One NZ Stadium opening night: Crusaders’ new castle wows Christchurch

“Congratulations! You made it!”

Scribe couldn’t have said it any better in his halftime show. The iconic intro to his hit Not Many seemed a perfect fit as One NZ Stadium burst into life.

It’s been a test of endurance.

When referee Nic Berry drew the whistle to his lips at 7.35pm for the start of the Crusaders-Waratahs match, he blew fulltime on Canterbury’s 14-year wait for a permanent stadium. That’s how long it’s been since plans for a covered arena were unveiled at the Government’s blueprint launch in 2012.

It was a sweet, high-pitched blast that simultaneously signalled a chapter closed and the first seconds of a future that had seemed to take an eternity to dawn.

It was the perfect end to a perfect Canterbury autumn day that offered blue skies and sunshine before night fell and temperatures followed. The roof may not have been needed to keep rain out – but it certainly kept a lid on the dew. Conditions at One NZ Stadium were as good as Christchurch has ever seen for rugby in late April.

Perfectly dry, still and bright. The “new normal” for big-time rugby in Christchurch. Since the earthquakes, “new normals” normally get old, fast. This one will age like George Gregan.

Game on.

The walk

During the final hours of that 14-year wait, a giddy mass of fans marched down the gridded inner-city streets surrounding the stadium. They were led by Crusaders alumni, including Richie McCaw, Kieran Read, Robbie Deans and an all-star cast of champions past. And present. Injured prop Tamaiti Williams joined them and an enthusiastic throng of fans for the walk down Cashel Mall to Madras St. A walk that could become tradition. Think Caxton St to Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.

The distance from the Bridge of Remembrance to One NZ Stadium is about 800m. Along that stretch was a band of a dozen separate entertainers. Not a metre of it dragged. On the horizon sat the destination – the illuminated beacon that had for so long seemed so far away yet sat so close. The lights were on and the home crowd had turned out to capacity.

The visitors

Super Rugby Pacific CEO Jack Mesley walked with the crowds and said it was “awesome” when asked if the city was embracing the event in the way that he’d hoped. The enormous smile on his face said it before he did.

Mesley is Australian and many of his countrymen have followed him across the Tasman for three days of Super Rugby and the best that Christchurch has to offer.

Cashel Mall was “theck” with Australian accents from Friday morning until the stadium called. Not just Tahs fans, either. The number of team jerseys being worn by fans would suggest Brumbies fans love a roadie more than the other eastern Australian franchises.

Cathedral Square was refreshingly short of tourists taking photos of the dilapidated and decapitated Christ Church Cathedral. Refreshing, because the interest was clearly in what wasn’t broken. Tourists were taken with the good stuff. Finally, Christchurch has changed the lens.

The crowd

The majority of the crowd were experiencing One NZ Stadium for the first time and for some it was all a bit overwhelming. Happy tears rolled down cheeks and into smiles. That’s how much this means to the deprived. New Zealand’s second biggest city no longer has a second-rate stadium. Those tears were equal parts happiness and pride.

Well before the first whistle blew, Crusaders CEO Colin Mansbridge choked up as he spoke to media about the day finally arriving.

“[One NZ Stadium] sort of hasn’t been real until today, or the last couple of days. And now it’s, yeah, a lot of people put a lot of work and a lot of effort in, both to build this, but to actually prepare for this weekend. So, yeah, very emotional, very, very exciting.”

When the stadium lights went out and a spotlight followed former Crusader Joe Moody to the centre of the pitch with a symbolic pounamu, the crowd fell silent. Spellbound.

Then a roar went up as the full light show began.

The next roar came as the home side emerged from the tunnel and entered their new fortress for the first time.

And a bigger roar when they realised the Crusaders would perform a haka – Takina te kawa.

Then there was the roar that followed kickoff.

The next roar was a boo as Waratahs goal-kicker Sid Harvey slotted a penalty for the first points at the stadium.

Then came the first try. Johnny McNicholl threw a flat long ball to Dallas McLeod and the honour of the first five-pointer at One NZ Stadium will forever belong to the boy from Methven.

The crowd approved with many decibels. The acoustics of the inflatable roof make this stadium a cauldron. The closeness of the fans means the players can’t escape their every reaction. Or their singing. Why Does Love Do This To Me never sounded so sweet in a capella. At least as sweet as Sweet Caroline did in the 58th minute.

A 29-man melee (Macca Springer couldn’t quite make it in from the far wing) brought huge excitement and the biggest boo of the night as Waratahs lock Miles Amatosero was yellow carded after half an hour.

The venue

Imagine watching a game in Auckland without rain. Wellington without wind. Or Dunedin with hospitality. One NZ Stadium trumps every other venue in the country. Even if its capacity is on the “boutique” side. It’s not perfect – how could it be without Dimitri’s Souvlaki represented on the concourse of favourite local cuisine?

The people in row JJ (the highest seat in the house) in the East Stand might also have found flaws. In their own aerobic levels, if not, the altitude of their seats. Their first spritely ascent up 111 steps could not be repeated and by the second half their bladders were betraying their thighs.

The verdict

The Crusaders took a narrow 14-13 lead when they made way for Scribe at the break. By the 70-minute mark it was virtually all over for the visitors. By the 80th minute the 13-time champions had done enough for a comfortable 35-20 win and the best possible start to their new residency at One NZ Stadium.

The fans will be back in big numbers throughout the weekend of Super Round and for the foreseeable future. The upcoming All Blacks test against France and the Warriors-Cowboys NRL game are both sellouts – as is the first concert. And so, it begins.

One NZ Stadium couldn’t have been more anticipated, and opening night ticked every box.

Christchurch is back.

9/10

Mike Thorpe is a senior multimedia journalist for the Herald, based in Christchurch. He has been a broadcast journalist across television and radio for 20 years and joined the Herald in August 2024.