Auckland's major sports grounds soaked but cleanups taking place

Monday, 30 January 2023

Eden Park was flooded during Friday's weather event but work is underway to get the ground back to working order

Assessments and clean-ups are under way to help get events spaces – including sports grounds – back in working order as major events continue to descend on Auckland.

The clean-up comes after Auckland experienced more than 260mm of rain in the space of just a few hours on Friday. Several stadiums including Eden Park, Mt Smart, North Harbour Stadium and Western Springs have been impacted.

James Parkinson, director of Auckland Stadiums, said while the welfare and wellbeing of their staff was the main priority, comprehensive storm damage assessments were taking place. The full impact of the floods will only be known once this work is complete, which “will take some time”.

Eden Park was under water during the Auckland floods

“Early indications are that Western Springs Stadium is the most impacted due to significant floodwaters moving through the site,” he said.

“To the extent that it is safe to do so, our team are already undertaking venue clean-ups and doing what they can to get our stadia ready to safely host events again.'

The cleanup of the country’s biggest sports stadium Eden Park is well under way and it should be open in time for big events, Eden Park’s chief executive Nick Sautner said.

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A shed at Eden Park flooded during the Auckland floods

Eden Park’s outer ground was completely underwater, while floodwaters rose as high as the lowest level seats within the main stadium. Operational areas were also impacted by floodwaters including offices and storage facilities for security, catering and turf management.

A hallway at Eden Park underwater during the Auckland floods

Sautner said crews have worked through the long weekend assessing and repairing damage.

“What a difference 24 hours makes. On Saturday, our hallowed turf resembled a lake due to flooding from the outer field. By Sunday morning, thanks to the work and commitment of our turf and facilities teams, all the water has now been drained,” he said.

“I would like to acknowledge all the team and contractors who are currently onsite, doing what they can to assess and repair the damage. This includes many partners and members of the local community who have volunteered their time and services to help.

“This is a difficult time for so many Aucklanders and the safety of our staff, contractors and patrons remain our top priority. We send our thoughts out to all those who the torrential rains have impacted.”

Several events at Eden Park were cancelled, including the pride round of the Super Smash between Northern Brave and Auckland Hearts and Aces, due to be played on Monday. It is unlikely Eden Park will host the Super Smash finals as the Auckland Aces are currently at the bottom of the table, while the Hearts sit fourth. The Dulux Superbash and Powerade G9 were also cancelled.

The Black Caps return to Eden Park on March 25 for an ODI against Sri Lanka, but Eden Park will host pop star Ed Sheeran on February 10 and 11, and is the host venue for international kapa haka competition Te Matatini in late February.

“We are 100% focused and confident the stadium will be fit for purpose for our international events,” Sautner said.

Auckland Cricket chief executive Iain Laxon said they’ve been working with Eden Park but doesn’t have a “full picture” of how other cricket grounds have been impacted around the region. He’s expecting an update in the next 24 hours.

The Warriors pre-season training hasn’t been affected too heavily by the floods. The squad trained at Mt Smart stadium outer fields on Friday and again on Monday. They leave for a pre-season camp in the Bay of Plenty on Tuesday. Alternative training spots are being sourced for the development squad.

A Warriors spokesperson said the team’s facilities, offices and equipment at Mt Smart were not impacted by floodwaters. The Warriors play an NRL pre-season game against the Tigers at Mt Smart on February 9.

Promoter Brent Eccles was keeping an eye on Western Springs, where both sport and music are hosted. He’s bringing Lorde to the venue in March. He isn’t too concerned about the conditions for now, but feels for promoters and event organisers who have had to cancel events because of poor weather.

“I feel for those guys. I know how it feels to be in that position and to make the decision to cancel… your stomach turns upside down. You go into a numbness, and that there is going to be a lot of sorting out to do,” he said.

“But promoters by nature, we are resilient and positive. We’ll get out of this and get on with it. We kind of have to.”