Populous on team to design new Canterbury Multi-Use Arena in Christchurch, New Zealand

Christchurch is set to become the entertainment destination of New Zealand with the announcement of the new Canterbury Multi-Use Arena (CMUA) project consortium.

The New Zealand Government and Christchurch City Council have approved the $473 million state-of-the-art multi-functional arena facility to be built in the centre of the city of Christchurch. The project aims to become a landmark destination for both national and large-scale international events, to entertain locals and increase the Canterbury region’s tourism.

The design for Christchurch Multi-Use Arena was delivered by Populous in association with Warren + Mahoney.

Plans for Canterbury Multi-Use Arena include a minimum seating capacity of 25,000 with potential to expand capacity for special events. The arena will be roofed so that events can be held year-round no matter the weather.

From rugby to international concert performances, a wide range of sports and entertainment can be hosted at the multipurpose, adaptable venue. The arena aims to host a scalable capacity layout in order to also accommodate smaller events, shows and concerts for the local community.

As a proud member of the Kōtui consortium team, Populous’ design team will work hard to ensure the new arena encapsulates the spirit and resilience of Christchurch, providing a world-class multi-purpose venue that will attract major sporting and entertainment events to the city.

Construction of the project is expected to begin in early 2022 with a goal of the CMUA opening at the end of 2024. The completion of Canterbury Multi-Use Arena will revive Christchurch as an international destination for world-class sporting, entertainment and cultural events for locals and tourists alike.