Stadium Southland

ILT Stadium Southland is a multi-purpose venue, capable of conducting a wide range of event modes from large scale concerts to sporting events and exhibitions. ILT Stadium Southland is the energetic heart of our Southern community. Incorporating the SIT Zero Fees Velodrome, the stadium complex has hosted a plethora of national and international events from all genres – sporting, recreational, cultural, arts, corporate and even equestrian.Invercargill, New Zealand.

The original stadium was completed in May 2000. In September 2010, a heavy snowfall caused the main stadium roof to collapse, causing substantial structural damage to the complex. The cause was found to be a lack of roof strength and design but complied with building standards of the day. Nevertheless, the insurance company that covered the facility issued writs in 2011 to the Invercargill City Council to recover the estimated $6 million in payouts. A new safer roof design and a larger capacity stadium was rebuilt. It is expected to be ready in time for the 2013 sports season, for the Southern Steel and Southland Sharks.^[1] A temporary facility was set up in the adjoining SIT Zero Fees Velodrome, which was unharmed and hosted the Steel and the Sharks for the 2011/12/13 seasons.

The new rebuilt ILT Stadium Southland reopened in February 2014, after 4 years of waiting and a series of delays, with a new name and considered a "world class" stadium. The main Sports Arena in the stadium has a capacity of 4019, with retractable seating. The stadium also has eleven other community basketball, netball and volleyball courts, four rebound Ace tennis courts, four squash courts and several corporate lounges.

Home teams

The stadium is home for the Southern Steel netball team in the ANZ Championship, and formerly the championship-winning Southern Sting in the now defunct National Bank Cup netball league. In 2010 the stadium made room for another franchise, the Zero Fees Southland Sharks in the New Zealand National Basketball League. The fans who stream into the matches involving the Steel and Sharks have been labelled the best and are known for their vocal presence in matches.

Velodrome

The SIT Zero Fees Velodrome is a sports complex built onto ILT Stadium Southland. The $11,000,000 building can hold 1,050 people and has become the home of the Oceania Contenint Cup, Under 19 World Championships, New Zealand National Champs and other events. The Velodrome is the only one of two indoor velodromes in New Zealand, the other is located in Cambridge, south of Hamilton in the North Island.

Roof collapse

At about 11.25 am, on 18 September 2010, the roof on the stadium collapsed following a heavy snowfall.^[2] The cost of repairs is likely to run into millions of dollars,^[3] with events as far as two years in the future needing to be cancelled.^[1] An open day was held for locals in which messages were written on walls, staff talking about their memories of the stadium and a chance to ask questions. An article in The Southland Times was published asking for peoples ideas for the what the new stadium could be like. Top requests included a skating rink, which is unlikely, the other more seating in the new stadium for big events like the netball and basketball. The stadium currently holds 4,500 at maximum capacity, but manager Nigel Skelt says since ten years has past, other stadiums have developed and Stadium Southland needs to have the ability to hold 5,000 for big events in the future.

The Stadium Review Committee found that the roof collapse was due to inadequate workmanship, low building code requirements and unusually heavy snow fall.^[4]

On 11 May 2012, the Department of Building and Housing released a report into the causes of the stadium collapse. In this report, construction defects and deficiencies in steel fabrication and welding were cited as contributing factors to the collapse. The report was also referred to the New Zealand Police to investigate.^[5]

The stadium reopened in February 2014 under the new name ILT Stadium Southland.

Events held

References

External links

• Technical investigation into the collapse of the Stadium Southland roof, Department of Building and Housing Te Tari Kaupapa Whare.

Southern Steel Established 2007 in Invercargill, New Zealand Seasons 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 Competitions ANZ Championship (2008–present) Home venues Main: Stadium Southland Alternate: Edgar Centre Former clubs Otago Rebels (1998–2007) Southern Sting (1998–2007) Official website www.southernsteel.co.nz