Go Media Stadium Crowned Nz’S Large Venue Of The Year

Go Media Stadium has been crowned New Zealand’s Large Venue of the Year at the 2024 EVANZ Awards, with over 520,000 spectators attending the Auckland venue.

The EVANZ (Events and Venues Association of New Zealand) Awards were held on Dec 3-5 in Auckland, recognising the best of the events and venues industry.

The award is recognition of a year for the Aotearoa stadium, which has established a 12 month calendar that delivers premium entertainment, with a diverse mixture of elite and community sport, as well as world class concerts.

Built on the foundation of its two primary tenants, the NZ Warriors (NRL) and Auckland FC (A-League), Go Media Stadium now hosts elite club-level sporting content for 12 months a year, complimented by premium entertainment including festivals, music and international sport.

The 2024 NRL season was record-breaking for the Warriors – the first in NRL history to sell out an entire home season, with 240,000 fans through the gates for its 10 home games and over a quarter of a million tickets sold.

Warriors CEO Cameron George said, “Huge congratulations to Go Media Stadium for winning Large Venue of the Year. Go Media Stadium has been the home fortress of the One New Zealand Warriors for thirty seasons and we created history there this year with our record-breaking sellout home season. The stadium is a truly special place for Warriors fans and we can’t wait to get back on home turf in March 2025 for the new NRL season.”

2024 also saw a new chapter written in Aotearoa’s sporting tapestry, with Auckland FC kicking off their inaugural season to a sellout Go Media Stadium crowd. Saturday’s sold-out derby between Auckland FC and Wellington Phoenix (26,253) saw attendances at the venue reach over 520,000 patrons in 2024, with one Auckland FC match still to be played this year.

American rock icons Foo Fighters and Pearl Jam each wowed capacity crowds at Go Media Stadium, while Listen In festival also thrilled thousands to kick off 2024’s summer concert season.

Go Media Stadium also continued its excellent commercial partnerships in 2024. An extension of the commercial naming rights agreement with Go Media was agreed in May, who will be the naming rights partner of Go Media Stadium until at least 2028. These partners help to reduce reliance on ratepayer funding, as well as providing a platform to reinvest revenue into infrastructure enhancements that benefit spectators.

Enhancements at the stadium throughout the year have included the installation of new seating, additional lighting, the installation of a second video replay screen and the new 60m mural in the lower East Stand.

A customer-first approach has led to record customer satisfaction levels at the venue, with investment into the infrastructure focused on improving customer experience.

Tātaki Auckland Unlimited CEO, Nick Hill said, “It’s been a sensational year for Go Media Stadium – one that will live long in the memory for over half a million patrons. I want to thank our tenants and hirers, whose events delivered this year have rewritten the rulebook for what can be achieved.”

Tātaki Auckland Unlimited Acting-Director, Auckland Stadiums, Scott Couch added, “We are so proud to have been recognised by our peers as New Zealand’s best large venue, but more than anything, we love the smiles on patrons faces as they support their home team or sing along to their favourite song. These figures show that Go Media Stadium truly is New Zealand’s favourite live entertainment venue.”

2025 is set to be another bumper year. Concerts including Fat Freddy’s Drop are already lined up, and premium sporting content is now year-round at the stadium. The NZ Warriors kick off their home NRL season in March, while Auckland FC continue their A-League through to at least April, with at least one more home derby against Wellington Phoenix to come.