The Rugby World Cup is just 18 months away and Christchurch can now say it has the first New Zealand stadium ready to host.
On Friday, the media got a tour of the new Deans Stand at Christchurch's AMI Stadium just a week out from its official opening.
It is a sneak peak at what $60 million buys.
"That's the legacy for Christchurch, the Rugby World Cup was the catalyst. But this wonderful facility, the wonderful outdoor sports and entertainment facility is of real international quality," says Brian Pearson of Vbase.
The new Deans Stand will hold more than 13,000 people.
The numbers are hard to pass by with 18,000 tonnes of concrete, 15,000 square metres of new turf, and one of the biggest cantilever roofs in the country.
At the peak of construction there were 180 people a day on site, six cranes and 80 companies involved. Two years later the stadium is ready for kickoff.
Credit for that timeline is put down to the city council's quick, financial support.
"That meant Christchurch could get out of the blocks early and we could get on with redevelopment and could be where we are today with opening the new stadium," says Pearson.
While AMI stadium is putting on the final touches, the other South Island venue, Dunedin, is scheduled for completion next year.
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