Unearthing a diamond
The facelift to showcase a new diamond at North Harbour Stadium is on target, set to drive a threefold increase in regular activity from nine to 29 event days annually.
Sections of the stadium’s west stand are being removed to allow for an International Baseball Federation-sanctioned diamond to be developed for the Auckland Tuatara’s second season in the Australian Baseball League - and first at their new Albany home.
According to Regional Facilities Auckland CEO Chris Brooks, Auckland Tuatara becoming the stadium’s anchor tenant will generate 20 additional event days during the traditionally quiet summer period between November and February.
As well as being the home of the Auckland Tuatara, transforming North Harbour Stadium provides the opportunity to host baseball internationals, Olympic qualifiers and domestic tournaments at the stadium – which will all attract new audiences for Auckland.
Auckland Tuatara General Manager Regan Wood said the team anticipates an average crowd of 2,000 this season, rising to 4,000 to 5,000 over the next three or four years.
“Our home matches will be broadcast on Sky Sport in New Zealand and throughout Australia, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and North America,” he said. “But we are most excited at the prospect of growing local interest in the sport with a dedicated home for baseball on the North Shore.”
The baseball activity continues the lift in utilisation across the venue following the redevelopment of North Harbour Stadium’s outer oval into two well-used floodlit hybrid training fields. The combination of the hybrid surface and installation of floodlights has resulted in a 60% increase in the number of days the stadium is in use, and a 110% increase in the number of community participants using the fields.
Importantly, the introduction of the baseball activity will be in addition to the traditional regular rugby and football activity that will continue to be staged in the main stadium from March to October each year.