Rugby League Park, Multi-purpose sports venue in Canterbury Region, New Zealand
Rugby League Park is a multi-purpose sports complex in Canterbury Region with seating for 18,000 people and a design developed by Populous. The stands run along both long sides of the pitch, complemented by covered areas at each end.
Known as Addington Showgrounds until 1997, the ground was bought by Canterbury Rugby League from Christchurch City Council in the 1990s. The February 2011 earthquake damaged the stands, which were demolished, and the venue reopened on 24 March 2012 as a temporary 18,000-seat replacement for Lancaster Park. The Crusaders played here from 2012 until 2026, and the stadium is set to be dismantled in late 2026.
The ground has hosted rugby league World Cup matches in 1975, 1977, 1988, 1990 and 1991, and it was here that the Kiwis beat Great Britain 12–10 to reach the 1985–1988 World Cup final. Since 2012 sponsorship has renamed it AMI, Wyatt Crockett, Orangetheory and, from 2023, Apollo Projects Stadium.
Buses run directly to the entrance, and several parking lots are within walking distance around the facility. Food stands and toilets are distributed across the site, reducing wait times during well-attended matches.
The ground holds the highest top-flight championship win percentage of any rectangular stadium in the world: the Crusaders won 8 titles in 14 seasons based there from 2012, a rate of 57.1%. For comparison, Windsor Park in Belfast stands at about 47.1% and Celtic Park in Glasgow at about 41.0%.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 93,425 contributors worldwide.