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The Auckland Stadium Question

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Posted April 13, 2026 10:21 · last edited April 13, 2026 10:23

martinb wrote:
 Footy_Fella wrote:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DW8ObHTic9y/
Eden Park named as NZ's national stadium, to 'put and end to the endless debate around future stadia' :/
So they can force games from minor sports there or just that the ABs must play there a minimum number of times a year? 

What does the designation of national stadium mean? 

It has made itself less and less suitable for sport other than rugby. And it’s an average to poor football experience. 
Generally a National Stadium requires it to be the default home stadium of the national team of whatever sport it's set up to host, and other venues for home matches are only used due to unavailability, as you find in England with Wembley for football and Twickenham for rugby.

That's why Eden Park calling itself the national stadium has only ever been a marketing slogan rather than an actual true designation. 

So I don't know what this apparent designation from the government will actually mean for Eden Park, other than showing they are committed to keeping it around, as I doubt they are going to actually move to hosting all All Blacks matches there to make it meet the true definition of a national stadium though

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Half a Pint edited April 13, 2026 10:23
martinb wrote:
 Footy_Fella wrote:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DW8ObHTic9y/
Eden Park named as NZ's national stadium, to 'put and end to the endless debate around future stadia' :/
So they can force games from minor sports there or just that the ABs must play there a minimum number of times a year? 

What does the designation of national stadium mean? 

It has made itself less and less suitable for sport other than rugby. And it’s an average to poor football experience. 
Generally a National Stadium requires it to be the default home stadium of the national team of whatever sport it's set up to host, and other venues for home matches are only used due to unavailability, as you find in England with Wembley for football and Twickenham for rugby.

That's why Eden Park calling itself the national stadium has only ever been a marketing slogan rather than an actual true designation. 

I doubt they are going to actually move to hosting all All Blacks matches there to make it meet the true definition of a national stadium though