After 96 years, Western Springs Stadium has bid farewell to its fans. Although the stadium has closed, its future – as well as the future of speedway racing in Auckland – remains uncertain. The conflict continues, and final decisions might not come until 2026.

Farewell to a legend

March 22, 2025, went down in history as the day of the final race at Western Springs – a stadium that had been an integral part of New Zealand’s motorsport and rugby culture since 1929. For nearly a century, the venue hosted spectacular events – from midget car races to sprint cars.

Despite nearly a decade at its own track, Western Springs said goodbye to fans in an atmosphere of uncertainty. For many, it also meant the end of a Saturday-night ritual. Yet the craving for adrenaline hasn’t disappeared. Quite the opposite – in times where entertainment must be instant and available anywhere, more and more fans are turning to the digital space. In search of best payout online casino NZ has to offer best welcome bonuses and a wide variety of games.

The final event of the 2024/25 season had a special atmosphere. The program included a symbolic 96-lap race, referencing the number of years the track operated. Retired drivers also joined in, qualifying for the race and once again feeling the thrill of the legendary oval.

Decision full of doubts

The closure wasn’t a natural course of events, but the result of an Auckland Council vote which – after a seven-hour debate – approved an $11 million investment in upgrading Waikaraka Park in Onehunga. This is where speedway is supposed to move starting from the 2025/26 season. The decision triggered a wave of controversy and opposition.

Speedway organizations, including Speedway New Zealand (SNZ), accused the council of manipulating the decision-making process. According to SNZ, their letter in support of Waikaraka Park’s upgrade was misread as support for closing Western Springs. This completely misrepresents the intent of the letter wrote SNZ CEO Aaron Kirby, adding that the organization no time ever considered supporting the closure of the historic speedway venue.

The situation was further complicated by reports of irregularities. Councillor John Watson revealed that at least three letters of support were fabricated, false, and misleading. The Western Springs Speedway Association referred the matter to the Serious Fraud Office and the Ombudsman. The local community, drivers, and car owners felt stripped of their voice in shaping the future of their sport.

© Auckland Transport

Save Our Speedway protest march

On the day of the final event, a protest march called Save Our Speedway was held, with hundreds of fans and residents taking part. The route led from the stadium along Great North Road to Pt Chevalier. Marchers demanded that the controversial decision be suspended and called for open public consultation.

Mayor Wayne Brown justified the closure with economic arguments – pointing to operational restrictions and financial losses – but the community highlighted the lack of transparency and public involvement. What’s more, Waikaraka Park doesn’t have formal approval to host open-wheel racing, and its full redevelopment is estimated to cost $18.3 million, meaning the approved $11 million is just a drop in the ocean.

Consultation and three scenarios

In April, under pressure from the public and media, Auckland Council launched community consultations on the future of Western Springs. These ran from May 19 to June 15, 2025. Three scenarios were presented: building Auckland Arena – a privately funded football stadium with commercial and sporting facilities; converting the site into Western Springs Bowl – a music-and-festival amphitheatre with some sports uses like rugby; or preserving the current setup or exploring other variants, including the return of speedway.

The consultations drew 14,894 responses. Although Tātaki Auckland Unlimited (TAU) called the results inconclusive, Councillor Watson pointed out that an overwhelming 49% of respondents supported option 3. Among all proposals, this was the one offering a possible return of speedway – and it received the most support.

© Nzv8fan (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Auckland Arena suspended, more questions than answers

July brought another twist. The investment group behind the Auckland Arena proposal – including billionaire Bill Foley, NBA star Steven Adams, and ZURU CEO Anna Mowbray – officially withdrew from the process. TAU was due to present a recommendation to the council on July 31, but after the project's collapse, the procedure was suspended until the local elections in October 2025.

The withdrawal sparked frustration among councillors, who criticized TAU for a lack of transparency and poor communication with the public. Councillor Shane Henderson admitted: We’ve had a really difficult conversation with the public with some high emotion, and to find out on the morning of the release of feedback to councillors that one of the options we asked the public about has pulled out is frustrating. It affects the rest of the consultation.

Even though the Auckland Arena plan is no longer moving forward, that doesn’t mean speedway will automatically return to Western Springs. Legal proceedings between Auckland Council and the Western Springs Speedway Association are still ongoing. TAU is expected to submit an updated recommendation only after the elections, and the final decisions might not come before 2026.