facilities". Auckland Council. 12 April 2011.
  3. ↑ "Dragons for Mount Smart NRLW game". New Zealand Warriors. 8 September 2019. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  4. ↑ Reive, Christopher (22 September 2019). "Rugby league: Warriors succumb to late Dragons surge in first NRLW home game". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  5. ↑ "Go Media secures Mt Smart Stadium naming rights". Auckland Stadiums. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  6. ↑ Long, David (15 May 2023). "Auckland Stadiums secures naming rights sponsor for Mt Smart Stadium". stuff.co.nz. Stuff Limited. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  7. 1 2 "Auckland FC sign five-year stadium deal". RNZ. 10 July 2024. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
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  53. ↑ National Library of New Zealand The Mauri Hikitia album (sound recording) / various artists.
  54. ↑ The Official NZ Music Charts 14 June 1981, CHART #287, Top 10 Compilation
  55. ↑ Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa Object: The Mauri Hikitia Album
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