Curtains for Forsyth Barr Stadium? Far from it

Friday, 27 March 2026

Forsyth Barr Stadium has announced some changes to make it a more versatile space to suit different events.

A new ticketing deal means Forsyth Barr Stadium will not be tackling Christchurch’s One New Zealand Stadium head-on, while a new curtain system will alter the type of shows it can host.

Backers of the Dunedin covered stadium, which officially opened in 2011, are now preparing for the new roofed competitor on the scene, which is set to open on Friday.

The latest announcement from Dunedin Venues Management Ltd (DVML) has confirmed plans for a Capacity Reduction System, effectively a system using retractable curtains designed to change the stadium’s capacity.

Stuff understands the curtains have been funded by Ticketek and a ratepayer-owned company.

Forsyth Barr Stadium played host to Fleetwood Mac.

The council-owned company also announced that it has signed a 10-year deal with Ticketek, while the Christchurch venue was aligned with Ticketmaster, which DVML used over the past decade.

DVML chief executive Paul Doorn said the ticketing move was a simple one.

“In order to not go head-to-head with Christchurch, which I think is a good thing for the South Island, we’ve gone with Ticketek.”

That meant both covered venues would be using their own ticketing agency, and aligned artist base.

Forsyth Barr Stadium chief executive Paul Doorn.

“It is a good thing for the South Island we are not bashing each other head-to-head, we are sourcing content from a variety of different places.”

In recent years, touring international acts had preferred to perform in Auckland, he noted.

It is understood the ticketing deal with the Dunedin venue will guarantee future events at the stadium which last hosted a major concert - Pink - in March 2024, and which attracted 37,000 fans.

Freestyler Kings Live freestyle motocross riders practice under the roof at Forsyth Barr Stadium.

Doorn noted that while it remained a challenging time for the industry, he confirmed the venue was deep in discussions with promoters over its next concert, with an announcement expected mid-year.

Future events will be helped by the ability to change the venue’s size, including mini-arena mode - 3000 to 5000; arena mode - 8000 to 12000; and reduced stadium mode - 12000 to 20000 people; before the full stadium mode of 20,000 to 38,000 people.

Artist’s impression of the curtains in action at Forsyth Barr Stadium.

The $683 million Christchurch stadium has a capacity of 36,000 for major concerts.

Doorn was particularly excited by the arena mode, which was comparable to Christchurch’s Wolfbrook Arena.

The curtain system was designed to address a clear gap in Dunedin's event infrastructure, with the city missing out on shows that require a venue larger than the 2200-capacity Town Hall, but more intimate than a stadium.

The reduced stadium mode would be ideal for the likes of Robbie Williams, who was named as the first international act to play One New Zealand Stadium.

Those mid-sized events make up the fastest-growing segment in New Zealand's touring market, and the curtain system was a “solution that positions Dunedin to secure events we are currently missing out on”.

In addition to concerts, the smaller sizes would open up new options for national and international sporting events such as basketball, tennis, volleyball, boxing, and MMA.