What makes a great sports ground? Is it access, the quality and cost of food or just the overall setting?
New Zealand Herald sport and Radio Sport staff were asked to rank their top-five grounds/stadiums/venues in New Zealand. It could have been a racecourse, a motoring track, a cricket venue, a lawn bowls club... whatever. If someone could watch sport there, it was fine.
Every top ranked pick was given a score of five points, then four, three, two and one point for the following selections.
There was of course regional and high school alumni bias shown and a number of former grounds featured like Athletic Park, Carlaw Park and Hamilton's Forest Lake Speedway.
The results were interesting, especially around Mt Smart Stadium and where Eden Park finished.
Home of Southland Rugby, sometimes hosts the Highlanders
Another proper rugby ground, similar to Waikato Stadium, except with an old-fashioned embankment on one side - the best place to watch a game and share in a few witticisms. The weather can be brutal, but don't let that put you off. - Patrick McKendry
Mt Smart Stadium, home of the New Zealand Warriors. Photo / Getty
35th= Christchurch's Port Hills (2 points)
The former venue of the elite national road cycling championships. The climb up Dyers Pass Road is brutal to a mere mortal and, after the fifth or sixth lap in this race, has an effect on even the fittest of the elite riders. Was beginning to attract a European-style loud and boisterous support on the climbs before the race was moved to Napier. - Patrick McKendry
35th= Waitakere Trusts Stadium (2 points)
For the world darts event. Unbeatable atmosphere and crowd enthusiasm. - Chris Rattue
Trusts Stadium played host to the best darts players in the world. Photo / Getty
35th= Gower Park, Hamilton (2 points)
Home of Melville United Association Football Club
Only a couple hundred fans are needed for the atmosphere to bubble at Hamilton's home of football. Surface is excellent, beers on deck overlooking the ground are a must. - Steven Holloway
Could always watch the rugby from the car bonnet. - Matt Brown
Ngati Porou East Coast V's Nelson Bays at Whakarua Park in 2001. Photo / Richard Robinson
26th= Colin Maiden Park, Auckland (3 points)
Uni-Mount Wellington over 30s vs anyone. Have been playing there for 15 years - best amateur football fields in the country (non astro). - Brad Lewis
26th= North Harbour Stadium (3 points)
Test rugby venue, home of North Harbour Rugby, someones hosts Blues and All Whites
No one is ever there so you can sit anywhere any time. - Mark Watson Great for test footy and football matches... Not so good for Harbour rugby - Kent Johns
North Harbour Stadium.
26th= Forest Lake Speedway, Hamilton (3 points)
Former speedway venue
26th= Cambridge velodrome (3 points)
Stick your nose over the riders. Feel the speed. - David Leggat
Uzbekistan cyclist Vadim Shaekhov during a flying lap at the Cambridge velodrome. photo / Alan Gibson
26th= Cooks Garden, Wanganui (3 points)
Home of the Cooks Classic
Purely historical reasons. - Hayden O'Neill
26th= Onewa Domain, Auckland(3 points)
Spiritual home of North Harbour Rugby, home of Takapuna Rugby Club
Great for Harbour rugby! - Kent Johns
North Harbour captain Wayne Shelford is not going to let go of Wallaby halfback Peter Slattery's jersey during their rugby match at Onewa Domain in 1990.
22nd= Rugby Park, Christchurch (4 points)
Test rugby venue, home of the Crusaders and Canterbury Rugby
First game of rugby I saw when I arrived in New Zealand as a 12 year old. Something magic about standing on the sidelines behind a yellow rope. - Charlie Bristow
15th= North Shore Events Centre, Auckland (5 points - One 1st place vote)
Major home of the Breakers
It has the atmosphere of a school gymnasium, which is one of its main appeals. You're close to the action, and it's loud - when the Breakers are playing well. There are few queues for the reasonably-priced beer. Can even park your car there for $5. It's what live sport is all about. - Patrick McKendry
15th= Ellerslie Racecourse, Auckland (5 points - One 1st place vote)
Host of horse races
Derby Cup Day - Simon Doull
15th= Takapuna Grammar, Auckland (5 points - One 1st place vote)
15th= The Gully, New Plymouth Boys High School. (7 points)
Best school rugby ground in the world. -Dylan Cleaver
15th= Vector Arena, Auckland (7 points)
Test netball venue, one home of the Breakers, one-time UFC venue
With the capacity crowd cheering on the virtually unstoppable Breakers, this place cooks. Central, modern and user friendly. - D'Arcy Waldegrave Only because I am a big UFC fan and the event there in June 2014 was amazing. - Brad Lewis You can walk to the ground from the centre of Auckland. A unique idea. - Cameron McMillan For basketball and netball - Mark Watson
Vector Arena hosted a UFC event in 2014.
14th - Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth (9 points - One 1st place vote)
Test rugby venue, home of Taranaki Rugby, granny flat of the Chiefs
Best grandstand for watching rugby in the country. - Hayden O'Neill Best rugby ground in the world. Big mountain in the background. - Dylan Cleaver
Yarrow Stadium.
12th= Pukekohe Race Track (10 points)
Home of the New Zealand round of the V8s Supercars
Just awesome - everyone there is going for the same reason - watching cars go really fast. - Brad Lewis iconic, unique with bumps etc, history, grass embankment, my own childhood experiences. - Dale Budge It may be a tad 'agricultural' but memories run deep, the grandstand view is almost %100 and the old back straight is faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaast. A day on Ford Mountain is a day well spent with some of the most ferocious fans to walk the earth. - D'Arcy Waldegrave
12th= Athletic Park, Wellington (10 points - Two 1st place votes)
Former test venue and home of Wellington Rugby and the Hurricanes
Long gone, never forgotten, especially the smell of those 100yr old urinals. - Martin Devlin Top of the Millard Stand at the old Athletic Park on a windy day (watched the 1993 Lions there ) among others. - Matt Brown
The All Blacks perform a haka at Athletic Park, with the Millard Stand in the background.
11th - Waikato Stadium, Hamilton (11 points)
Test rugby venue, home of Chiefs and Waikato Rugby
Love me some cow bells. - Charlie Bristow The best rugby ground in New Zealand. So close to the action you feel like you're part of the game. - Brenton Vannisselroy Proper rugby stadium which doesn't cater for other sports, which means the crowd is close to the action, the way it should be. - Patrick McKendry Looks pretty good and is amazing for Hamilton - Steven Holloway Best purpose built footy ground I've been to. - Kent Johns A proper football ground. Take note Auckland. (The old Rugby Park there was about the worst stadium I ever visited, certainly from a working media point of view.) - Chris Rattue
Waikato Stadium hosting an All Blacks test. Photo / Getty
10th - Carlaw Park, Auckland (12 points - Two 1st place vote)
Former home of New Zealand Rugby League, Auckland Rugby League, now hotel, apartments and offices
You could even hear the coaches halftime team talks, smell the liniment... - Michael Burgess Experienced the two of the best (adult) football memories ever there...Auckland v Australia (1989) and Tonga v Samoa (early 1990s). It was a tip with heart on its best days (with a sensational view from the press box). - Chris Rattue
The old Railway Stand at Carlaw Park
9th - Seddon Park, Hamilton (13 points - One 1st place vote)
Test and ODI cricket venue, home of Northern Districts Cricket
Proper cricket ground, bit small but picket fences, grass embankment etc. - Dale Budge This is the best ground to watch cricket in the north. - Kent Johns
Seddon Park, Hamilton. Photo / Getty
7th= - Queenstown Events Centre (15 points)
Test and ODI cricket venue, former home of national sevens tournament
There's no more beautiful setting in sport. - Brenton Vannisselroy Picaresque and boutique before it was cool. Stunning views and also really handy to the airport. - Elliott Smith Beautiful setting - surely one of the most picturesque in the world - and the weather is generally pretty good, along with the sporting action. - Patrick McKendry Scenery, old school grass banks, picturesque. Enough space on a quiet day to play BYC in the ground. - Steven Holloway
Ross Taylor fields in the deep at Queenstown Events Centre. Photo / Getty
7th= Kiwitea Street, Auckland (15 points - One 1st place vote)
Home of Auckland City and Central United
Beautiful boutique ground, immaculate playing surface, fans are so close to the action, easy access. Perfect for its fan base. - Steven Holloway A true suburban sports ground with a English league football feeling. - Brenton Vannisselroy. Great atmosphere and intimate ground - Jason Pine Intimate, close to the action, good atmosphere - Michael Brown Perfect football ground when packed - Michael Burgess Central United/Auckland City's football ground is a quaint homage to suburban-based sport. Softballers will remember something similar, at the long-gone Coca Cola Ball Park in Mt Albert....now part of a supermarket. - Chris Rattue
A large turn out of fans during the OFC Champions League soccer match between Auckland City FC and Fiji's Ba FC in 2013.
Stadiums with roofs are the future. - Charlie Bristow Top class viewing from all seating. Also can take the raincoat and jumper off and watch in shirtsleeves in July. - David Leggat the roof makes it a great place to watch sport - Jason Pine Like being in your living room, albeit with a few thousand others. Michael Brown It's OK I guess. - Dylan Cleaver The future of NZ sport venues. Warm, dry and right on top of the game. It's also within good staggering distance of the CBD. - D'Arcy Waldegrave
Forsyth Barr Stadium. Photo / Getty
5th - Hagley Oval, Christchurch (19 points - Three 1st place votes)
Home of Canterbury Cricket, recently redeveloped for Cricket World Cup
The epitome of what a boutique ground in New Zealand should look and feel like. Two Black Caps Boxing Day matches have been unreal. - Charlie Bristow A superb amphitheatre for cricket. Grassy bank, boutique ground and absolutely humming for the Boxing Day test last year. Top notch development. Thank god the nay-sayers didn't get their way. -Elliott Smith *PRE-redevelopment. Best possible place to watch cricket, tree-lined, sun-drenched splendour. - David Leggat
General view of Hagley Oval. Photo / Getty
3rd= Pukekura Park, New Plymouth (21 points - One 1st place vote)
One of the many homes of Central Districts Cricket, hosted the recent Ford Trophy final
Best cricket ground in the world. Bit small these days, but could be easily enlarged. - Dylan Cleaver Most picturesque ground for domestic cricket. -Hayden O'Neill
Pukekura Park, New Plymouth.
3rd= Western Springs, Auckland (21 points - Two 1st place votes)
I have several fond memories of summer nights spent at this natural sporting amphitheatre. - Brenton Vannisselroy Uncomfortable as all hell but super fun and a great night out. - Brad Lewis Don't let them move it. A world renowned facility in idyllic location. So much history. - Dale Budge Especially in the glory days of Barry Butterworth, Ted Tracey, Sleepy Tripp. - Michael Burgess Loud, dirty, intimate and really annoying to the locals. High powered cars, tiny circuit with ample supplies of sprayed mud for the crowd. - D'Arcy Waldegrave
Western Springs.
2nd - Eden Park, Auckland (*24 points - Three 1st place votes)
Home of the Blues, the NRL Nines, Auckland Rugby and once hosted West Ham.
Gets a lot of flak, but the crowd for the three Black Caps and two All Blacks matches I've watched have been stupendous. The only stadium where you see a Kiwi crowd come to life. - Charlie Bristow When full..eg All Blacks Test or World Cup vs Aus / vs SA - the two best sporting atmospheres I have ever been at. - Brad Lewis. Mainly for historic reasons and when it's packed it's the best place to be. - Cameron McMillan * Only at the 1992 Cricket World Cup - Michael Burgess * ODI Cricket only. Eden Park not great for football codes but magnificent for jammed packed cricket matches. Always a mischievous day out on the terraces in my formative youth. - Kent Johns Horrible place now by modern standards but a lot of brilliant memories, particularly cricket during the Hadlee years and childhood days spent watching the Ponsonby and Auckland rugby teams. - Chris Rattue
General view of Eden Park during the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup match between South Africa and Pakistan at Eden Park. Photo / Getty
1st - Basin Reserve, Wellington (43 points - Three 1st place votes)
Home of Wellington Cricket, regular test cricket venue, recent ODI venue again, roundabout.
Nothing really beats a day on the bank at the Basin. I love that you're allowed to walk around the boundary even if you don't have a ticket because it's a public park. - Brenton Vannisselroy Easily our best test venue. - Hayden O'Neill You can watch the cricket while standing at the urinal - special - Dylan Cleaver No better place to spend a day than watching test cricket on the bank at the Basin - Jason Pine True dimensions, classic look with pickets and pavilion etc, picturesque, unique conditions with wind etc. - Dale Budge A proper cricket ground. Shame about the weather. - Michael Brown
