From stadium to bar: Which Te Kaha venues will keep the party going?

Saturday, 23 August 2025

Galaxy Bar owner Mathew Glanville. He has not plans to show rugby on screens in his venue.

Bars near Christchurch’s new Te Kaha stadium are gearing up to stay open late and screen rugby when the venue opens in April 2026, hoping to cash in on the crowds after years of slow trade and roadworks.

But not everyone is planning to ride the rugby wave.

Just 100m from the gates, Galaxy Bar — formerly Arcadia — is one of the closest licensed venues to the stadium.

Owner Matthew Glanville has already fielded questions from regulars about whether he will start screening games.

Galaxy Bar, a two-minute walk from the stadium, is licensed to serve alcohol until 2am.

His answer? A firm no.

After 26 years, the “wee dive spot” has reinvented itself as a restaurant arcade-turned weekend party space, drawing almost 180 people for drag shows, bad karaoke and eclectic live music.

While Glanville admits the $683 million stadium will be good for Christchurch and naturally bring more exposure, he said there’s “zero chance” Galaxy will become a sports bar to capitalise on the rugby.

“We’ve found our niche — it’s diverse, it’s loyal, and it’s made up of people who want something a little different from the mainstream,” Glanville said, noting that the general downturn over the past few years had already forced them to adapt.

Galaxy Bar, on Barbadoes St, will welcome everyone, Glanville says - as long as they’re ready to have fun.

Instead, he hopes rugby fans wandering in after a match discover something unexpected: “A space where you might go from chatting about the scoreline, to belting out karaoke with strangers, catching a drag show, or losing yourself on the dancefloor to some hard house.

“We welcome everyone, but the deal is — you’ve got to join in the fun.”

Other bars are striking a different note — turning up the karaoke microphones alongside the rugby replays.

Hank Chu, owner-operator of My Kitchen/Cheers & Karaoke Bar, has already installed big projectors to screen matches.

Just down the road on Cashel St, newcomer My Kitchen Cheers opened in early August.

The Asian-fusion restaurant and bar has already installed big projectors to screen matches and five karaoke rooms, each seating 10 to 25 people.

“We are super close to the stadium — and in this area, there’s no Asian fusion,” managing director Hank Chu said.

He hopes stadium-goers will drop in for a sing-along, but said while “busy is good”, too busy is not easy to control.

Former mayor Garry Moore, co-owner of Smash Palace, is excited about the stadium, and says it will be “terrific”.

On the other side of the stadium, busy is welcomed by Smash Palace co-owner and former mayor Garry Moore after another sluggish winter season.

“This time of year is often quieter, as people would rather sit in front of the fire than roam the streets. But the daffodils are out in Bealey, the blossoms are budding in Hagley — it makes us excited,” he said.

“The stadium will be terrific.”

Jason Dodd from Pot Sticker dumpling told The Press in November that roadworks were killing his business on Lichfield St near the stadium.

Moore pointed to Electric Avenue, which brought $10.5 million to the region, as proof that people want to celebrate in Christchurch, “and the stadium enables us to do that.”

But not all nearby venues are as optimistic.

Pot Sticker Dumpling on Lichfield St has already halved its staff after a financial slowdown and the roadworks surrounding Te Kaha.

Duty manager Maddie Singleton said the 56-seat restaurant, usually closed by 9pm on weekdays, may trial later hours to catch post-game crowds — though convincing chefs used to early finishes could be tough.

From left; Dux Central owner Richard Sinke, Earl restaurant founder Tom Newfield, Pot Sticker Dumpling Bar owner Jason Dodd and Dux Central operations manager Ross Herrick walking down Lichfield St celebrating after it re-opened in May.

“We’ve noticed a really big change … even some of our old regulars don’t come in any more,” she said.

“The Super Rugby round will be the ‘trial and error’ period to see if the stadium brings them back.”

Dux Central owner Richard Sinke has been waiting more than a decade to get the taps flowing for stadium goers, signing his lease in 2015 under the impression the stadium would be open by 2021.

Street upgrades around Christchurch’s new stadium have finished months earlier than expected. The work involved replacing century-old water pipes and sprucing up the streets around One New Zealand Stadium at Te Kaha. Pictured is Lichfield Street.

With a liquor licence until 1am, Sinke said they’re “feeling really optimistic”.

“The Super Rugby round is a great way to kick things off. We’ll certainly try to make the most of it.”

But he believes the whole SALT District neighbourhood has been “left to go nowhere” by Christchurch City Council.

The precinct — named after St Asaph, Lichfield and Tuam streets — was once pitched as a vibrant post-quake hub of hospitality, retail and creative spaces.

Instead, Sinke said they’ve let the ball drop.

“We’ve been wallowing for a few years, but now we say ‘bring it on’.”

In response to Sinke’s concerns, a council spokesperson said the south-east central neighbourhood is rapidly transforming, with “several major projects” aimed at supporting the stadium and the wider area.

“Creating accessible civic spaces that connect people with the bus interchange, central city accommodation and local hospitality spots like the SALT District has been a key goal of these projects.”

But both Sinke and Singleton say the real test will be what happens outside of match days.

“We’re open 364 days a year. We need more than a few events at the stadium to keep the buzz going,” Sinke said.

Venues Ōtautahi chief executive Caroline Harvie-Teare said only about 25 of the stadium’s 200 annual events would be major games or concerts.

But the full calendar — from sports, private events and venue tours — is expected to bring around half a million people through the precinct each year.

With boosted foot traffic, New Zealand exclusive events and increased visitation to the region, “the benefits to local retailers, hospitality and accommodation providers will be material,” Harvie-Teare said.