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 Interactive map of Go Media Stadium | |
| Former names | Mount Smart Stadium(1967–1995, 2007–2023) Ericsson Stadium(1995–2006) |
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| Address | 2 Beasley Ave Penrose,Auckland 1061 |
| Location | Auckland,New Zealand |
| Coordinates | 36°55′6″S174°48′45″E / 36.91833°S 174.81250°E /-36.91833; 174.81250 |
| Public transit | Penrose Station |
| Owner | Auckland Unlimited,Auckland Council (indirectly through Auckland Unlimited) |
| Operator | Auckland Stadiums (division ofAuckland Unlimited) |
| Capacity | Sports: 25,000 Concerts: 47,000 |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1965 |
| Opened | 1967 |
| Tenants | |
| New Zealand Warriors(NRL) / (SL) (1995–present) Auckland Vulcans(NSWRL) (2008–2013) Counties Manukau Rugby Union(NPC) (2006–2008) Moana Pasifika(Super Rugby) (2021–2022) Football Kingz(NSL) (1999–2004) Auckland FC(A-League Men) (2024–present) | |
Mount Smart Stadium, branded asGo Media Stadium for sponsorship reasons, is amulti-purpose stadium in the suburb ofPenrose,Auckland,New Zealand. It is the main home ground of theNew Zealand Warriors of theNational Rugby League andAuckland FC of theA-League Men, and occasionally hostsrugby union and international rugby league matches. Built within the quarried remnants of theRarotonga / Mount Smart volcanic cone, it is located 10 kilometres south of the city centre, in the suburb ofPenrose.
The Mount Smart Domain Board was established in 1943 with the purpose of transforming the former quarry site into a public reserve.[citation needed] In 1953, a plan was approved for a sports stadium which was officially opened in 1967. In 1978, it hosted 3 matches of theWorld 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 the1988 Great Britain Lions tour theAuckland 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 whenNew Zealand andAustralia 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 the1990 Commonwealth Games. It was where theNew Zealand men's national football team (theAll Whites) played all their home qualifying games for the1982 FIFA World Cup. This was the first occasion that New Zealand had qualified for aFIFA 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 atAdele Live 2017.[1] Ericsson Stadium was the host of theSuper League's1997 World Club Championship Final between Australian teams theBrisbane Broncos andHunter Mariners. In front of 12,000 fans, the Broncos defeated the Mariners 36–12. Ericsson Stadium hosted three-quarters of the1999 Rugby League Tri-nations' games, including the final, which New Zealand lost 20–22.
The stadium is now owned by theAuckland Council, following the merger of Auckland's regional authorities and managed byAuckland Stadiums.[2] During the late 1980s and early 1990s, the back of the grandstand roof at Mount Smart was used forBungee jumping. Following the first rugby league test at the stadium in 1989, Australian captainWally Lewis and teammatePeter Jackson both 'took the plunge'.
Mount Smart Stadium also hosted the first standaloneNRL Women's Premiership match between theNew Zealand Warriors andSt. George Illawarra Dragons on 22 September 2019.[3] The Dragons won this match 26–6.[4]
As of 12 July 2006, the stadium reverted to its original name, Mt Smart Stadium. In a press release, theAuckland Regional Council, owners of the stadium, stated they had considered other offers, but felt they did not suit.[citation needed] Auckland Regional Council did not actively pursue a replacement sponsor.
On 14 July 2017 the Stadium was temporarily renamedManu Vatuvei Stadium for the Warriors vs Panthers game where the Warriors bid farewell to club legendManu Vatuvei.
On 15 May 2023, the stadium became known asGo Media Stadium when Auckland Stadiums signed a naming rights deal with the advertising company.[5][6] On 10 July 2024, the naming rights deal was extended until at least May 2028.[7]
On 18 August 2023, the stadium was renamedDaniel Anderson Stadium for one day only as a fundraiser for former NZ Warriors coach Daniel Anderson who became an incompletequadriplegic after a bodysurfing accident in 2022.[8]
On 19 August 2024, the stadium was renamedShaun Johnson Stadium for one week to commemorate the final home game of Shaun Johnson's career on 23 August 2024, before his retirement after the season.[9]
It currently serves as the home ground for theNew Zealand Warriors in the AustralianNational Rugby League andNRL Women's Premiership. It is the former home of theFootball Kingz of theAustralian National Soccer League; however, itsA-League successor, the now defunctNew Zealand Knights, played on the other side ofWaitematā Harbour atNorth Harbour Stadium.
TheMoana Pasifika Super Rugby team started utilising the stadium as its home ground in 2022.
The Athletics Ground (officially Mt Smart Stadium Number 2) hosts athletics meets. It also holds localrugby league matches and serves as the home ground for theAuckland franchise in theBartercard Premiership.
In March 2024, newA-League Men clubAuckland FC was announced to be playing their first season at this venue.[10] In July 2024, it was announced that the club had signed a five-year deal meaning the stadium would be Auckland FC's home until at least 2029.[7]
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.[citation needed]
Mount Smart Stadium was the Auckland venue of theBig Day Out music festival until 2012. In 2014,Western Springs Stadium served as the venue for the festival in Auckland. Among the concerts hosted wereRainbow Warrior Benefit Concert (Greenpeace 1986) featuring multiple artists includingNeil Young on acoustic guitar andJackson Browne,Graham Nash,Topp Twins,Dave Dobbyn and aSplit Enz reunion[11] 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.[12] It was calledThe Mauri Hikitia. It reached no 4 on the New Zealand charts.[13] It featuredRhonda,Ken Kincaid,Deane Waretini, and the Lightwood family.[14]
Michael Jackson performed twice at the stadium, on November 9 and 11, 1996 during hisHIStory World Tour. The combined attendance for both shows was 86,000.[citation needed]Destiny’s Child, described byThe New Zealand Herald in 2002 as ‘the biggest girl group in the world’, performed in the country for the first time at this venue in May 2002 during theirDestiny's Child World Tour, drawing thousands of fans.[15]Adele performed three times at the stadium during herAdele Live 2016 World Tour. In 4 Days, 130,000 people headed to Mount Smart Stadium to see her perform.[citation needed]Taylor Swift brought theReputation Stadium Tour to the stadium for one night only, on November 9, 2018.[16] It was the only New Zealand show on the tour, and sold out with 35,749 attendees.[17]
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