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Christchurch City Council has advised that the construction of the Canterbury Multi-Use Arena (CMUA) is estimated to be completed in mid-2025 with CMUA Project Delivery Board Chair, Barry Bragg, noting that additional planning work has been required to expand the CMUA from 25,000 to 30,000 seating capacity, while staying within the project’s budget.

Bragg explained “the rapid, global escalation of shipping and steel prices in this COVID-19 environment have provided a real challenge for the Kōtui team working on the preliminary design of the CMUA.

“While the projected completion date is now estimated to be the end of June 2025, Council staff and contractors are actively looking at ways to streamline the current design, early works and construction phases so contractors can hit the ground running as soon as the Design and Construction work is awarded in 2022.”

The updated concept design for the CMUA features a U-shaped concourse, with space for a ‘stage pocket’ at the northern end of the arena, 30,000 spectators in sporting mode, and thousands more in concert mode. It will still have a permanent roof.

Council has also advised of an updated project budget of $533 million. Councillors approved an additional $50 million to maintain the arena’s seating capacity at 30,000 on 12th August 2021.

The CMUA will be a state-of-the-art arena and the biggest of its kind in the country. It will add to the central city’s vitality, catalyse further development, help re-establish Canterbury as a sporting and cultural capital and boost the region’s economy by attracting visitors from around New Zealand and the world.

The Kōtui consortium led by international stadia design experts BESIX Watpac, are currently working on the preliminary designs for the CMUA. These designs are expected to be completed and published by the end of the year.

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