Waikato Stadium Capacity, Tickets, Seating Plan, Records, Location, Parking
Waikato Stadium is a rugby union stadium located in Hamilton, New Zealand. It is the home stadium of the Chiefs, a Super Rugby team, and the Waikato Rugby Union. The stadium has a capacity of 25,800 and was first opened in 1925. It has undergone several renovations over the years, including the addition of a new grandstand in 1998. In addition to rugby, the stadium has also hosted concerts and other sporting events.
- The Chiefs in the Southern Hemisphere Super Rugby competition.
- The Waikato side in the country’s top provincial rugby competition, the Mitre 10 Cup.
| Built In: | 2000 – 2002 |
| Capacity: | 25,800 |
| Home Teams: | Hamilton |
Waikato Stadium History
In 1925, Rugby Park was opened. In 1930, a rugby match between Waikato and Great Britain was broadcast for the first time on Hamilton radio. In 1937, South Africa visited Hamilton in front of a record crowd of 13,000. One of the most memorable games at the ground was in 1956 when Waikato beat the visiting Springboks Rugby team in an attendance of over 31,000 people. In 1958 Rugby Park began upgrading a new stand which opened in 1959. In 1981 Rugby Park hosted part of the infamous 1981 Springbok tour where the match was canceled as the ground was overrun by protesters. 1987 saw Rugby Park host its first Rugby World Cup match, Fiji v Argentina.
In 1996, the Waikato Regional Sports and Events Center Trust was formed when it was decided that the town needed a new sports stadium to attract more sporting meets and events. The City of Hamilton announced plans to replace Rugby Park and the city’s main cricket venue, Westpac Park, with a single large oval stadium on the site of Rugby Park. However, this was reconsidered with funding of just NZ$270 million, well below the estimated cost of NZ$520 million. It then decided to rebuild and modernize both stadiums on a smaller scale, bringing the total cost down to NZ$30 million. In 2000, construction began on the Waikato Stadium, and in 2002, the Waikato Stadium was officially opened with a Super 12 rugby match between the Chiefs and Crusaders.
On 1 October 2015, the Waikato Stadium was renamed as FMG Stadium Waikato after a 10-year naming rights deal was approved.
Stadium Capacity
Waikato Stadium has a seating capacity of 25,800.
Waikato Stadium Seating Plan
Not Yet.
Notable Events & Records
Notable Events
FMG Stadium Waikato (then known as Rugby Park) hosted one of the matches during the 1981 Springbok Tour. However, the game against Waikato was canceled in front of a full house at Rugby Park. An invasion of the pitch by several hundred anti-tour protesters and rumors that a plane had been stolen from Taupo and was headed for Rugby Park proved too much for the authorities.
Since 2002, the stadium has hosted a variety of events ranging from sporting events to cultural events. This includes Men’s and Women’s International Rugby, Super Rugby, Miter 10 Cup rugby, Kingz and Wellington Phoenix football, Impact World Tour, Habitat for Humanity, Summer Jam, Volcanic Paintball, Crusty Demons, WIPSEC Cultural Concert, Regional/National Walking Championships, NRL New Zealand Warriors, Waikato FC NZFC matches, Kiwi Bowl Gridiron and international football.
On 11 June 2005, the Waikato Stadium hosted a historic first victory for the New Zealand Māori rugby union team (later renamed the Māori All Blacks), over the touring British and Irish lions.
It was one of four host stadiums for the 2008 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, hosting six group stage matches and two quarterfinals. The FMG Waikato Stadium also hosted three group matches for the 2011 Rugby World Cup: Wales vs. Samoa, Wales vs. Fiji and New Zealand vs. Japan.
On 4 August 2012, the stadium hosted the 2012 Super Rugby Final between the Chiefs and the Sharks.
In 2017, the Waikato Stadium hosted its first rugby league test matches with two 2017 Rugby League World Cup Group B matches: Samoa vs. Tonga (18,156 viewers) and New Zealand vs. Tonga (24,041 spectators).
In 2018, the New Zealand Sevens was held on February 3–4.
Upcoming Events
In 2023 it will be used as one of the venues for the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Its First time use for Football.
Parking
There is limited and controlled public parking adjacent to the venue, however due to a large number of pedestrians in the area on game days we recommend avoiding all streets near the rugby ground.
