Eden Park unveils new look, new logo

Auckland's Eden Park has unveiled a new look ground and new logo, aimed at presenting a distinctively New Zealand face to almost half a million guests expected at next year's Rugby World Cup.

Eden Park Trust Chief Executive David Kennedy said that Eden Park would stand proud among international stadiums for being unmistakably Kiwi, stating "many stadiums today have a similar look and feel, but there will be no missing that Eden Park is in the heart of Auckland. The mix of materials, plantings and sculptures will be unmistakably from New Zealand - a real statement of our unique social and environmental heritage."

Imposing six-metre tekoteko (carved statues) representing Maori Gods have been unveiled at each corner of the ground, Kennedy stating "these will complement the Kiwi feel of 30-metre high ferns sculpted into the steel framework for the clear ETFE cladding of the South stand, extensive plantings of pohutakawa and deliberate use of stone in the foundations of the building to reflect Mt Eden's volcanic heritage."

These strong local tones are also captured in a new logo for Eden Park, designed by local firm Lemonade Design. The simple logo depicts strong planes of colour inspired from those used in the new stadium that radiate from the bold modern type of the stadium's name.

The new logo will be used on the venue's signage, marketing materials, catering facilities, staff uniforms and web-site, applying a smart, modern look consistent with the new stadium, with Kennedy advising  "these changes to our look and feel recognise that we are entering a new era. The new Eden Park needs to be more than it was, to more people, as a symbol of Auckland and of New Zealand.

"(In addition) new technology at Eden Park, developed with partners Panasonic, Gen-i and Cisco (will) transform the spectator experience at the stadium."

Kennedy explains that "together, we are aiming for seamless connectivity from ticketing, entry and security systems to super screens and tailored advertising displays with automated texts.

"Many people now have the latest technology in their living rooms, so the challenge for stadiums around the world is to look at how real-time information and interactive media can be used to create an electric atmosphere inside the stadium."

Panasonic, who have had a 22 year partnership with the stadium, will create New Zealand's two biggest LED super screens measuring 110 metre² each and containing 1.1 million LED lights. Each screen measures 12.8 metres wide, 8.6 metre high and 2.5 metre deep.

Panasonic's Managing Director Stew Fowler explains that "Panasonic leads the world in super screen technology (and) the Eden Park super screens will build directly on our experiences with large screens for the Birds Nest Stadium in Beijing and this yearâs Vancouver Winter Olympics."

The super screens, which will bring all the raw emotion and action into close view, will be made up of over 90 separate panels measuring just over one square metre each.

Panasonic are also installing around 300 plasma displays which will be located throughout the stadium and centrally managed via a video control room which is being built in the new South Stand.

Gen-i and its partner Cisco are working together to deploy a new technology platform for the Park.

The infrastructure they provide will include data, voice, video, security, wireless, building management and physical security, converging all the technology needs of the stadium through an Internet Protocol (IP) based backbone.

The platform allows Eden Park to stream media from any source, targeting it to specific areas of the stadium and changing the content at a moment's notice.