Rolling Stones and U2 could play at Auckland's new arena

The Rolling Stones and U2 could play in Auckland next year at the city's new $80 million indoor arena at Quay Park.

The possibility of bringing two of the world's biggest rock 'n' roll bands to Auckland was put forward yesterday at a naming rights announcement for the 12,200-seat facility.

It has been named the Vector Arena under a 10-year, multimillion-dollar deal with the Auckland power company.

Vector Arena chief executive Bruce Mactaggart said there was "more than a chance" U2 and the Rolling Stones would play in Auckland, subject to timing and economics.

U2 will next year tour Australia, which was bumped from the band's Vertigo World Tour this year in favour of an expanded US leg.

The Rolling Stones, into their fifth decade of playing rock 'n' roll, have announced a global tour stretching into next year.

The arena is expected to end a drought of top entertainers avoiding the city because of the lack of a world-class indoor facility.

British rock star David Bowie skipped Auckland last year in favour of Wellington.

Mr Mactaggart said the arena would be a world-class entertainment and sporting venue that could handle 54 tonnes of lighting and sound equipment in the roof for the biggest rock shows on Earth and would have a floor big enough for three full-sized netball courts.