A new NZ$683 million (US$404 million) stadium that was a symbol of Christchurch’s struggle to rebuild after a deadly earthquake struck the New Zealand city is to host its first match tomorrow in front of a sellout crowd.
A magnitude 6.2 earthquake killed 185 people in February 2011 and toppled or damaged buildings, including the city’s old Lancaster Park.
The stadium, which hosted international rugby and cricket, and was home to the Canterbury Crusaders, was badly damaged and never reopened.
Photo: AFP
It was bulldozed in 2019 and turned into sports fields, leaving the Crusaders without a permanent home.
Government funding for a new stadium was finally approved in 2020 and Super Rugby side the Crusaders are to run out at the Te Kaha stadium tomorrow.
The 30,000-capacity state-of-the-art arena is one of the last projects to finish following the devastation 15 years ago.
“It’s real beautiful and a great representation of our region,” All Blacks and Crusaders back Leicester Fainga’anuku said. “This place has become the heart of the city and it’s something our people deserve. From the moment we heard about the new build and what it means to us and our people, it gets you excited.”
“Now it’s finally here, we’re just ready to get into it and put on a good show,” Fainga’anuku said.
Coach Rob Penney, whose side face the NSW Waratahs to open the stadium, said it had been “a long wait.”
“It’s something we’ve been looking forward to for a long time and something the city’s been waiting for,” said Taha Kemara, who is to start at flyhalf for the Crusaders.
Canterbury found a temporary home after the earthquake at Rugby League Park, where the team won eight Super Rugby titles in nine years.
The ground was a fortress for the Crusaders, partly because of the freezing conditions that could greet unsuspecting away teams.
Under a roof at Te Kaha the conditions will be milder, but Penney hopes the fans keep the atmosphere hostile.
Fainga’anuku, who usually plays at wing or center, is to switch to flanker for the game and Penney said it was something the All Blacks player had wanted to try for some time.
“This stadium felt like the right place to do it,” Penney said. “He loves big environments, loves pressure moments, and we feel he’ll add real value against this opposition.”
Taiwan’s Lee Hao-yu on Friday went 0-for-3 in his MLB debut for the Detroit Tigers against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park, becoming the 19th Taiwan-born player to reach the big leagues. The Tigers ultimately lost 1-0 in 10 innings, ending their six-game winning streak. The 23-year-old started at third base and batted eighth for Detroit. He was promoted from Triple-A Toledo ahead of the four-game series against the Red Sox at the latter’s home stadium, replacing injured utility player Zach McKinstry. “Being right-handed, and given our schedule, I think six of the next 12 games are going to
Matheus Cunha on Saturday fired Manchester United toward the UEFA Champions League with a 1-0 win at Chelsea, while Tottenham Hotspur remain in the relegation zone after twice blowing the lead to draw with Brighton & Hove Albion. Chelsea failed to take advantage of a United defense ravaged by injury and suspension as a fourth straight league defeat for the Blues left their Champions League hopes in ruins. United have missed out on the riches of Europe’s elite competition for the past two seasons, but are closing in on a return thanks to an upturn in fortunes under interim manager
Italian soccer is at its lowest ebb in nearly 40 years after a wholesale European exodus at club level followed the nation’s failure for the third successive time to qualify for the FIFA World Cup, and compounded a leadership and structural crisis. The exits suffered by Bologna and ACF Fiorentina on Thursday in the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League respectively meant no Italian teams are left in European competition this season. Italy’s last remaining UEFA Champions League contenders, Atalanta BC, went out in the round of 16 last month. It is the first time since the 1986-1987 campaign that Italian clubs
The Detroit Tigers’ Lee Hao-yu on Monday collected his first and second MLB hits in their 8-6 loss to the Boston Red Sox. The Tigers’ No. 6 prospect, who batted eighth, had an RBI single and a double in four at-bats at Fenway Park, raising his batting average to .182. “He was super thrilled to get his first hit,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said after the game. “There’s only one first, you know, and for him, it’s been a couple of games where he’s really been wanting to do it. I’m glad he did it here.” “Young guys settle in when they start
RSS