KEY POINTS:
Over-budget and overdue, the Vector Arena opened last year to an ignominious start in more than one way, when Rockstar Supernova failed to sell out the venue.
But nine months on, the Vector Arena has proved its worth, changing Auckland's live music landscape and drawing some of the best international acts on offer.
The arena has hosted more than 20 international headliners, including the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Gwen Stefani, Justin Timberlake and Bob Dylan.
From the Dalai Lama to My Chemical Romance, the facility at Quay Park in the central city has proven it has varied appeal, and has been short-listed for the International Arena of the Year Award at this year's Pollstar Awards.
More than 215,000 concert-goers passed through the Vector Arena's doors within its first six months of opening and last month Justin Timberlake's trio of concerts attracted a further 33,500 people, raking in more than $4 million.
This year, the venue will test its diversity even further, hosting its first ice event, the High School Musical 2 Ice Tour.
While the venue has come in for its fair share of criticism, no one can deny the impact it has had on New Zealand's live music scene.
This year's concert calendar is already starting to fill up with Vector Arena bookings by Maroon 5, Matchbox Twenty, Split Enz, Foo Fighters, Kings of Leon, Rod Stewart, The Chemical Brothers and Carlos Santana.
