13 years of memories for Apollo Projects Stadium

Apollo Projects Stadium is celebrating its 13^th and penultimate birthday, as One New Zealand Stadium at Te Kaha, races towards completion.

The Stadium, which opened on 24 March 2012 in front of 17,500 Crusaders fans, will host its 114^th Crusaders match this weekend when they play Moana Pasifika on Saturday.

It has hosted more than 300 events since the earthquakes of 2010 and 2011 permanently closed Lancaster Park.

While the Addington stadium is not without its quirks, few can argue with the crucial role it has played for the Canterbury region, significantly outliving the three-to-five-year lifespan expected when its intended creation was announced in November 2011.

Venue owners Christchurch City Council has yet to confirm the future of the stadium.

Chief Executive of Venues Ōtautahi, Christchurch City Council’s venue and events company, Caroline Harvie-Teare said despite the limitations of Apollo Projects Stadium, it holds a special place in the heart for many in the community.

“It was an incredibly emotional moment when the Crusaders ran out at the stadium 13 years ago and it will be the same when the team farewell the venue which has seen the greatest run of success of any Super Rugby team in history. To have won seven championships at a venue built as a once temporary solution is extraordinary and is a testament to the incredible culture of a team who despite any adversity will work harder than any other to succeed,” she said. “Apollo Projects Stadium has helped keep Christchurch on the map for major sports and concerts over the time the city has needed to rebuild its major venue infrastructure. For many young Cantabrians, this is the only stadium they have experienced so there is a real and genuine connection with this venue.”

The Apollo Projects Stadium was a key part of the city’s initial earthquake recovery.

It was built in under 100 days featuring largely recycled infrastructure from other venues including the lights from Dunedin’s Carisbrook, the turf and goalposts from Lancaster Park, seating used at Eden Park during the 2011 Rugby World Cup and further seating from QEII Park, along with food and beverage portacoms from Eden Park.

Fittingly, it was the Crusaders who opened the venue in 2012 when they faced the Cheetahs. It was their first game in Christchurch in 680 days after being forced to take their home games to Timaru and Nelson in 2011. The Crusaders have hosted three finals and won seven Super Rugby titles during the Stadium’s lifetime.

But the Crusaders’ ever-building legacy forms just a part of Apollo Projects Stadium’s highlights.

There have been major concerts including the Foo Fighters (in both 2015 and 2024), Elton John (2023), Phil Collins (2019), Six60 (2022), Bruce Springsteen (2017) and Snoop Dogg (2023). There was also the unifying You Are Us Aroha Nui fundraising concert in 2019 which had a huge lineup including Lorde, Six60, Shihad, Stan Walker and Dave Dobbyn.

Canterbury’s NPC side have played 76 first class games at the Stadium, including hosting four finals and winning five titles. Canterbury’s FPC side have hosted one final at the stadium and won five titles during the stadium’s lifetime. Super Rugby Aupiki side Matatū played their third game at the venue earlier this month.

The All Blacks have made five trips to Apollo Projects Stadium with tests against Ireland (2012), France (2013), Argentina (2015 and 2022), and South Africa (2016) while the Black Ferns will make their third appearance at the venue later this year (Australia 2022, Canada 2024 and 2025).

Three NRL clubs have hosted matches at the Stadium. The Panthers hosted the One New Zealand Warriors in 2016, the Manly Sea Eagles played home games in Christchurch against the Warriors in 2018 and 2019, and the Warriors hosted the Storm (2023), and Raiders (2024). The Warriors are returning for their Anzac Day match against the Newcastle Knights next month.

The Kiwis have played three tests at the stadium including their pool match at the 2017 Rugby League World Cup against Scotland, a test against Britian in 2019 and Australia last year. It was also the venue for two other league internationals with the 2017 League World Cup quarter final between Tonga and Lebanon and 2019 Oceania Cup match between Fiji and Papua New Guinea. The Kiwi Ferns played their first test at the venue last year when they faced Australia’s Jillaroos.

There has also been an array of football with games from the 2015 FIFA Under 20s World Cup, four Football Ferns internationals (two games against Korea in 2022 and two games against Thailand in 2024), one All Whites international against Tahiti in 2012, and three A League Phoenix games (2013, 2016 and 2025). The venue was home to Japan for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Harvie-Teare said Cantabrians can expect a significant increase in big sporting events and concerts when One NZ Stadium at Te Kaha opens next year.

“It is so exciting to have One NZ Stadium on the horizon,” she said. “It will be New Zealand’s premier Stadium and will offer an experience unmatched in Aotearoa. There has already been a huge amount of interest from sports organisations, concert promoters and businesses to bring their events to Ōtautahi.”

But until the new stadium is ready, there is still a packed schedule for at Apollo Projects Stadium and Harvie-Teare said it will be a great chance to send it off in style.

“This stadium has played such an important role in our city’s recovery and hosted so many great events. It will be emotional to say goodbye to it but with such a prospect on our horizon in 2026 the sadness of farewell turns to excitement. We will cherish those last events at Apollo Projects Stadium and will celebrate the city innovation and community resilience this venue stands for while we enjoy those remaining incredible events still to be hosted and those memories still to be etched.”

By the numbers

110 Super Rugby Games plus 3 internationals (French Barbarians, England and the British and Irish Lions)

76 First class Canterbury rugby matches

9 Concerts major concerts

7 Rugby Internationals (5 All Blacks), (2 Black Ferns)

6 League internationals (3 Kiwis, 1 Kiwi Ferns, 2 Other tests)

5 NRL games

3 Phoenix A League games

2 Major international tournaments (Rugby League World Cup, Under 20s Football World Cup)

Venues Ōtautahi

Venues Ōtautahi is the Christchurch City Council owned venues and events management company.

Venues Ōtautahi, is the largest venue, event and culinary services management company in New Zealand and operate the Christchurch Town Hall, Wolfbrook Arena, the Air Force Museum of New Zealand, Apollo Projects Stadium, Hagley Oval and One New Zealand Stadium.

Venues Ōtautahi’s mission is to strategically manage and leverage the venues to deliver positive social, cultural, environmental, and economic benefit to the region.

The venues are owned by the community and are for the community. Venues Ōtautahi are proud and privileged to manage them, and the community is proud to own them.