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Stadium Taranaki (Yarrow Stadium)

International standard

Named the third best rugby stadium on earth by New Zealand Rugby World magazine in (May 2009), Yarrow Stadium (known as Stadium Taranaki for the Rugby World Cup 2011) is an international-standard sports, entertainment and conference facility featuring sports fields, grandstand seating and function rooms, all just minutes away from the CBD.

Home to Taranaki's rugby team, Stadium Taranaki will also host three Rugby World Cup pool matches in 2011: Ireland vs USA on Sunday 11 September 2011, Europe 2 vs USA on Thursday 15 September 2011, and Wales vs Namibia on Monday 26 September 2011.

Recent events

All Blacks vs Manu Samoa test match (2008).
All Golds vs New Zealand Maori (league 2008).
Team Taranaki’s national football league games.
Various national provincial rugby league games.
Crusty Demons.
Air New Zealand Cup games (rubgy).
Pacific 5 Nations Cup (rugby).
Hurricanes Super 14 rugby games.
Genesis (now Tenderlink) Taranaki vs British and Irish Lions (rugby).
New Zealand Maori vs England (rugby).
New Zealand Maori vs Scotland (rugby).
Central Districts vs Sri Lanka (cricket).
New Zealand Soccer Kingz versus Adelaide Force (2003).
New Zealand Warriors vs Parramatta Eels (rugby league).
Multi-ethnic Extravaganza.
Searchlight Tattoo.
Relay for Life.

See our Events calendar for what's on now.

About Stadium Taranaki

Location

Stadium Taranaki is located in the central suburb of Westown, New Plymouth with main vehicle access off Maratahu Street.

Conditions of Entry

Coming to a game? Make sure you read our conditions of entry.

Conditions of Entry

Venue description

Stadium Taranaki has four sports fields, the Legends Lounge, Concourse and a variety of function rooms.

The turf on the main field is laid over irrigation lines and drains on a sand profile.

The main field has two grandstands providing undercover seating, terraced and embankment uncovered seating and standing areas.

The number two field has a small grandstand.

Bookings

For all enquiries please contact us on 06-759 6060 or email enquiries@npdc.govt.nz.

Facilities

Capacity: The main field holds 20,685, including covered seating for 3,850 in the TSB Bank Stand and 4,978 in the Noel and Melva Yarrow Stand. There are three uncovered seating and standing areas: The south grass embankment that holds 4,000, the north grass embankment that holds 5,322 and the south terrace that holds 2,535. A redevelopment project is underway to increase capacity to more than 25,500.

Field two has a grandstand which provides covered seating for approximately 100 people.

Parking: In addition to off-street parking there is approximately 400 car park spaces available onsite.

Other areas: A variety of storage and office space.

Power: Guaranteed uninterrupted power reticulated supply throughout the stadium.

Access: Twenty pedestrian gate entrances spread over four entry points.

Disabled access: Full facilities for the disabled.

Toilets: Ample toilet facilities. Return to top

Additional main field facilities

Sound system.
Fully electronic scoreboard.
Floodlights.

Fields one, two and three have training level floodlighting.

Catering

Food and beverage outlets are in both grandstands. Eurest is the stadium's exclusive catering provider.

Players' area/rooms

Two main change rooms, each with a connecting warm up room, are located at ground level of the TSB Bank Stand. Five subsidiary changing rooms are located at ground level of the TSB Bank Stand.

A medical room, drug testing room, media interview room and match day office are all located adjacent to the main changing room at the ground level of the TSB Bank Stand.

Media: There is a media lounge and four media rooms located at the rear of the Noel and Melva Yarrow Stand.

Legends Lounge

The Legends Lounge is on the top floor of the TSB Bank Stand and offers panoramic views of both playing arenas and back fields. It is ideal for business conferences, dinners, sales presentations and meetings.

Capacity: Three-hundred seated and 650 standing.

Features:

Internal speaker system.
Power.
Data points.
Portable stage.
Staircase and lift access is at each end of the lounge with direct access to the seating deck.
Two kitchen, bar and toilet facilities are located at each end of the lounge so that the area can be partitioned for smaller functions.

The Concourse

The Concourse is situated on the first floor of the TSB Bank Stand and can be used for events such as trade displays, exhibitions, banquets, markets and festivals.

Features:

Two food and beverage outlets.
Two smaller bar areas.
Six toilet blocks.
Disabled toilets.
Two multi purpose booths that can be used for information or customer services. Ease of access is assured for foot, vehicle and disabled traffic.
More than 1,100m²of covered display.

Capacity: Eight-hundred seated and 1,500 standing.

History

The venue was first developed as a rugby ground in 1931, with the first stadium completed in 1947. A major redevelopment saw two new grandstands added and considerable modernisation in 2002, and further enhancements to the venue will be completed in 2010, raising the capacity to more than 25,500.

The stadium is a personal legacy of the late Noel Yarrow, a pioneering Taranaki baker and businessman, and active philanthropist. Noel was a passionate rugby supporter and the major grandstand overlooking the field’s western sideline is a tribute to his support.