Ed Sheeran provides fitting farewell for concerts at Apollo Projects Stadium

Global superstar Ed Sheeran will bring the curtain down on concerts at Apollo Projects Stadium in January with his brand-new Loop Tour as Christchurch eyes a new frontier with the impending opening of One New Zealand Stadium.

The English singer/songwriter, whose new album Play will be released in September, will perform at Apollo Project Stadium on January 24, marking the final concert at the temporary venue (there will be further sports events at the venue but how many will depend on competition draws with One NZ Stadium due to open in April 2026).

Venues Ōtautahi Chief Executive Caroline Harvie-Teare said having one of the world’s biggest recording artists performing in the venue’s 14^th year proves what an incredible asset for the city it has been.

“I could not think of a more exceptional performer for the stadium’s final concert,” she said. “It is a massive coup for Ōtautahi, Christchurch that the temporary stadium with all its quirks, has been able to continue to host such high-quality events. We are very grateful to the Frontier Touring team for their commitment to our city in bringing Ed back to Ōtautahi, Christchurch”

“We are really proud of the way our team have worked with promoters to juggle the challenges of the venue to allow shows like this one to happen.

Sheeran’s performance at the stadium marks a fitting full circle moment with promoters Frontier Touring also being behind the first concert at the stadium in 2015 when the Foo Fighters performed to a sold-out crowd.

For the promoters, it will be their fifth major show at the stadium following Bruce Springsteen (2017), Elton John (2023) and Foo Fighters (2015 and 2024).

Dion Brant, Frontier Touring chief executive, said they were proud to have bought some truly special shows to the stadium over the last 10 years.

“We will never forget Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band playing ‘My City of Ruins’ on the eve of the anniversary of the devasting earthquakes that lead to the temporary stadium’s establishment. The fans have embraced the stadium as a place to come together and celebrate world class music with great passion,” he said.

“It has been 11 years since Ed Sheeran played Christchurch. He is excited to get back, and Frontier is excited to bring him to Christchurch to figuratively blow the roof off the stadium one last time.”

Apollo Projects Stadium opened on 24 March 2012 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 and challenges, including not having one main kitchen on site, few can argue with the crucial role it has played for the Canterbury region, significantly outliving the three-to-five-year lifespan expected when it was built.

Construction of the venue took less than 100 days and featured 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.

Turlough Carolan, Venues Ōtautahi’s Account Director – Entertainment, has been charged with attracting concerts to VŌ’s portfolio of venues, including the stadium since it opened. He said, given the stadium’s nature, it has outshone expectations.

“I’ll be sad but also happy to see it go.” he said. “The stadium has punched above its weight, when it opened, we were always trying to attract acts, but we were completely realistic because of the size of the venue that it was going to be hard.”

Along with Frontier Touring’s five concerts, the stadium also hosted Phil Collins (2019), Six60 (2022), and Snoop Dogg (2023), along with the unifying You Are Us Aroha Nui fundraising concert in 2019 which had a huge Kiwi lineup including Lorde, Six60, Shihad, Stan Walker and Dave Dobbyn.

Following Sheeran’s concert, major concerts will be held at One NZ Stadium. The fully-roofed stadium will be Aotearoa’s premier venue for sports and entertainment with world-class acoustics, enhanced technology and seating designed to ensure great views from every spot in the venue.

While there is a huge amount of excitement around the opening of One NZ Stadium, Harvie-Teare said there will be a touch of sadness as the lights go out at Apollo Projects Stadium.

“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 these last events at Apollo Projects Stadium and will celebrate the city innovation and community resilience this venue stands for.”

Venue owner Christchurch City Council has yet to confirm the future of Apollo Projects Stadium once One NZ Stadium opens.

Announcements of the first events at One NZ Stadium are expected in the next two months.

Presale tickets for Sheeran’s Christchurch concert go on sale on Monday 28 July with general public tickets going on sale on Tuesday 29 July.