Rotorua International Stadium
Encyclopedia
Rotorua International Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium
located on Devon Street West in Westbrook suburb of Rotorua
, New Zealand
. It is currently used mostly for rugby union
and rugby league
matches, being one of two home stadiums for the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union
(the other being Baypark Stadium in Tauranga
). In addition, a softball field is sited at the northern end.
The stadium has a capacity of 34,000 people. The stadium was originally built in 1911, and renovated several times since. The stadium feature a covered stand seating up to 4000 with a concrete seating area on the western side of the field.
The Rotorua International Stadium has held many events in its time including acts from New Zealand Opera singer Dame Kiri Te Kanawa
to UB40
, the Raggamuffin Music Festival
. In rugby union
the stadium has been used for the 1987 Rugby World Cup
3rd/4th playoff, Test matches and British and Irish Lions
tours matches. To many it is considered the rightful home of Bay of Plenty
rugby, despite the recent majority of home matches being scheduled in Tauranga
. The stadium has also hosted rugby league
Test matches involving the New Zealand Kiwis.
The stadium will host three matches of the 2011 Rugby World Cup
.
Multi-purpose stadium
Multi-purpose stadiums are a type of stadium designed in such a way as to be easily used by multiple sports. While any stadium could potentially host more than one sport, this concept usually refers to a specific design philosophy that stresses multi-functionality over specificity...
located on Devon Street West in Westbrook suburb of Rotorua
Rotorua
Rotorua is a city on the southern shores of the lake of the same name, in the Bay of Plenty region of the North Island of New Zealand. The city is the seat of the Rotorua District, a territorial authority encompassing the city and several other nearby towns...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. It is currently used mostly for rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
and rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
matches, being one of two home stadiums for the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union
Bay of Plenty Rugby Union
The Bay of Plenty Rugby Union is the official governing body for rugby union in the Bay of Plenty, in the North-East of the North Island...
(the other being Baypark Stadium in Tauranga
Tauranga
Tauranga is the most populous city in the Bay of Plenty region, in the North Island of New Zealand.It was settled by Europeans in the early 19th century and was constituted as a city in 1963...
). In addition, a softball field is sited at the northern end.
The stadium has a capacity of 34,000 people. The stadium was originally built in 1911, and renovated several times since. The stadium feature a covered stand seating up to 4000 with a concrete seating area on the western side of the field.
The Rotorua International Stadium has held many events in its time including acts from New Zealand Opera singer Dame Kiri Te Kanawa
Kiri Te Kanawa
Dame Kiri Jeanette Te Kanawa, ONZ, DBE, AC is a New Zealand / Māori soprano who has had a highly successful international opera career since 1968. Acclaimed as one of the most beloved sopranos in both the United States and Britain she possesses a warm full lyric soprano voice, singing a wide array...
to UB40
UB40
UB40 are a British reggae/pop band formed in 1978 in Birmingham. The band has placed more than 50 singles in the UK Singles Chart, and has also achieved considerable international success. One of the world's best-selling music artists, UB40 have sold over 70 million records.Their hit singles...
, the Raggamuffin Music Festival
Raggamuffin Music Festival
Raggamuffin Music Festival is an annual music festival that tours Australia and New Zealand which concluded its first tour in 2008. As of 2010, it has featured fourteen Major international reggae Acts and thirteen Australasian Acts accommodating reggae, funk, dub, hip-hop and soul.- Line...
. In rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
the stadium has been used for the 1987 Rugby World Cup
1987 Rugby World Cup
The 1987 Rugby World Cup was the first Rugby World Cup. New Zealand and Australia agreed to co-host the first ever tournament with New Zealand hosting seventeen pool stage matches, two quarter-finals and the final with Australia being the junior partner hosting seven pool matches, two...
3rd/4th playoff, Test matches and British and Irish Lions
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
tours matches. To many it is considered the rightful home of Bay of Plenty
Bay of Plenty
The Bay of Plenty , often abbreviated to BOP, is a region in the North Island of New Zealand situated around the body of water of the same name...
rugby, despite the recent majority of home matches being scheduled in Tauranga
Tauranga
Tauranga is the most populous city in the Bay of Plenty region, in the North Island of New Zealand.It was settled by Europeans in the early 19th century and was constituted as a city in 1963...
. The stadium has also hosted rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
Test matches involving the New Zealand Kiwis.
The stadium will host three matches of the 2011 Rugby World Cup
2011 Rugby World Cup
The 2011 Rugby World Cup was the seventh Rugby World Cup, a quadrennial international rugby union competition inaugurated in 1987. The International Rugby Board selected New Zealand as the host country in preference to Japan and South Africa at a meeting in Dublin on 17 November 2005...
.