‘I always knew it was going to be good’: Stadium opening brings record weekend for hospo venues
Sunday, 26 April 2026
Christchurch bar owner Richard Sinke has been waiting 12 years, but on the opening night of One New Zealand Stadium on Friday, it was all worth it.
The Dux Central owner signed his lease in 2015, expecting the stadium to open by 2021. Instead, he watched roadworks, delays and years of slow trade eat into his business. This weekend signified the start of something “incredible”.
“It’s been a record weekend without a doubt,” Sinke said. “And walking into the stadium Friday night just blew me away — the vibe, the lighting, the seating. And then to see people spill on to the streets and walk straight into town - it’s just amazing.”
He had been watching Christchurch change since 1980. The weekend felt like something else entirely, he said.
Despite not going to Sunday’s matches, he’s walking the fan trail anyway “just to soak up all that energy”.
“We’re here finally. The town is so alive again.”
Down the road, restaurant and bar the Rambler also had its biggest weekend on record.
“It’s been massive,” manager Tobias Perry said.
They had 170 to 180 bookings before each game, partied until their 2am licence each night, and filled every private room in the attached hostel.
“I always knew it was going to be good.”
Super Rugby Pacific chief executive Jack Mesley said he would love Super Round to become an annual Christchurch fixture, describing it as “a pivotal moment for this city”. The current arrangement is a one-year deal, but Mesley said he was hopeful of finding “a home for many years to come”.
More than 14,000 people travelled to Christchurch for Super Round, injecting “over $6 million of investment into the local economy”, he said.
Combined with the previous weekend's sold-out Supercars event at Ruapuna, ChristchurchNZ is projecting a total visitor spend of $16m from the two events.
The Church Pub on Manchester St went through 50 kegs — around 2500 litres of beer — on Friday alone, with director Andrew Norton scouring his other venues on Saturday morning for enough Steinlager Ultra to keep up with demand.
Dux Central had 1200 bookings across the weekend and was turning walk-ins away. “We've been waiting 10 years,” operations manager Ross Herrick said.
“The Terrace was heaving,” said Craft Embassy co-owner Seth Hamilton. “It’d have to be the busiest school holiday weekend we’ve seen. The weather showed up, and so did the city.”
Madelene Hall had flown from Brisbane to support her favourite team, the Highlanders. Her love of rugby came from her late father, she said.
“Coming to these games makes me feel more connected to him. It’s pretty special.”
She sat alongside her mum, and her father’s best friend Malcolm Corban and his wife, who had all travelled from different parts of Australia to watch together. They said Christchurchhad been “amazing”.
“I haven’t been to Christchurch since 2017 and wow, has it changed - in a good way.”
Superintendent Lane Todd said punters had been well behaved, and no arrests had been made at the stadium as of noon on Sunday.
“We’ve been very happy with the behaviour this weekend. Obviously there’s a lot of people from all over, but the city has just been buzzing in a really good way.”
Even late Saturday night had brought few issues. “Everyone was just having a great time.”
Inati head chef and owner simon Levy hadn’t quite sold the 1000 double fried pie sandwiches he was hoping for, but nonetheless they’d had an “epic” weekend.
“For a moment on the strip the other day it felt like I was in Spain. It feels like everything worked out perfectly, from the weather to the vibes.”
Saturday has stood out to them as the busiest day inside the stadium, as the gap between the two matches had them run off their feet.
“It was insane. We were just back to back with customers - but the whole team loved it, the punters have been great.”
Mayor Phil Mauger, who handed the city keys to the Crusaders after Friday’s match, summed it up simply: “We’re back.”