Spark Arena, Indoor arena in Parnell, New Zealand
Spark Arena is a multipurpose arena at Quay Park in Parnell, Auckland, with a capacity of about 12,000. Its curved glass facade is framed by light-coloured mullions, and a broad dark roof projects over the entrance plaza, where palm trees and dark boulders stand. Inside, tiered blue and white seating curves around three sides of a floor set with rows of orange, red, grey and blue seats, facing a low stage at the far end beneath an exposed steel roof.
Quay Park Arena Management Ltd was incorporated in 2002 to build and run the venue under a public-private partnership with Auckland City Council, at a cost of about $94 million. After construction delays, the first concert, Rock Star Supernova, took place on 24 March 2007. Vector Limited held naming rights until April 2017, when Spark New Zealand renamed it Spark Arena.
The arena is home to the New Zealand Breakers basketball team, and in 2011 a temporary ice rink hosted a Canada–United States ice hockey international before about 10,000 fans. The 2013 BMX World Championships brought over two thousand riders from 33 countries, with a track built from roughly 10,000 pallets. The first UFC event in New Zealand took place here on 28 June 2014.
The venue sits within walking distance of Britomart Transport Centre and The Strand Station, making it easy to access by public transit. Plan to arrive early to secure parking or allow extra time if using nearby transit stops.
The venue was financed through an innovative public-private partnership where the city automatically takes ownership after several decades. This model was groundbreaking for New Zealand and demonstrated a new approach to city infrastructure funding.
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