New plans to upgrade Western Springs for concerts of up to 30,000 people, while retaining the Ponsonby Rugby Club, will be presented to Auckland councillors for a final decision this month.
Auckland Council announced plans today for a semi‑permanent stage installed during summer to support festivals and rel="" title="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/western-springs-stadium-neil-finn-kiwi-entertainment-heavyweights-back-concert-capabilities/E6B2KDJRXBB6DKBJWYJKB5AFQ4/">concerts of up to 30,000 people, alongside an upgraded boutique sports configuration designed for events attracting about 5000 fans.
It comes after Auckland rich-listers Anna Mowbray and Ali Williams, and American billionaires Bill Foley and Bennett Rosenthal, abandoned plans last July for an “Auckland Arena” at Western Springs as the home of Auckland FC.
It was pitched to cost $200 million to $300m with a 12,500-seat rectangular stadium at no cost to ratepayers.
After this preferred option was ditched, the council’s events arm, Tātaki Auckland Unlimited (TAU), further developed a “Western Springs Bowl” concept.
This option proposed a permanent music and festival venue with capacity for 50,000 people, making use of the natural amphitheatre and adding new permanent staging infrastructure.
It also included a 5000 to 8000‑seat boutique stadium and community sports facility with clubrooms, a corporate hospitality space and a gym.
The site would continue to operate as a community sports facility and remain the home of Ponsonby Rugby Club.
The refined option, unveiled today, retains some of the event-related benefits of the original proposal, offers a five-year lifeline to the Ponsonby Rugby Club, and includes $2.5m of ratepayer money.
When TAU sought expressions of interest to operate Western Springs in 2024, it said there “was no additional ratepayer funding” available to improve the stadium beyond its existing infrastructure.
The council approved $11m in 2024 to upgrade Waikaraka Park in Onehunga for speedway and stock cars, paving the way for the motor sport’s relocation from Western Springs after 97 years.
Concert promoter Brent Eccles, who, with another music industry stalwart Campbell Smith, was involved with the original “Western Springs Bowl”, said the latest plan would not target high flyers like Billy Joel playing at higher capacity Eden Park, but more younger, contemporary artists in the middle ground, such as Chappell Roan.
Eccles said he had been involved in advising TAU on making Western Springs an attractive proposition and cost-effective, but would not be putting in any funding.
“To see a venue like that (Western Springs) under-utilised. How do we make that happen? We have identified a capacity of about 25,000 to 30,000 as about right to work and cost-effective,” said Eccles, who has been in the concert promoting business for more than 50 years.
Deputy Mayor Desley Simpson today said the process had been about unlocking the full potential of Western Springs Stadium so it could be used more often and by more people.
The latest plan places TAU in a stronger position to compete with Eden Park for mid-sized concerts and events, after the Government’s recent decision to allow the privately owned stadium to host up to 12 large concerts and 20 medium‑sized concerts each year.
“As a key venue in our stadium network, the right solution will strengthen this iconic asset [Western Springs] as a multi-use facility for sport, festivals, concerts and community events,” Simpson said.
TAU chief executive Nick Hill was enthusiastic.
“As the stadium’s owners, we know how crucial it is to find the best future use for all Aucklanders.
“This summer’s concerts at the stadium had an incredible impact culturally and economically for Tāmaki Makaurau, so we are excited by the future opportunities the Western Springs Bowl concept would deliver.
“The redeveloped proposal is cost-effective for ratepayers and can deliver a fit-for-purpose venue with immediate benefits, giving promoters confidence ahead of next summer’s concert season.”
Western Springs Bowl would provide mid-sized venue capacity larger than Spark Arena, but below major venues such as Go Media Stadium and Eden Park, he said.
Ponsonby Rugby Club president Greg Edmonds welcomed a proposal to be granted a five-year lease extension, with a two-year notice period if TAU decided to end the lease at a later date, calling it “a good step forward”.
The club had been battling TAU, which had planned to force it out of Western Springs when its current lease expires in October next year.
In 2024, rugby great and Ponsonby Rugby Club member Sir Bryan “Beegee” Williams spoke out against plans to move the club.
Edmonds said the club was comfortable with the latest proposal, describing it as a sensible phased approach that would allow the club to demonstrate a rectangular‑stadium concept could operate alongside a great concert venue.
The new sporting facilities would enhance the number one field and give spectators a closer and better experience, Edmonds said.
In 2015, Western Springs was proposed to become the “Home of New Zealand Cricket” — one of several concepts explored during the stadium strategy launched in 2012.
Designs by Warren and Mahoney for a cricket oval showed a pavilion with corporate facilities for 700 people and premium covered seating above an open paved concourse circling the oval pitch.
There were plans for a Walk of Fame from the Great North Rd entrance, cricket training nets and upgraded outer fields for Ponsonby Rugby Club.
The $12m cost in 2015 steadily increased in scale and cost to $91m in 2019, but there was no council funding for the project, and nothing came of it.
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