FORSYTH BARR STADIUM, DUNEDIN, NEW ZEALAND, Dunedin Overview

Resembling a horticulture hothouse, the Forsyth Barr Stadium is also known as ‘the glasshouse’. Having hosted several sports events, mainly rugby and the 2015 FIFA U-20 WORLD CUP and musical concerts, including one with Elton John in 2011, the stadium is now a full-fledged multi-purpose indoor stadium in Dunedin, New Zealand.

Forsyth Barr Stadium was inaugurated on 5th August 2011 by the then president of New Zealand, John Key. It can accommodate around 30000 for sports events, 36000 for concerts and 15000 for Rodeo. It is located in one of the most elite localities of Dunedin, Anzac Avenue, Logan Park wing of Otago Dunedin.

Architecture

Boasting to be the world’s first fully grass enclosed stadium, the stadium was architecturally supervised by Populous. Since the indoor stadium serves to house several kinds of events, the seat is relocatable and made flexible to suit and modify itself for each. There are though size and space constraints which makes it unable to accommodate cricket and baseball matches.

The roof is made out of the same material that created the Allianz Arena in Munich and Water Cube in Beijing. The grass is strengthened from being worn out by firming it deep by synthetic grass extensions.

Sports

Replacing the Carisbrook as Forsyth housed the Highlanders in Super Rugby in late 2011. It initially held local rugby duals in its early days then turned to house the Otago Rugby Football Union under the ITM Cup. It also held the All Blacks game in the year 2012 against the South African Springboks. The stadium was inaugurated for the first time with a football game between Brisbane Roar and Wellington Phoenix in the year 2011

The stadium also boasts of having organized the 2015 FIFA U-20 WORLD CUP, a round of 6 Group Stage matches and one in the round of 16. For Rugby, it hosted the New Zealand rugby league international in 2014, round 3 of NRL season of 2017 and also a preseason between the National Rugby League and Brisbane Broncos.

Tips

You may bring sealed bottles of water of 1l capacity, anything more than that or with seals unbroken are not permitted.
Homemade snacks may be brought along like sandwiches, cakes, fruits.
Special dietary food items if required can be brought.
Baby food and liquids are allowed.
Tetra packs of juices are allowed.
Any kind of alcohol is not permitted.
Any kind of soft or fizzy drinks is not permitted.
Any kind of glass container, including perfume bottles, is not allowed.
Cans are not allowed.
Any commercial products for snacks or light meals.
Any large backpacks.
No strollers.
No umbrellas.
Bringing camera are subjected to other factors, but not any with a removable lens.
Selfie sticks are not allowed.
No camcorder or other recording devices.
Recording anything through even phone is not permissible.
Touring facilities for sightseeing is not yet introduced in the stadium so you are supposed to visit the stadium on the occasion of some sporting event or a musical concert with a valid id and the event passes.

How To Reach Forsyth Barr Stadium

Located at 130, Anzac Avenue of Dunedin, commutation is made easy with the availability of buses from the city center to the Albany or Forth Street.
It is a roughly 20-minute walk from Octagon to a nearby bus depot. You may also avail bikes/cycles from outside the stadium.
The parking area for private vehicles might get inconvenient since it gets enormously crowded during event days.