Rugby: Showpiece Deans Stand finished

Vbase chief executive Bryan Pearson with the recently completed Deans Stand behind. Photo / Simon Baker

New Zealand has taken another step forward in its preparations for next year's Rugby World Cup with the unveiling of a $60m redevelopment at one of the main tournament venues.

The ageing west stands at Christchurch's AMI Stadium have been replaced by the modern three-tiered Deans Stand that takes the seated capacity of the stadium to 38,628 , and provides "international quality".

The capacity will be boosted to 45,000 with temporary seating during the world cup, when Christchurch will host five pool matches and two quarter-finals.

Auckland will host the final and semifinals.

The weekend of the quarter-finals, which is predicted to include a showdown between the All Blacks and England, "will be an extravaganza like Christchurch has never seen before", said Bryan Pearson, chief executive of Vbase, which manages the stadium.

Pearson said the Deans Stand was the centrepiece of the redevelopment, which has taken four years and seen 18,000 tonnes of concrete poured. With a roof stretching out 34m, 86 per cent of the seating in the stand is covered. The stadium turf has been relaid, a new concourse links the entire stadium together, while new hospitality areas, a function centre and bistro are built into the new stand.

The Government has funded a quarter of the $60 million cost of the redevelopment.

While Dunedin is building a fully covered stand, Pearson said there had never been an appetite for such a costly facility in Christchurch.

The redeveloped stadium will be officially opened by Prime Minister John Key next week.