Vector Arena
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| Vector Arena | |
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| Multi Purpose Venue | |
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 Vector Arena from the outside |
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| Location | Mahuhu Crescent, Parnell, Auckland, New Zealand |
| Coordinates | 36°50′50″S 174°46′37″E / 36.8471738°S 174.7769451°ECoordinates: 36°50′50″S 174°46′37″E / 36.8471738°S 174.7769451°E |
| Broke ground | 2006 |
| Opened | 2007 |
| Owner | Auckland City Council / QPAM |
| Operator | QPAM |
| Construction cost | NZ$ 80 million |
| Capacity | 12,000 |
Vector Arena is a 12,000-seat arena for sports and entertainment events in Auckland, New Zealand. Named for a sponsor, Vector Limited,[1] the arena is located at Quay Park, Parnell, very close to the former Auckland Railway Station. Vector Arena cost around $80 million, and of this sum ratepayers contributed $68 million for the facility to be managed by QPAM, the NZ operator, in New Zealand first big public-private partnership. This runs for 40 years before ownership is transferred to the city.[1][2]
After delays due to construction-related issues, the arena's first concert was Rock Star Supernova on 24 March 2007.[3]
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[edit] Past events
The venue has since hosted numerous local and international events, with a full list available from the official website.[4]
[edit] Problems
[edit] Delays
Scheduled to open early 2006, this was first delayed towards the end of 2006, when a second opening date was again missed. The delays were apparently due to the Arena's builder, Mainzeal, having various problems with the structure, especially with the roof, where the 120 m main truss had to be strengthened,[5] and where added insulation to waterproof the building against the humid local climate had to be included. In a related issue, extra ventilation also had to be installed to prevent internal humidity build-up during full-capacity events.[6] The construction company reportedly faced huge losses on the project,[2][7] and planned to sue the architects for partial compensation.[6]
[edit] Suitability
Dave Rat, the sound engineer of The Red Hot Chili Peppers, has criticized the sound quality of the venue after the band played concerts in the Arena during April 2007. He noted that the echo from the curved roof was problematic, and that acoustic panels would need to be installed to improve the arena, especially for those listeners on the upper seating levels. He also criticised the polished concrete floors as too slippery for mass events.[8]
Chris Tate, sound designer for Rockstar: Supernova's first concert at the arena, has however noted that the acoustics were better than expected, and could be improved further. It was also noted that such work is already in preparation.[8]
[edit] Sports
Vector Arena, as the largest indoor venue not only in Auckland but New Zealand is also used on occasion for sporting events. Netball is regularly played at the venue with the New Zealand Silver Ferns playing on several occasions while the ANZ Championship has also used the arena on two occasions since 2010.
Since 2008 Vector Arena has also been a regular host of the WWE's NZ tours with Raw, SmackDown and ECW all performing at the venue.
In 2011 some 10,000 fans saw an Ice Hockey international between Canada and the United States on a $4.2m temporary ice rink.[9][10]
Vector arena will host its first National Basketball League game on 28 October 2011 when the defending champion (and Auckland based) New Zealand Breakers take on the Sydney Kings in Round 4 of the 2011–12 NBL season. The Arena is scheduled to host two more Breakers games during the season, against the Townsville Crocodiles in Round 8 (24 November) while the last game at the venue is again against the Kings in Round 17 (27 January, 2012).
The first NBL game at Vector Arena drew a New Zealand record crowd for a basketball game when 6,900 saw the NZ Breakers defeat the Sydney Kings 76-59.[11]
[edit] References
- ^ a b Vector Arena: Sponsor / Naming Rights Sponsor (from the Auckland City website)
- ^ a b Orsman, Bernard (12 December 2006). "Secret update for council on troubled Vector Arena". The New Zealand Herald. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10414951. Retrieved 26 November 2011.
- ^ Tommy Lee’s Rock Star Supernova, Melbourne's “Anti-Rock Stars” Wrap World Tour - Press Release, Sunday 25 March 07
- ^ Vector Arena's Official Past Events List - as at 19th April 2011
- ^ Gibson, Anne (11 April 2006). "Arena workers back on job after roof problems". The New Zealand Herald. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10376947. Retrieved 26 November 2011.
- ^ a b Gibson, Anne (6 January 2007). "Troubled stadium tipped to open in March". The New Zealand Herald. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10417925. Retrieved 26 November 2011.
- ^ Gibson, Anne (6 March 2006). "Red ink reins in builder Mainzeal". The New Zealand Herald. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/property/news/article.cfm?c_id=8&objectid=10371151. Retrieved 26 November 2011.
- ^ a b Hunkin, Joanna (26 April 2007). "Chili Peppers' sound man: Vector Arena not good enough". The New Zealand Herald. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10436243. Retrieved 26 November 2011.
- ^ Guerin, Michael (24 July 2011). "Ice Hockey: Pucking good time on the ice". The New Zealand Herald. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/boxing/news/article.cfm?c_id=23&objectid=10740544. Retrieved 26 November 2011.
- ^ Canada vs USA highlights on YouTube
- ^ Record Basketball Crowd Just Got Bigger
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Vector Arena |
- Vector Arena (official website of the arena, including seating plans)
- Vector Arena at Austadiums
