Eden Park
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| Location | Kingsland, Auckland, New Zealand |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 36°52′30″S 174°44′41″E / 36.87500°S 174.74472°E |
| Owner | Eden Park Trust Board |
| Operator | Eden Park Trust Board |
| Capacity | 50,000 (Rugby)[1][2] 42,000 (Cricket)[3] 60,000 (with temporary seating)[4] |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1900 |
| Architect | HOK Sports, now Populous (reconstruction) |
| Tenants | |
| Blues (Super Rugby) Auckland (Mitre 10 Cup) Auckland Aces (Domestic cricket) | |
| Ground information | |
| End names | |
| Broadcasting End Terraces End | |
| International information | |
| First Test | 14–17 February 1930: New Zealand v  England |
| Last Test | 6–9 February 2014: New Zealand v  India |
| First ODI | 22 February 1976: New Zealand v India |
| Last ODI | 3 February 2016: New Zealand v  Australia |
| First T20I | 22 February 2005: New Zealand v Australia |
| Last T20I | 15 January 2016: New Zealand v  Pakistan |
| As of 3 February 2016 Source: Cricinfo | |
Eden Park is New Zealand's largest stadium.[5] Located in central Auckland, New Zealand's largest city, it is three kilometres southwest of the CBD, on the boundary between the suburbs of Mount Eden and Kingsland. Although used primarily for rugby union in winter and cricket in summer, it has hosted rugby league and football matches. In 2011 it hosted pool games, two quarter-finals, both semi-finals and the final of Rugby World Cup 2011. In doing so it became the first stadium in the world to host two Rugby World Cup Finals, having held the inaugural final in 1987.[6] It was a venue for the 2015 Cricket World Cup, which was jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand.[7]
History
Eden Park has been a sports ground since 1900.[5] The park began as a cricket ground in 1903, and was due to the vision of one Harry Ryan, a cricket enthusiast who approached landowner John Walters to lease part of his land as a sports field. In the book Eden Park: A History, the authors write, "Certainly the rough paddock strewn with stones, studded with outcrops of rock and streaked with cowpats, falling away to a boggy trough that filled in a downpour and remained flooded throughout the winter, looked better suited to frog-hunting or duck-shooting than cricket, let alone rugby. Ryan knew or at least imagined better."[8] That bit of land was in fact located just up the road from Cabbage Tree Swamp, now Gribblehirst Park.
Interestingly, those who saw Ryan's vision as madness most likely felt vindicated when, in 1907, massive downpours of rain saw the ground submerged in water for a week. The same thing happened again later in the year. Drainage problems were a scourge even as late as 1975[9] when severe rain before the one-off test between the All Blacks and Scotland saw the event close to being called off with the drainage system unable to cope with the flooding.
In 1913 the park was leased to the Auckland Rugby Union so it became both a summer and winter sporting venue, and in 1921 hosted the first international event, a NZ v South Africa Test. The Western part of the ground was just open space until 1950 when a temporary stand was erected for the British Empire Games. In 1956 a permanent stand was built, but subsequently moved to North Harbour Stadium.[10]
The name ‘Eden Park’ settled into general usage around 1912, soon after it had been taken over by the Auckland Cricket Association (which was founded in 1883). Still the home of Auckland Cricket, Eden Park has hosted many international Tests, One Day International and Twenty/20 cricket matches.
Rugby arrived in 1913 when, after negotiations with the Auckland Cricket Association, Auckland Rugby was granted a 21-year lease for games during the winter season. The first rugby test was held on 27 August 1921, when the Springboks beat the All Blacks 5–9 before a crowd of 40,000. The Auckland Rugby Football Union officially made Eden Park its home in 1925.
In 1926 a Trust was set up to manage Eden Park primarily for the benefit of Auckland Cricket and Auckland Rugby. The Trust still manages the Park.
Eden Park has hosted events over the years from the 1950 Empire Games, the Queen Mother’s visit in 1966, the infamous flour bombing test at the NZ v South Africa rugby game, to the Dalai Lama visit in 2002. And of course in more recent history, it has been the subject of the hotly debated dilemma leading up to the 2011 Rugby World Cup - should the event be hosted at historical Eden Park or a nice new waterfront stadium.[10]
In 2013 the New Zealand Warriors announced they would be playing three home games at Eden Park in the 2014 NRL season.[11]
In 2015, it hosted four matches during the 2015 Cricket World Cup, which was co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand including the first semi final between New Zealand and South Africa.[7]
1900-11 Eden Park was established as a cricket ground with the Kingsland Cricket Club renting land close to what is now Sandringham Road. Subsequently the Eden Cricket Club purchased a plot of land in the area and progressively developed it as a cricket ground. The area was affectionately known in some circles as the “the pond” because of its propensity to flood after heavy rain. Major drains were cut during this early period.
1911 The Auckland Cricket Association (ACA) purchased the land from the Eden Cricket Club, supported by the personal guarantees of a number of well-known Auckland businessman.
1913 Rugby union's longstanding association with the ground was established when the Auckland Rugby Football Union (ARFU) was granted a 21-year lease to use the ground for games during the winter. A grandstand with a capacity of 3,000 was funded by the ARFU.
1914 The first international cricket match was held, with Auckland hosting Australia. The first rugby union match was contested between Ponsonby and City. Later that season, Auckland hosted Canterbury in the ground's inaugural first-class rugby match.
1921 The first international rugby union match was held, with New Zealand hosting South Africa. South Africa won 5 - 9 before a crowd of 40,000.
1926 A trust was established, providing beneficial ownership of the ground for the ACA and ARFU. The management of the ground shifted to a Board of Control comprising members from the ACA and ARFU.
1930 The ground hosted its inaugural British and Irish Lions matches as part of the 1930 British Lions tour to New Zealand and Australia. Matches were held against Auckland and New Zealand sides, both won by the home sides with an attendance of 45,000 at the latter. Development work commenced on the terraces and embankment.
1931 The ground hosted its first match between New Zealand and Australia as part of the 1931 Australia rugby union tour of New Zealand. New Zealand won 20 - 13.
1933 New Zealand hosted England in the first cricket test match. Walter Hammond set an individual test batting record of 336 not out. The game was a draw.
1937 The ground hosted its second international rugby union match between New Zealand and South Africa. New Zealand won 17 - 6 before a then-record crowd of 58,000.
1950 The opening ceremony and athletic events of the 1950 British Empire Games were held at the ground.
1955 New Zealand hosted England in the second test match of their 1954–55 Tour of New Zealand. New Zealand are dismissed for 26 in their second innings, the lowest score in test cricket history. The New Zealand Parliament passed the Eden Park Trust Act, enshrining the governance structure of the park until 2009.
1956 The West Stand was completed. New Zealand won its first cricket test match against the West Indies as part of the 1955-56 West Indies Tour of New Zealand. The ground hosted its third rugby international between New Zealand and South Africa. New Zealand won 11 - 5 before a record crowd of 63,000.
1957 The ground hosted its first trans-national soccer match, with an Auckland XI against FK Austria Wien.
1958 The South Stand, with a capacity of 10,000, was completed. It was demolished in 2009.
1959 The British and Irish Lions returned for the third time in the 1959 British Lions tour to Australia and New Zealand with matches against Auckland and New Zealand. The visitors win both, their first test match win at the ground.
1961 The ground hosted its first rugby test between New Zealand and France as part of the inaugural French tour of New Zealand and Australia. New Zealand won 13 - 6.
1963 The ground hosted its first rugby test match between New Zealand and England as part of the inaugural England tour of New Zealand. New Zealand won 33 - 12.
1964 The North Stand, with a capacity of 9,000, was completed in the area formerly occupied by the embankment.
1966 The development of Eastern terraces commenced, with work continuing until 1972.
1969 The ground hosted its first rugby union test between New Zealand and Wales as part of the inaugural Welsh tour of New Zealand. New Zealand won 21 - 11.
1970 A public welcome was held for the royal tour party, including the Queen, Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Charles and Princess Anne.
1972 First class cricket matches commenced on the Number two ground (outer oval).
1974 New Zealand hosted Australia in the first cricket test match between the two nations as part of the Australian tour of New Zealand. A visit and display were held by touring Russian gymnasts, including Olga Korbut.
1975 The famous “flood” rugby union test between New Zealand and Scotland was held, with New Zealand winning 24 - 0.
1981 The infamous “flour bomb” rugby test between New Zealand and South Africa was held as part of the 1981 Springbok Tour. New Zealand won by 25 - 22. A light plane dropped flour bombs on the playing surface whilst the match was being played.
1982 The ground hosted a One Day International between New Zealand and Australia as part of the 1981-82 Australia Tour of New Zealand. The attendance of 43,000 was a then-record for a cricket game in New Zealand. The match was notable for Australian batsman Greg Chappell dealing with an on ground streaker with his bat. An indoor cricket facility and stand were built next to the outer oval.
1987 The inaugural Rugby World Cup was co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand. New Zealand defeated France 29 - 9 in the final in front of a crowd of 48,035.
1988 Eden Park hosted the 1988 Rugby League World Cup Final, with Australia defeating New Zealand 25 - 12 before a New Zealand rugby league record crowd of 47,363. This was the first game of rugby league played at Eden Park since 1919.
1989 The South Stand is modified with a cantilever structure added in order to accommodate additional corporate boxes.
1991 The West Stand was completed, with 4,200 seats. The South West stand, including additional corporate boxes, was completed. The capacity of the ground was at 47,000.
1992 New Zealand jointly hosted the 1992 Cricket World Cup with Australia. Pakistan defeated New Zealand by four wickets in the semi-final.
1993 Major work was undertaken to improve the playing surface by sand slitting.
1996 The new Auckland Blues began to play. The ground hosted the inaugural Super 12 final, with the Auckland Blues defeating the Template:Rut Sharks (Currie Cup) 45 - 21 before a crowd of 46,000. The ground hosted Super 12 finals in 1997, 1998 and 2003.
1999 The North Stand was replaced by the ASB Stand. Resource consent for the use of lights permitted night matches.
2002 The ground hosted its first rugby test between New Zealand and Ireland as part of the 2002 Ireland Tour of New Zealand. New Zealand won 40 - 8. The Hall of Legends opened for tours. Portable cricket pitch technology was introduced.
2003 The playing surface on the main oval was completely overhauled with the introduction of “Motz” turf.
2007 The ground was confirmed by the New Zealand Government as the venue for the final of the 2011 Rugby World Cup, committing significant funding for the necessary redevelopment.
2008 Redevelopment of the stadium for the 2011 Rugby World Cup commenced.
2010 The redeveloped stadium was officially opened by New Zealand Prime Minister John Key on 10 October. The first event was a Rugby League Four Nations double header, including matches between England and Papua New Guinea, and Australia and New Zealand.
2011 The 2011 Rugby World Cup commenceed on 9 September, with New Zealand defeating Tonga 41 - 10 before a crowd of 60,214. In addition to the opening ceremony and match, five pool games, two quarter-finals, both semi-finals and the final are held at Eden Park, with a cumulative attendance of more than 600,000. New Zealand defeated France 8 - 7 before a crowd of 61,079.[6] The ground hosted its first game of professional football, with the Wellington Phoenix hosting Adelaide United before a crowd of 20,078.
2013 The Auckland Council takes over five of the nine spots on the Eden Park Trust Board, giving ratepayers control over the ground.[12][13]
2015 The stadium hosted four matches during the 2015 Cricket World Cup, which was co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand. The matches played here were two pool B games, the pool A clash between co-hosts New Zealand v Australia and the first semi final between New Zealand and South Africa.[7]
2017 The stadium will host its first day night test match between New Zealand and South Africa.
Redevelopment
Capacity
The $256 million redevelopment completed in October 2010 provided a permanent capacity of 50,000 with a further 10,000 temporary seats for the 2011 Rugby World Cup games.[14] This is the largest of any New Zealand sports arena. There are no standing areas. Temporary seating in front of the North Stand and the West Stand (usually only used for international rugby matches) is required for the capacity to be reached. Due to sight-screens and the larger area required for cricket matches, cricket capacity is smaller.
Prior to redevelopment, Eden Park had a crowd capacity of 42,000 for cricket, and 47,500 for rugby.[15]
Expansion
The redevelopment project included a three-tier South stand replacing the old South and West stands, with a capacity of 24,000, and a three-tier East replacing the Terraces. The number of covered seats increased from 23,000 to 38,000. The redeveloped Eden Park has an internal concourse that allows people to circulate around the grounds inside the stadium, and world-class facilities, including food and beverage outlets, toilets and corporate areas, were incorporated. The open plan approach to the design and establishment of a community centre and green space, and the removal of the perimeter fence, mean that the stadium has become more publicly accessible and a part of the neighbourhood.
There were public concerns about the height of the new structure and its shading effect on many nearby houses. Auckland City Council received 470 submissions on the resource consent application, over 300 of which were in favour of the redevelopment. On 26 January 2007, Eden Park received resource consent with 91 conditions imposed. The consent permitted the building of new stands in place of the terraces and south stand, but did not include consent for the NZ$385 million 'full option', which would have included covered seating.[16]
Possible alternative stadium for the Rugby World Cup
In September 2006 it was announced that instead of Eden Park, the Government and Auckland City Council were assessing the possibility of a new stadium on Auckland's waterfront to host the 2011 Rugby World Cup.[17] This assessment was part of the Government's formal due diligence process on the decision to redevelop Eden Park. The Government had said it would assist with the funding if a new stadium was built. The Government announced in a report in November 2006 that it would favour a new stadium on the Auckland waterfront, which would have meant that the Eden Park redevelopment would not have gone ahead, and that options for its use or redevelopment would have to be developed. After the Auckland City Council and the Auckland Regional Council differed in their support for the new stadium, the Government changed to supporting the redevelopment of Eden Park, subject to suitable resolution of the design, funding and governance issues.[18]
Rugby union
Eden Park is the home ground for the Auckland ITM Cup Team and the Auckland Blues, the region's Super Rugby franchise. The ground regularly hosts All Blacks tests. Auckland Rugby first used the ground in the 1913 season and the first international fixture was against South Africa in 1921.
The final game of the 1981 Springbok Tour was played at Eden Park. A low-flying Cessna 172 piloted by Marx Jones and Grant Cole dropped flour bombs on the field as part of widespread protests against the tour and apartheid.
Eden Park was used in the inaugural 1987 Rugby World Cup and the 2011 Rugby World Cup, the first ground to host two Rugby World Cup finals.[6]
Cricket
Eden Park is the home ground for the Auckland cricket team. The ground regularly hosts international fixtures, including Tests, ODIs and Twenty20s.
It first hosted a test in 1930. The ground was also the host to New Zealand's first Test victory, against West Indies in 1955-56 season. It has also been the scene of a dark day in New Zealand's cricket history when on 28 March 1955, the hosts collapsed to their lowest Test score(26 all out) against England. It is scheduled to host three day night test matches in March 2018, March 2019 and February 2020.[3]
The ground hosted four matches during the 1992 Cricket World Cup including the semi-final between New Zealand and Pakistan. It also hosted four matches during the 2015 Cricket World Cup, which was co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand. The matches played here were two pool B games, the pool A clash between co-hosts New Zealand and Australia and the first semi final between New Zealand and South Africa.[7]
World Cup matches
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Gallery
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Looking at Eden Park’s South Stand from the North Stand, during the warm-up for the 2015 Cricket World Cup semifinal, New Zealand vs South Africa
Rugby league
The biggest rugby league game played at Eden Park was the 1988 World Cup Final played on 9 October, giving the venue the distinction of hosting the Union and League World Cup Finals in consecutive years. This also sees Eden Park (as of 2016) as the only venue to host the World Cup Final for both rugby codes. In a spiteful match in which the New Zealand Kiwis seemed more intent on dishing out punishment than playing football, the Wally Lewis-led Australians defeated the home side 25-12 after leading 25-0 early in the second half. The game was played in front of a record New Zealand rugby league attendance of 47,363 (only 672 less than attended the 1987 Rugby WCF between the All Blacks and France 16 months earlier). Australia had won the right to host the final, but as international crowds in Australia had been dwindling in recent years due to the Kangaroos dominance (only 15,944 had attended the dead-rubber Ashes series test between Australia and Great Britain at the Sydney Football Stadium three months earlier), the Australian Rugby League agreed to New Zealand hosting the game in the interests of promoting international rugby league. Their efforts were rewarded with the largest World Cup Final attendance since 1968, when 54,290 saw Australia defeat France at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Eden Park hosted two matches (a double header) in the 2010 Rugby League Four Nations on 6 November. In the early game, England defeated Papua New Guinea 36-10, with Australia defeating New Zealand 34-20 in the second game. The fixture attracted 44,324 fans. The New Zealand Warriors played the Parramatta Eels in their first NRL match at Eden Park to start the 2011 NRL season in front of a crowd of 38,405 with Parramatta winning 24-18.[20] The Warriors played their first home match of the 2012 season against the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in a 2011 NRL Grand Final replay, with Manly winning 26-20 in front of 37,502. The 2012 ANZAC Test between Australia and New Zealand was played at Eden Park, with the Kangaroos winning 20-12 in front of 35,329. The Warriors played the Sydney Roosters in Round 2 of the 2013 NRL season, going down 16-14 in front of 32,740.[21]
In 2013 a new faster format of rugby league was announced that it would be held at Eden Park.[22] In February 15–16, 2014, Eden Park held the first ever NRL Auckland Nines tournament.
Football
Eden Park has hosted three New Zealand national team games; friendlies against South Africa and FK Austria Wien in 1947 and 1957 respectively, and an Olympic qualifier against Israel for the Seoul Olympics in 1988. They were defeated in all three games.[23]
On 19 November 2011, Eden Park hosted its first game of professional club football. The A-League regular season fixture between Wellington Phoenix and Adelaide United resulted in a 1–1 draw. The game attracted 20,078, a new attendance record for the Phoenix.[24] The Phoenix returned to Eden Park on 2 February 2013 against long-distance rivals Perth Glory,[25] drawing a crowd of 11,566 to see them win 1-0.[26]
See also
- 1985–1988 Rugby League World Cup
- 1987 Rugby World Cup
- 1992 Cricket World Cup
- 2011 Rugby World Cup
- 2015 Cricket World Cup
- List of Test cricket grounds
- List of international cricket centuries at Eden Park
References
- ^ http://www.worldofstadiums.com/oceania/new-zealand/eden-park/
- ^ "About Eden Park". Retrieved 26 March 2015.
- ^ a b Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand ESPNcricinfo.com. Retrieved on 29 Nov, 2015.
- ^ "10,000 Eden Park seats". Retrieved 27 March 2015.
- ^ a b "Iconic New Zealand rugby grounds". Retrieved 23 August 2014.
- ^ a b c EDEN PARK Auckland, New Zealand espn.co.uk. Retrieved on 30 Nov, 2015.
- ^ a b c d e ICC CRICKET WORLD CUP 2015 ESPNcricinfo.com. Retrieved on 29 Nov, 2015
- ^ Eden Park: A History
- ^ MetService Blog
- ^ a b Heritage et AL: Eden Park
- ^ Warriors to play three games at Eden Park. 3 News NZ. 2 October 2013.
- ^ Satherley, Dan (18 February 2013). "Mayor defends Eden Park deal". 3 News NZ.
- ^ "Council votes to accept Eden Park 'gift'". NZ Herald. 15 February 2013.
- ^ Ihaka, James (9 September 2010). "Stadium has World Cup experience wrapped up". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 29 September 2011.
- ^ "Frequwntly Asked Questions". Eden Park.
- ^ Orsman, Bernard (27 January 2007). "Eden Park upgrade takes step ahead". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 7 November 2011.
- ^ Skipwith, David (29 November 2014). "NRL: League's waterfront wish". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
- ^ "It's Eden Park says disappointed Mallard". The New Zealand Herald. NZPA. 27 November 2006. Retrieved 29 September 2011.
- ^ Cricket World Cup Results & Attendances austadiums.com. Retrieved on 29 Nov, 2015
- ^ http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/NRL_2011/Round_1/Warriors-vs-Parramatta/summary.html
- ^ http://www.rleague.com/content/article.php?id=40760
- ^ "NRL Auckland Nines Tournament launched". nrl.com. Retrieved 4 September 2015.
- ^ Michael Burgess Soccer back on Eden turf, The New Zealand Herald, 13 November 2011. Retrieved on 13 November 2011.
- ^ "Massive crowd turns out for Phoenix match". TVNZ. 19 November 2011. Retrieved 19 November 2011.
- ^ "WELLINGTON PHOENIX V PERTH GLORY". Eden Park. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
- ^ "Wellington Phoenix vs Perth Glory". SBS. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
External links
