New AMI Stand Commemorates Deans Legacy

The new East Stand at Christchurch's AMI Stadium will be known as the Deans Stand.

The $60 million redevelopment, set to be completed in December 2009, well ahead of the 2011 Rugby World Cup, in which the stadium will play a part. The development includes the replacement of the old eastern stands with the new stand, which will seat approximately 15,000 people increasing the permanent seated capacity of AMI Stadium to in excess of 41,000 people.

Explaining the naming, Bryan Pearson, Chief Executive of AMI Stadium operator Vbase says the decision is fitting recognition for one of Canterbury's foremost rugby families, "the Deans name has been synonymous with rugby in Christchurch for more than a hundred years. Bob Deans is one of the most famous All Blacks (1905 - 1908) and captained the Canterbury rugby team (and) Bruce and Robbie Deans were stalwarts of the Canterbury rugby team which held the Ranfurly Shield for 25 challenges and also represented the All Blacks with great distinction."

Pearson says the precedence for naming part of the stadium after one family has already been set, with the Hadlee Stand appropriately recognising Canterbury's foremost cricket family.