Public to get first glimpse of revamped Stadium Taranaki

Newly redeveloped Stadium Taranaki, formerly Yarrow Stadium.
Photo: Taranaki Regional Council

The public will get its first glimpse of the new East Stand at Stadium Taranaki – formerly Yarrow Stadium – next month.

Stadium owner – the Taranaki Regional Council – is planning a community event on 4 May, featuring tours of the new stand, food trucks, live music and activities for young and old on the main pitch and stadium surrounds.

The celebration will run from 9.30am-12.30pm, followed by two Central Football games, kicking off at 12.30pm and 2.45pm.

Corporate services director Mike Neild said the opening day would mark the end of the project, which began in 2019, after both stands at the stadium were declared earthquake prone, resulting in an $80 million revamp of the facility.

“This has been a massive project, and we’re absolutely delighted to have delivered what we think is now the best regional stadium in the country and a venue the whole of the Taranaki community can be proud of.

“I’m sure there are many, many people out there who want to see the new stand and have been eagerly anticipating the completion of the work on the East Stand. We’d also like to say a huge thank you to those living nearby for their patience during the construction phases.”

The new East Stand is closer to the main pitch, it’s double-sided, so spectators can watch two different fields, it’s scalable to cater for a range of large and small events, and has a large hospitality area suitable for trade shows and exhibitions.

The council has worked closely with Ngāti Te Whiti on the design of the East Stand and users will see this through the many cultural design elements in the new facility. This has reconfirmed the strong links the stadium has with the hapū.

New Plymouth District Council venue and events manager Chade Julie said it was looking forward to welcoming everyone to celebrate the milestone.

“This event kicks off a new era for the venue, making it a destination for everything from grassroots sports to major events and concerts. Event promoters are already showing great interest in Taranaki and we’re lucky to have an asset as versatile as Stadium Taranaki to help attract these events to the region.”

TRC chair Craig Williamson said the Stadium Taranaki upgrade had been the single biggest infrastructure project the council had ever been involved with.

“Stadium Taranaki is an iconic venue, which has seen so many great matches and events that live long in the memory, like All Blacks games,” he said.

“We’re now ready to make new memories, with the venue 100% open for big games, community events and entertainment.”

Stadium Taranaki fact file

– $80 million total cost to redevelop Stadium Taranaki

– $50 million Taranaki ratepayers contribution/$30 million government contribution

– 22-23,000 stadium capacity with scalability for major events

– 30 metres depth of East Stand’s steel piles driven into the ground

– 50 percent increased illumination of new LED floodlights, with 30 percent reduction of power cost

– 4 May grand opening