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Eden Park is the largest sports stadium in New Zealand. Discover more about this legendary rugby stadium with rugby gurus RugbyPass.
About Eden Park
Eden Park is the largest sports stadium in New Zealand and it’s primarily used to host rugby union and cricket matches. In 2011, it became the first stadium in the world to host two Rugby World Cup finals. Eden Park was inducted into the RugbyPass Hall of Fame in 2021.
First opened in 1900, Eden Park began life as a cricket ground. However, in 1913, Auckland Rugby also began to use the ground. Prior to this, the ground had suffered from drainage problems, but the money invested from both tenants sorted the issue and also led to redevelopment. As a result, Eden Park hosted its first international cricket match in 1914 and its first rugby test match in 1921, when South Africa beat the All Blacks in front of 40,000 spectators.
Ever since, Eden Park has been one of the world’s most popular sporting venues. In the 1930s, it hosted its first ever British and Irish Lions test match, and its first test between New Zealand and Australia. Ever since, it has hosted a series of the world’s biggest rugby matches, including the final of the Rugby World Cup in 1987 and the final of the Rugby League World Cup a year later.
In 2007, it was announced that Eden Park would become the first ground in the world to host the Rugby World Cup final twice. Following a $256 million redevelopment, more than 60,000 fans watched as the All Blacks triumphed over France in a tightly-contested affair.
In total, the All Blacks have now played almost 100 matches at Eden Park. Plus, the stadium has hosted eight Cricket World Cup games, several high profile football matches and Rugby League World Cup fixtures.
