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Design plans for Crusaders' new half-a-billion dollar stadium revealed

By Sam Smith
(Photo / Christchurch City Council)

The design plans for the Crusaders’ future home ground, the Canterbury Multi-Use Arena (CMUA), have been revealed by the Christchurch City Council.

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Images released by the council on the weekend show a design concept for a roofed, rectangular-turfed stadium with a capacity of 30,000 for sporting events, which can be expanded to up to 37,800 for concerts.

The images were created by Christchurch-based architects Warren & Mahoney and international stadium design experts Populous, with the total budget for the construction of the stadium set at $533 million.

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(Photo / Christchurch City Council)

The CMUA is expected to be completed by mid-2025 and will act, among other things, as a permanent home ground for the Crusaders, who haven’t had one since 2011 due to the damage caused to AMI Stadium by that year’s Christchurch earthquake.

Since then, the serial Super Rugby title-winners have been based out of Orangetheory Stadium, formerly known as Rugby League Park, which served to act as a temporary home base but has become the franchise’s home ground for almost a decade.

The CMUA, which will be based in the centre of Christchurch, will also be used to host All Blacks tests, with CMUA Project Delivery Ltd board chairman Barry Bragg excited by what the new design images entail for the city and the venue.

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(Photo / Christchurch City Council)

“These designs crystallise our vision for the CMUA to be the most modern, fit-for-purpose arena in the country – a facility that leads the way from an innovation and sustainability perspective,” he said, as per Newstalk ZB.

“We know people are really excited about the prospect of having a covered arena in the heart of the city and we hope these preliminary designs will capture people’s imaginations and give them a glimpse of what is to come.

“We are well on the way towards delivering Christchurch a world-class covered arena with high-quality acoustics that is capable of hosting top international music concerts as well as major international sporting fixtures.”

(Photo / Christchurch City Council)

Christchurch City Council project lead Alistair Pearson told Stuff that the team working on the arena’s design intended to stay within the $533m budget, while Crusaders chief executive Colin Mansbridge was impressed with the fresh design images.

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“You look like you’re really close to the action,” Mansbridge, who also described the stadium as “bright and airy and really intimate”, said, according to Stuff.

Mansbridge added that shadows created by the roof will be something that needs to be addressed, although he acknowledged most Crusaders home matches would be played at night anyway.

(Photo / Christchurch City Council)

Councillors will meet next month to confirm the final preliminary design package, with construction expected to get underway in the middle of next year.

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N
NS 3 hours ago
Scott Robertson has mounting problems to fix for misfiring All Blacks

We need big bodies to match European and South African Team. NZ got them in heaps. The end of the year Northern Hemisphere tour is coming and it is the perfect time to realign and makes changes.

Firstly, a few pointers for Razor. BB and DMAc are not 1st Fives. As long as these two start all blacks will never win big games. Pick only one in the reserve for big games as cover for FB. Richie Moanga is ok and better than BB and DMAc at 1st five. If Richie is available BB and Dmac should never be picked.

Secondly, Rico has to go. Rico is the reason why all blacks did not win the world cup. It was lost in the quarter final when he sledged departing Irish player. Perhaps if he had performed a haka and bring him to tears rather than derail him in his last day, Rugby Gods will be smiling at AB. It is karma. Like Gregans "wait 4 more years" Sledge and Australia lost the final to England

On the other hand, you see the South African players will never ever do such acts and go down that low. They are very respectful and good people and they will keep winning. Rugby Gods will make South Africa win and they will keep winning unless Scott makes these changes

Thirdly, Don't let Sam Cane go. All Blacks have to keep him for big games. All Blacks Maul Defense is good because of him. Just keep him at test level and no other Rugby or very minimal club Rugby. Young loosies should hang around with Cane and learn about humility and respect

A message to BB, Dmac, Rico, Ardie Savea and TJ. Please make yourselves unavailable for 2 years. Ardie you are good but not a Back Row. You are too light.

That out of the way, now let’s select the team.

Front row sorted out by Jason Ryan. Won’t talk about it.

Locking sorted out with Tupou, Scott, Darry, Pat Tuipulotu and Josh Lord

Loosies. Do away with Ardie for a while. Go with Siti, Sotutu, Cane, Ethan, Jacobson, Papalii and Finau, Peter Lakai

Young stars like Satiti and Finau have to be grounded and train hard in the gym and bulk up for the next world cup. Sotutu has to work harder off the ball.

Half Backs: TJ out.  Cam Roigard [has to learn to scream and communicate game time], Ratima and Noah Hotham

Back Line:            1st Five: Harry Plummer [Inside center Cover]

                                2nd five: JB [Fullback and first five cover]

                                Outside Centre: Billy Proctor

                                Wings: Clarke and Will Jordon [Fullback Cover]

                                Fullback: Ruben Love [1st Five Cover], Zarn Sullivan

Wings: Shaun Stevson [Fullback Cover], Talaea and Narawa

Centre: Quinn Tupaea, Umaga Jenson Brothers - need big boys, ALB

Messaage to BB, DMac, Ardiae, Rico and  TJ. If you want All Backs to evolve and be world leaders again, please make yourselves unavailable for 2 years. Please just do it for your country. You will come back stronger in 2 years.

New Zealand team reminds me of NSW State of Origin. They always had the best players in their positions but never selected them in their position until Madge came and now NSW will be untouchable.

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