It's only temporary but it will at least be a home and Christchurch will soon be able to host national and international sporting and cultural events after the turmoil caused by the Christchurch earthquakes.
Prime Minister John Key today announced a new temporary stadium on Rugby League Park with seating for 17,000 at a cost of $20 million. The tab will be picked up by the Government, with help from the Christchurch City Council and NZRU.
The All Blacks will play a test against Ireland there in June but it will also play home to the Crusaders and Canterbury rugby teams. The Wellington Phoenix have also said they would consider returning to play a game there and organisers for football's Under-20 World Cup to be staged in New Zealand in 2015 will add it to the list of possible venues.
Sport is one way to help heal the considerable wounds from the earthquakes, which caused the relocation of a number of Rugby World Cup games away from Christchurch. The announcement coincided with today's New Zealand Cup trotting at Addington, the first major event to be hosted in the city for some time.
"Restoring the opportunity for Cantabrians to support their major sporting teams is an important part of the recovery and rebuilding of Christchurch,'' Key said.