Semenoff Stadium is a multipurpose facility catering for conferences, meetings, weddings, functions, festivals, concerts and sports events. Semenoff Stadium is governed by the Northland Events Centre Trust through a management agreement with Whangārei District Council (WDC).
Semenoff Stadium has hosted a number of successful events including RWC 2011, FIFA U-20 World Cup 2015, DHL British and Irish Lions, Vodafone Warriors, SuperRugby, Six60 concerts, Whangārei Fritter Festival, Christmas Festival, Mitre 10 Cup, Rugby League Northland and Northland Football Federation. The stadium is hosting the Rugby World Cup in 2021.
Stadium Redevelopment
Semenoff Stadium redevelopment was completed in May 2010 at a cost of $18.5 million. Northland Regional Council contributed $13 million and Whangarei District Council $3 million towards the new Northland Events Centre.
Central Government contributed an additional $2.5 million to allow the events centre facility to meet Rugby World Cup 2011 standards.
The new facility was designed by Copeland Associates Architects and built by Argon Construction. It was officially opened by His Excellency The Right Honourable Sir Anand Satyanand the Governor-General of New Zealand one year after completion on 28 May 2011.
Prior to the redevelopment Okara Park as it was known, was predominantly used for rugby union events and managed by the Northland Rugby Union.
The old facilities served the Whangarei region for the previous 40 years but had reached the end of their economic life.
The old grandstand built in 1965 was not up to the required standard to host high quality sporting fixtures, concerts, cultural events or major functions.
The event centre provides opportunities for the Northland region to have a quality, well planned and fully equipped venue for major sporting, entertainment, cultural and family events.
The venue has a capacity of 18,500.