Arena Manawatu, Rugby union venue in Palmerston North, New Zealand
Arena Manawatu is the name of the 180,000 square metre publicly owned recreational complex just west of Palmerston North city centre, in the Manawatū-Whanganui region. It holds three linked indoor stadiums with movable tiered seating, plus outdoor football fields and a speedway track with a grandstand. The main stadium, formerly Arena 1 and FMG Stadium, seats 15,000 and rises to 20,000 with temporary seating.
The site was established in 1886 as the Palmerston North Showgrounds and originally hosted regional fairs and exhibitions. Over the following decades it gradually shifted toward sports use and received a series of upgrades to meet the needs of competitive rugby.
The stadium is home to the Manawatu Rugby Union team, and on match days local fans fill the stands to support their provincial side. Rugby runs deep in this part of New Zealand, and the ground acts as a gathering point for supporters of all ages.
The stadium is easy to reach by car and has ample parking on site. Match days can be windy and wet, so bringing a warm, waterproof layer is a good idea given the open location.
The speedway track is 434 metres long and encircles the field; it is now called the Robertson Holden International Speedway. The New Zealand Solo Championship was held here in 1949, 1962, 1963, 1969 and 1975, and a qualifying round of the Speedway World Championship came in 1976. The season runs from mid-October to the start of May.
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