Eden Park 2.0 – design description

How did Eden Park expansion project come about?

How does Eden Park look like?

Eden Park's history dates back to 1900 and over the years the venue has become the largest stadium in New Zealand and is even sometimes referred to as the national stadium. The stadium has hosted many international events and has become a stronghold of the New Zealand national rugby union team ('All Blacks'). The venue is located ca. 4 km south of downtown Auckland.

Eden Park is suitable for both rugby and football matches as well as, requiring an oval pitch, cricket. The multi-functionality is an advantage on the one hand, while on the other it is pointed out that rugby players should play in a stadium dedicated to their sport. The facility, moreover, is no longer state-of-the-art, even despite continued investment, and has viability issues.

Why was Eden Park expansion project conceived?

There have been calls for some time that Auckland should have a new stadium, fit for the 21st century and the ambitions of New Zealand's largest metropolitan area, and worthy of being described as a 'national stadium'. The issue of building a new stadium has grown into a wide-ranging community discussion. Among the various ideas and concepts, the idea of building an entirely new facility on the waterfront, in the centre of Auckland, led the way.

The first serious attempt to replace Eden Park was the 'Stadium New Zealand' concept, involving the construction of a new stadium on the Bledisloe Wharf. The idea originated in 2006 and was linked to New Zealand being awarded the 2011 Rugby World Cup, but the project eventually fell through in favour of upgrading Eden Park (a new south stand was then built at the stadium).

However, the construction of the new stand did not solve all of Eden Park's problems and there were still calls for a new stadium. The managers of the venue (Eden Park Trust), aware of the need to make the venue more modern and attractive, began work on a modernisation concept. The project, called Eden Park 2.0, was presented on April 28, 2023.

What does Eden Park 2.0 concept entail?

The main features of the concept proposed by Eden Park Trust are: the construction of a new north stand (corresponding to the south stand, opened in 2010), the extension of the stands on the east and west sides, as well as fitting the facility with a retractable roof. The possibility of playing cricket matches will be retained.

As part of the improvements to the stadium, it is proposed to optimise public transport and to build a new pedestrian bridge near the venue. Emphasis is also to be placed on sustainability and social responsibility issues.

The proposed investment is intended to improve the aesthetics of the facility and the comfort of visitors, as well as increasing its attractiveness and commercial potential. The expansion will confirm Eden Park's role as New Zealand's leading stadium. With its enclosed roof, the facility will be among the world's elite.

What are the chances of Eden Park 2.0 project coming to fruition?

How much might Eden Park 2.0 project cost to realise?

No timeframe for the realisation of the project or details related to the costs have been given. What is known is that the project would cost hundreds of millions of New Zealand dollars and would require a significant amount of public funding. However, according to Eden Park Trust, the expansion of the existing stadium would only consume about 40% of the cost required to build the new venue.

Will Eden Park 2.0 concept gain approval from the Auckland authorities?

In September 2023, the Auckland authorities once again attempted to resolve the stadium dispute by inviting interested parties to submit their proposals for the new facility.

As of October 2023, as many as eight projects had been proposed, although four concepts were ultimately at stake: in addition to the Eden Park 2.0 project, three more are for the construction of entirely new facilities in the city centre: Te Tōangaroa Auckland Stadium, Auckland Waterfront Stadium and National Stadium at Wynyard Point.

Prominent among the proposals is the extravagant Te Tōangaroa Auckland Stadium project, although the others are not without their chances either. In favour of Eden Park extension, on the other hand, is its more than 120-year tradition and potentially lower investment costs, with, still, a rather ambitious design (enclosed roof).