Mount Smart Stadium

Big Day Out Double Stages, Auckland 2007

The Mount Smart Domain Board was established in 1943 with the purpose of transforming the former quarry site into a public reserve. In 1953, a plan was approved for a sports stadium which was officially opened in 1967. In 1978, it hosted 3 matches of the World Series Cricket tour of New Zealand. The stadium hosted track and field events including the highly successful Pan Am series during the early 1980s.

During the 1988 Great Britain Lions tour the Auckland rugby league team defeated the tourists 30–14 at Mt Smart before a crowd of 8,000. Mount Smart hosted its first rugby league international on 23 July 1989 when New Zealand and Australia played the third test of the Kangaroos 1989 New Zealand Tour. In front of 15,000 fans, Australia defeated the Kiwis 22–14 to wrap up the series 3–0.

The stadium was chosen as the Main Athletics Stadium as well as the opening and closing ceremonies venue of the 1990 Commonwealth Games. It was where the New Zealand national football team (the All Whites) played all their home qualifying games for the 1982 FIFA World Cup. This was the first occasion that New Zealand had qualified for a FIFA World Cup and the event captured the imagination of the nation with large crowds packing the stadium.

Adele holds the attendance record of the stadium, with 45,000 fans, who saw her play at Adele Live 2017.[1] Ericsson Stadium was the host of the Super League's 1997 World Club Championship Final between Australian teams the Brisbane Broncos and Hunter Mariners. In front of 12,000 fans, the Broncos defeated the Mariners 36–12. Ericsson Stadium hosted three-quarters of the 1999 Rugby League Tri-nations' games, including the final, which New Zealand lost 20–22.

The stadium is now owned by the Auckland Council, following the merger of Auckland's regional authorities and managed by Auckland Stadiums.[2] During the late 1980s and early 1990s, the back of the grandstand roof at Mount Smart was used for Bungee jumping. Following the first rugby league test at the stadium in 1989, Australian captain Wally Lewis and teammate Peter Jackson both 'took the plunge'.

Mount Smart Stadium also hosted the first standalone NRL Women's Premiership match between the New Zealand Warriors and St. George Illawarra Dragons on 22 September 2019.[3] The Dragons won this match 26–6.[4]

Panoramic image of Mt Smart Stadium photographed in 2006.

As of 12 July 2006, the stadium reverted to its original name, Mt Smart Stadium. In a press release, the Auckland Regional Council, owners of the stadium, stated they had considered other offers, but felt they did not suit. Auckland Regional Council did not actively pursue a replacement sponsor.

On 14 July 2017 the Stadium was temporarily renamed Manu Vatuvei Stadium for the Warriors vs Panthers game where the Warriors bid farewell to club legend Manu Vatuvei.

The South Stand at Mt Smart Stadium, shot from the northern end of the stadium. Warriors Open Day, February 2005.

It currently serves as the home ground for the New Zealand Warriors in the Australian National Rugby League and NRL Women's Premiership. It is the former home of the Football Kingz of the Australian National Soccer League; however, its A-League successor, the now defunct New Zealand Knights, played on the other side of Waitematā Harbour at North Harbour Stadium.

The Athletics Ground (officially Mt Smart Stadium Number 2) hosts athletics meets, right down to Primary School Level. It also holds local rugby league matches and serves as the home ground for the Auckland franchise in the Bartercard Premiership.

A list of rugby league test and World Cup matches played at Mount Smart Stadium.

Test#	Date	Result	Attendance	Notes
1	23 July 1989	Australia  def.  New Zealand 22–14	15,000	1989-1992 World Cup 1989 Trans-Tasman Test series
2	8 July 1990	Great Britain  def. New Zealand 16–14	7,843	1990 New Zealand vs Great Britain series
3	20 June 1993	New Zealand drew with Australia 14–14	22,994	1993 Trans-Tasman Test series
4	9 June 1995	New Zealand def.  France 22–6	15,000	1995 New Zealand vs France series
5	18 October 1996	New Zealand def. Great Britain 17–12	12,000	1996 New Zealand vs Great Britain series
6	15 October 1999	New Zealand def. Australia 24–22	22,540	1999 Tri-Nations
7	26 October 1999	New Zealand def. Great Britain 26–4	14,040	1999 Tri-Nations
8	5 November 1999	Australia def. New Zealand 22–20	21,204	1999 Tri-Nations Final
9	10 June 2001	New Zealand def. France 36–0	4,500
10	21 October 2005	Australia def. New Zealand 28–26	15,400	2005 Tri-Nations
11	14 October 2006	Australia def. New Zealand 30–18	17,887	2006 Tri-Nations
12	18 October 2008	New Zealand def.  Tonga 56–8
13	16 October 2010	New Zealand def.  Samoa 50–6	11,512
14	28 October 2017	New Zealand def.  Samoa 38–8	17,857	2017 World Cup Group B
15	25 November 2017	England def.  Tonga 20-18	30,003	2017 World Cup Semi-final
16	13 October 2018	New Zealand def.  Australia 26-24	12,763
17	20 October 2018	Australia def. v  Tonga 34-16	26,214
18	22 June 2019	New Zealand def. v  Tonga 34-14	23,634	2019 Oceania Cup

The capacity of the stadium for concerts is roughly 47,000 people. This can be expanded to 60,000 when the temporary north and south stands are installed. A list of concerts held at the stadium are included in the table below:

Mount Smart Stadium was the Auckland venue of the Big Day Out music festival until 2012. In 2014, Western Springs Stadium served as the venue for the festival in Auckland. Among the concerts hosted, Rainbow Warrior Benefit Concert (Greenpeace 1986) featuring multiple artists including Neil Young on acoustic guitar and Jackson Browne, Graham Nash, Topp Twins, Dave Dobbyn and a Split Enz reunion[46] within Mt Smart Stadium.

An album of Maori artists who came to support the aims of the Mt. Smart Stadium project was released in 1981.[47] It was called The Mauri Hikitia. It reached no 4 on the New Zealand charts.[48] It featured Rhonda, Ken Kincaid, Deane Waretini, and the Lightwood family.[49]

• Mount Smart Stadium Official Site
• Mount Smart Stadium at Austadiums