RWC 2011: Views to make your knees weak

Work continues at Eden Park. Photo / Steven McNicholl

While enjoying the sweeping views over the redeveloped Eden Park from the top tier of the new South Stand, it's easy to feel a little weak at the knees.

At their highest point, the general admission seats are about 30m from the ground, which could have those suffering from vertigo wishing for something a bit lower.

It's unlikely they will, though, because not only does the new stand mean they will stay dry, they will have the added bonus of vistas of the North Shore and the Waitakere Ranges and to the south.

"These probably are the highest seats in the country," says Eden Park chief executive David Kennedy, who yesterday gave media a tour of the park. "As you can see, the views are pretty good."

Also good is the ease of movement into and around the park, something Mr Kennedy is sure match-goers will notice when they arrive for the double-header Four Nations rugby league test matches on November 6 - the first big test of the ground's new facilities.

Electronic ticketing means fans swipe their barcoded tickets at one of four main plazas at each corner of the park, which replace the 27 gates that once dotted the ground.

"Everything about the whole entry is smoother, faster and calmer," said Mr Kennedy.

"Irrespective of where you are sitting, you can get on the concourse and get to wherever your seat is in the stands much more easily than in the past."

Inside, a wide and spacious concourse links the entire park, starting at Walters Ave, wrapping around the west stand through the south stand and under the second tier of the new east stand to link with the existing ASB Stand concourse.

Mr Kennedy said it would take about 10 minutes to walk the perimeter of the 1km concourse "at a leisurely stroll".

The concourse also has a seemingly endless line of food and beverage stalls - or one for every 300 fans - that are supplied by a monster kitchen, the second largest in Auckland.

And while the concourse also allows for mostly uninhibited views of the ground, fans won't miss out on any action with more than 300 internal television monitors linked to the ground's two 110sq m super screens.

But if it's easy for the fans getting to and around the ground, it's even easier for the players.

When the All Blacks next play at Eden Park their bus will turn off Sandringham Rd under the ground's west stand into a concourse for buses and loading trucks running the length of the south stand.

From there they will walk past the cheerleaders, ballboys and match officials' rooms to their spacious changing rooms, which come with ice and spa baths, a strapping room, a rub-down area and even a place where the players can relax to watch television.

For All Black coach Graham Henry, it's a short walk up a private stairwell from the changing room to the coaches' room, which is larger than normal, we are told, to allow for entire cricket teams in the summer.

John Waller, who chairs the Eden Park Trust Board, was beaming when he spoke to the Herald yesterday.

"I think it's going to be an asset to Auckland. It's looking superb."

Rugby World Cup tournament chief Martin Snedden said the changes to the park, which include an "interview room" for people arrested at the ground, were a "brilliant step forward".

He was not the slightest bit sad to see the old park go.

"It's fantastic ... I was talking to Dan Carter after the Springboks match and he said even with a crowd of 25,000 he couldn't believe the noise.

"Imagine that with 60,000."

Eden Park is open to the public on October 10. Entry is by gold coin donation.