Eden Park to celebrate centenary

Eden Park, New Zealand's largest sporting venue, is set to celebrate its centenary throughout 2013 commencing with a public Open Day on Sunday 10th February.

With entry by gold coin donation, open day visitors will be allowed onto the hallowed number one field and have access to the All Blacks changing room.

The full Auckland Blues Super Rugby squad will be attending plus members of the Black Caps who play a Twenty/20 match against England on the previous day. There will also be representatives from the Vodafone Warriors, Auckland Aces and other sporting codes.

Eden Park Trust Chief Executive, David Kennedy explains "Eden Park has undergone numerous transformations in the last 100 years, but it was in 1913 when the first stand was built on the reclaimed swamp that it truly started life as a stadium."
Introducing the Open Day, Kennedy adds "everyone is invited to the Open Day.

"One hundred years is a long time and it's an historic year not only for the Park, but also the community that it's here for.

"The opportunity (to enter the field) doesn't present itself very often but, because the field has so much history, we know lots of people get a real buzz from walking about on it or even kicking a ball around. At the Open Day people will have that chance. There will also be elite athletes from a range of sporting codes on the field participating in fun activities and the public are welcome to get involved if they wish."

The Open Day will also host some very famous silverware, with Kennedy adding "we've managed a bit of a coup by getting the Webb Ellis Cup - The Rugby World Cup, The Bledisloe Cup, The Steinlager Series Cup, The Ranfurly Shield and The Investec Rugby Championship Trophy all here at the same time.

"People will be welcome to have photographs with the various cups and trophies."

Kennedy adds that Trust particularly wants to encourage families to attend, stating "for our younger visitors there will be face painters, bouncy castles and giant board games as well as some giveaways."

In recognition of the diverse cultural communities that surround Eden Park, there would also be a range of ethnic food stalls, with Kennedy adding "I'm sure there will be some delicious dishes for people to try which represent the vibrant and varied community which surrounds and supports the Park."

Media identity, Duncan Garner, will be the MC for the event, interviewing some of the sports identities which will shown live on the Super Screens.

Kennedy expects that Garner "will also get around the stadium to see what's happening and talk to visitors as well as introducing the range of performances - musical and cultural - we have planned for peoples' entertainment."

The Open Day is just the first in a number of ways in which the centenary will be recognised.

On 22nd March, the first day of the cricket test against England, there will be a celebration of all things cricket while on 8th June there will a special centenary lunch, the day before the Steinlager Series rugby International against France.

Kennedy concludes "a test against France is a fitting way to focus on rugby's wonderful history with Eden Park. They have been the All Black's opponent in both Rugby World Cup finals here and they are the last team to beat the All Blacks at Eden Park, back in 1994."

For more information go to www.edenpark.co.nz

Image shows a low flying plane flour bombing Eden Park during the controversial 1981 All Blacks v Springboks test.

24th October 2012 - MORE CONSULTATION ON AUCKLAND COUNCIL STADIUM REPORT

22nd October 2011 - EDEN PARK PREPARES FOR REPEAT RUGBY WORLD CUP FINAL 

17th June 2011 - VENUE FOCUSED INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

10th August 2010 - INNOVATIVE EDEN PARK PAVILION LAUNCHED 

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