Behind the gates at North Harbour

Auckland and Northland residents are invited to step behind the scenes of one of the region’s biggest sporting venues, with North Harbour Stadium opening its doors for a free community day on Sunday, December 7.

Visitors will get a rare look inside normally off-limits areas of the Albany stadium, including walking through the players’ tunnel to the pitch, sitting in the dugouts, and exploring the home changing rooms.

For younger visitors, tamariki can take part in sports skills, drills and games on the training oval, led by representatives from the stadium’s resident teams. Families can also enjoy live music, local food and entertainment in a relaxed, festival-style setting.

The event is being co-hosted by Auckland Stadiums, Auckland Conventions, and the venue’s key tenants – North Harbour Rugby, Moana Pasifika and Auckland FC – each offering interactive activities throughout the day.

Tātaki Auckland Unlimited’s James Parkinson says the day is about celebrating the stadium’s place in the community.

“North Harbour Stadium has been home to unforgettable moments for nearly 30 years,” he says. “This is a chance for people to see what happens behind the grandstands and experience the spirit of this fantastic community asset.”

Upper Harbour Local Board chair Anna Atkinson says locals are proud of the stadium’s success this year, while Hibiscus & Bays chair Alexis Poppelbaum called the event “a fantastic day out for North Shore families.”

The North Harbour Stadium Open Day runs from 10am to 2pm with free entry and parking.

More details are available at aucklandstadiums.co.nz.