Eden Park Opens Sunday

in Auckland RWC 2011 by Jon C — October 5, 2010 at 12:06 am | 4 comments

Additional trains to Kingsland will run on Sunday for Eden Park’s opening which happens from 10am.

At 11am Prime minister John Key and sports minister Murray McCully will officially open the doors to the park.

The new Auckland supermayor, Mr B????, will also be there to officiate at the opening in his first official capacity (results having been announced only the night before).
The day to mark the end of the three-year, multi-million dollar upgrade will include games, sports events and concerts.

From 10am, you can explore parts of the park that would normally be off duty to the public, such as dressing rooms, the coaches’ boxes, the main control room and the media centre - as well as the new stands and internal concourse.

The new-look park includes the three-tier 21,5000 seat South Stand and two-tier East stand and an extension of the northern ASB stand.
An internal concourse has been developed to improve crowd flow and there have been improvements to food and beverage outlets, toilets, corporate areas, team and media facilities.

The pavilion’s 50 metre wide and 20 metres high facade creates the impression of a rugby ball. The reception area has 12 large rugby balls, each 4 metres in diameter.

Four giant Maori carvings, will be erected on three metre high plinths to greet those entering Eden Park. At six metres in height they will stand guard over each of the four main public entranceways to the new stadium. The tekoteko will be unveiled by Ngati Whatua o Orakei kaumatua at a special dawn blessing on Sunday morning.

All Blacks and reps from Auckland Rugby, Auckland Cricket, the Kiwis, Vodafone Warriors and Black Ferns will attend the open day.

Entry is by a gold coin with proceeds going to the Canterbury Earthquake Appeal as well as Auckland Rugby and Cricket charities.

Tags: Auckland City Eden Park Kingsdland rugby Rugby World Cup RWC 2011 Sandringham Rd South Stand Spotlight Walters Rd