Go Media Stadium Smashes Records with One New Zealand Warriors’ Sellout Season
Go Media Stadium has once again demonstrated its status as New Zealand’s favourite sporting venue, shattering attendance records during the One New Zealand Warriors’ landmark 2024 NRL season. For the first time in history, the Warriors achieved a complete sellout for an entire home season, with nearly a quarter of a million fans filling the stands at Go Media Stadium.
Historic attendance figures
A staggering 235,581 spectators attended the Warriors' 10 home games at Go Media Stadium this season, averaging an impressive 23,578 attendees per match. This surpasses the previous record of 22,739 set in 2023, underscoring the Warriors’ growing popularity and the stadium’s unique appeal.
Record-breaking ticket sales
In total, 250,395 tickets were sold for the 2024 season, setting a new high in ticket sales. Warriors home matches attracted visitors to Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland from all over Aotearoa and beyond. Approximately a third of match-goers surveyed by Auckland Stadiums travelled from outside of Auckland to attend matches, with over 84% confirming that the Warriors were their sole reason for visiting the region.
Warriors fever good for Tāmaki Makaurau and Aotearoa
James Parkinson, Director of Auckland Stadiums at Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, is thrilled with the positive impact this season has had on the wider community. “This record-breaking season will go down in history and when the Warriors are thriving, it has a fantastic benefit for Tāmaki Makaurau and the whole of Aotearoa.
We have loved welcoming sellout Warriors crowds into Go Media Stadium every matchday this season. We aim to deliver extraordinary experiences for our patrons and are already looking forward to the challenge of trying to top this remarkable season next year”.
Warriors CEO praises fans at the fortress
One New Zealand Warriors CEO Cameron George celebrated the exceptional season, emphasizing the role of passionate fans in achieving this milestone. "This has been a special, record-breaking season at Go Media Stadium for the One New Zealand Warriors and our fans. Selling out the season is a testament to our amazing fans who travel from far and wide to support the team. They turn this stadium into a fortress and have shown that they love coming back time and again”.
Unmatched atmosphere
The atmosphere at Warriors games is unique in the NRL and the New Zealand sporting landscape. A sound monitor used to record the raucous crowd over the course of the year reached peaks of over 110db every game, the equivalent volume of a rock concert or helicopter landing.
Iconic fans and food
Warriors superfan Robert Harris, better known as The Sign Guy, has become one of the most recognisable faces in the crowd with his signature banners always entertaining fellow fans. Harris believes this season was one of the best yet. “In all my years following the Wahs, this season has been a special one. We showed up and packed out Go Media Stadium every week, showing the rest of the NRL that we’ve got the best fans in the league – bar none. Next season we’ll be back bigger and better than ever. I’m planning my Las Vegas signs already!”.
With such significant crowds comes a huge cleanup operation and vast quantities of waste and this record-breaking season saw sustainability efforts boosted at Go Media Stadium. Auckland Stadiums successfully diverted more than 80% of waste from landfill through the course of the season, equating to nearly 40,000kgs of waste that has been directed to either recycling or compost.
A full stadium also needs a full stomach to keep roaring support for the Warriors. Go Media Stadium sold over 107,000 portions of hot food through the season, with 350,000 beverages and more than 25,000 portions of hot chips enjoyed by Warriors fans.
The White Lady are a firm fan favourite and have become a staple for the sellout crowds with each visit. The White Lady’s Max Washer said, “We’ve been doing the Warriors at Go Media Stadium for over 11 years and this has season has been the biggest year so far! The Warriors have such dedicated fans, there’s always an amazing buzz in the stadium and we have a great time serving them. We can’t wait for next season".
Looking ahead
Over 220,000 visitors attended events at Auckland Stadiums venues over summer 2023/24 and Auckland is set for another sizzling summer ahead. Listen In kicks off a concert season that also sees Pearl Jam make their long-awaited return to New Zealand. New A-League football team Auckland FC kick off their debut season at Go Media Stadium and are bookended by international sporting fixtures from the All Whites and the Kiwis.
2024 By The Numbers:
- 235,581 fans attended 10 Warriors home matches
- 23,578 average attendance per match
- 250,395 tickets sold throughout the season
- Noise levels regularly exceeded 110db
- 88% crowd satisfaction from surveyed patrons
- 34% of patrons traveled from outside Auckland; 84% traveled exclusively for the game
- 80% of waste diverted from landfill, equating to 40,000kg
- Approx. 350,000 beverages served, 107,000 portions of hot food
Stay tuned to the Auckland Stadiums website for more updates and upcoming events!