Prime Minister John Key says Dunedin's new covered stadium will become known as "the house of pain and pleasure" - pain for visiting football teams and pleasure for its users.
The $200 million Forsyth Barr Stadium - replacing the original "house of pain", Carisbrook - was opened and blessed early yesterday morning.
It is only two years since piles for the building were driven into the ground by the Otago Harbour.
Mr Key told a crowd of about 500 at the opening that the stadium was incredibly important for Dunedin, and for Otago.
He noted the $15 million the Government contributed had been given because the future of the city was linked to the strength of the University of Otago, and the stadium was "integral to the growth of the university and the medical school".
