DUNEDIN - Forsyth Barr Stadium (30,748)

[adeaide]

[UglyBob]

[UglyBob]

[UglyBob]

[UglyBob]

[0657]

Have they had any problems with the pitch yet? Might have been mentioned earlier, but how do they supply the pitch with air? I asume that the pitch gets enough sunlight because of the transparrent roof?

[master_klon]

Great pictures UglyBob

Originally Posted by 0657

Have they had any problems with the pitch yet? Might have been mentioned earlier, but how do they supply the pitch with air? I asume that the pitch gets enough sunlight because of the transparrent roof?

No problems so far, but they have only opened the stadium just before the RWC so they have'nt been really tested. The football season has just started and the rugby will be starting from next year February. They use a Desso GrassMaster surface which is a natural playing surface combined with artificial fibres. This allows the grass to cope with a shorter rest period and is popular overseas, especially in the Premier League.

If you look at the last picture, you will see that there are gaps in the corners of the stadium, which gives enough air movement. And because of the roofing material (EFTE) the pitch gets enough sunlight.

[0657]

Originally Posted by master_klon

Great pictures UglyBob



No problems so far, but they have only opened the stadium just before the RWC so they have'nt been really tested. The football season has just started and the rugby will be starting from next year February. They use a Desso GrassMaster surface which is a natural playing surface combined with artificial fibres. This allows the grass to cope with a shorter rest period and is popular overseas, especially in the Premier League.

If you look at the last picture, you will see that there are gaps in the corners of the stadium, which gives enough air movement. And because of the roofing material (EFTE) the pitch gets enough sunlight.

Ok. I`m just thinking that if they pull this off and it works, which i hope it does, it could be somewhat of a revolution. At least here in Scandinavia where we have tough winters with lots of snow and low temperatures this could be a way to have grass pitches all year around. But of course it`s as allways a question of money, and if memory serves me correct, this stadium wasnt exactly cheap...

[master_klon]

Originally Posted by 0657

Ok. I`m just thinking that if they pull this off and it works, which i hope it does, it could be somewhat of a revolution. At least here in Scandinavia where we have tough winters with lots of snow and low temperatures this could be a way to have grass pitches all year around. But of course it`s as allways a question of money, and if memory serves me correct, this stadium wasnt exactly cheap...

The Dunedin Stadium costed NZ $198.3 million (that includes land purchases of NZ $32.5million).
Eden Park, Auckland upgrade costed NZ $256 million, just for an increased capacity of 2,500 more seats.

Here's something about the cost of the roof from the stadium website:

Cost-effective — up to 70% cheaper to install vs. glass, and it transmits more light and heat than glass (resulting in up to 30% less energy costs)
http://www.forsythbarrstadium.co.nz/...m/construction

The enclosed roof and steep stands makes it loud too so the fans like it; even in NZ where we have no specific support groups or ultras

[Edgar Vix]

I liked the stadium is not very large and has an interesting architecture.

[TEBC]

Anyone know if will be used for FIFA U-20 WC?

[Archbishop]

This is the kind of stadium MLS would need to build if they ever put a team in Phoenix or Las Vegas. Amazing world-class stadium for its size.

[master_klon]

Originally Posted by TEBC

Anyone know if will be used for FIFA U-20 WC?

Most likely. The host cities have not been chosen though.

[stresss]

not a fan of this stadium, the aesthetics are horrendous imo, whilst their ambitions are worthy the end result looks like some large greenhouse/sauna complex (i say sauna because of the frosted glass and also when you see a game being played there during the colder months the amount of steam coming off the players which isn't really a result of the stadiums design but it does play into the sauna idea :P). the way the roof/walls meet with the stands to me visually implies that the roof form was simply put ontop of the stands with no real unison between the two.
having said that the use of materials does create a fantastic quality of light inside and i'm sure the atmosphere must be pretty decent as well.

[MrChavcore]

i agree. i really wasn't all that impressed with this stadium during the world cup and seeing it in the super15 hasn't really changed my mind.

[vitaming]

Perhaps it's uninspiring from the outside, but watching a match there is brilliant. The crowd noise reverberates and the playing surface is like a billiards table.

[josh81]

Have they had any problems with garryowens yet I wonder? ie. high kicks hitting the roof. Or is that type of rugby not the norm in the southern hemisphere?!

[MS20]

The atmosphere always comes across well on TV for Otago matches. Sophisticated, neat and tidy. Perfect for a city of Dunedin's size

[Rev Stickleback]

Originally Posted by josh81

Have they had any problems with garryowens yet I wonder? ie. high kicks hitting the roof. Or is that type of rugby not the norm in the southern hemisphere?!

If you compare the roof to the height of the posts it looks far too high to be hit by the ball.

I think it'd be an effort to hit the roof even of you tried.