Designed by global sport and event architecture firm Populous and managed by RCP, the AMI Stadium has been created as a cost effective facility with the highest possible safety standards to replace the stadium, which was devastated in a major earthquake in Christchurch.
Built to offer panoramic sightlines, the NZD30 million ($23.9 million) stadium was constructed in time for the Canterbury Crusaders first home game of the 2012 Super Rugby Season.
Combining modular buildings and lightweight stand structures with a fabric roof, the 18,000-seat stadium has been built to stringent earthquake standards. The structures supporting the seats are made of latticework and steel tubes using scaffolding technology with thousands of additional bracing components to meet seismic engineering and safety requirements.
Taking inspiration from the London 2012 Olympics stadium, the AMI Stadium features a lightweight, red, fabric ribbon – the colour of the Canterbury Crusaders, which is woven through the scaffolding of the temporary stands to draw people in.
The stadium has also used components from other venues around New Zealand. The pitch has been recycled from the main Christchurch stadium, AMI stadium, along with the AV screens and the public address system. The temporary seating has come from Eden Park as it was no longer required following the Rugby World Cup. Food and beverage outlets and merchandising have been relocated from both Eden Park and Carisbrook stadium in Dunedin, which has also supplied the lighting towers.
Constructed to be flexible, the stadium can be used for other sports and has the potential to accommodate up to 25,000 spectators for a Rugby test match.
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