Element Magazine Winter 2010

New Zealand's largest stadium

Eden Park has been in existence as a sports ground since 1910. Extensive redevelopment of Eden Park into a venue suitable to host the finals for RWC2011 is almost complete. The $240.5 million redevelopment will see the current stadium’s capacity increase from 45,000 to 50,000 with an additional 10,000 seats being temporarily installed for RWC2011.

The redevelopment involves construction of:

  • A new permanent three-tier, 22,000 seatSouth Stand with 50 new corporate boxes
  • A new, unroofed, two-tier East Stand with8,600 capacity
  • Extension of the ASB Stand with a 2,000seat lower bowl
  • An external western concourse whichwill link with the internal concourses,connecting all stands
  • A transport hub in the south west of thepark with parking for 12 coaches

"Just recently one of the Directors from the London Olympic Stadium Project visited the site and the first question he asked me was 'How did you get such a good finish on the concrete?"

Firth has supplied more than 19,000m3 ofCertified Concrete® and another 1,000m3 tothe offsite precast suppliers for theredevelopment project.

"The combination of mixes have certainly kept our team on their toes," said Ray Boyd, Customer Development, Firth - Auckland Key Accounts. "From high dose oxide mixesto specific design for chiller rooms and self compacting ... we've had it all!"

"The combination of the steel form systems supplied by Dominion Constructors and Firth's self compacting concrete has createdan extremely good finish to the concrete at the stadium," said Alan Gray, Project Manager - Fletcher Construction. "Just recently one of the Directors from the London Olympic Stadium Project visited the site and the first question he asked me was 'How did you get such a good finish on theconcrete?' I was happy to explain the good work done by Firth and Dominion."

The stadium is a head of schedule and, although completion is not until the end of October this year, Fletchers will be progressively handing over areas from mid July, three and a half months ahead of schedule.

With local residents and rugby fans alike in favour of the changes being made at Eden Park, anticipation is building. The kick off ofthe RWC2011 at Eden Park on 9 September between Tonga and the All Blacks is just around the corner.

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