Magic on the maunga: Back-to-back thrillers for Go Media Stadium’s home teams
Visitors and Aucklanders are making the most of the Autumn sunshine as thousands attended the One New Zealand Warriors and Auckland FC matches at Go Media Stadium this weekend.
While switching the stadium between sporting codes includes swapping out the posts and relining the field markings, the exchange extends beyond the field of play. Sponsorship, hospitality, entertainment activations and even beverage supplies all need to be built or removed to suit the code and the team which is playing.
Go Media Stadium seamlessly switched between the two codes in little more than a day, to the delight of passionate sports fans.
The stars aligned perfectly on Friday night as a bumper crowd of over 21,000 were treated to a lunar eclipse alongside a vintage One New Zealand Warriors performance. The home team overcame the Manly Sea Eagles in style during their opening home match of the season, buoyed by a raucous atmosphere that’s become synonymous with a Warriors match.
With no time to rest, the stadium switched over the venue for more sporting action.
The rugby posts made way for a football net ahead of Sunday’s Auckland FC A-League match with Central Coast Mariners. The table-topping Black Knights battled the 2024 A-League champions in front of another lively AFC crowd. 13,000 fans savoured a thrilling match which included typical last-minute drama, before ending in a 2-2 draw. Auckland FC’s average crowd size this season stands at approximately 18,000.
Tātaki Auckland Unlimited’s Director of Auckland Stadiums James Parkinson, says, “Go Media Stadium is the home of live entertainment in Tāmaki Makaurau and weekends like this prove exactly why. Our team worked tirelessly with the One New Zealand Warriors and Auckland FC to deliver two incredible matchday experiences for the people of Auckland. We delivered two different sporting codes over three days and are now looking forward to switching the venue back into rugby league mode for another epic Warriors match this week. Auckland was buzzing this weekend and we’re proud to have played a part in it”.
One New Zealand Warriors CEO Cameron George says, “The first home match of the season is always exciting and Friday night under the lights at Go Media Stadium was a fantastic occasion. Go Media Stadium has been our home now for thirty years, it’s a special place for Warriors fans and the whole team was itching to get back to Auckland to play in front of them for the first time this year. After a brilliant win, we can’t wait to go again on Friday at the home fortress”.
Auckland FC Chief Executive Nick Becker says, “We’ve enjoyed an incredible season at Go Media Stadium so far and Sunday’s thrilling match was one step closer to our goals for this year. Our fans have connected with this venue and continue to bring the noise each game. There’s two more regular home season games to go and we’re looking forward to finishing the season strong to see where it will take us”.