Image: A concept design for the new stadium

A covered sports and entertainment stadium has been proposed among a number of projects included in a "recovery plan" for the earthquake-hit city of Christchurch, New Zealand.

Christchurch Central Development Unit (CCDU) has compiled the Christchurch Central Recovery Plan, which sets out a "bold vision" for the city going forward.

The new stadium will accommodate up to 35,000 seated spectators and will be located to the east of The Frame - a new central core for Christchurch featuring a mixture of uses.

It will boast 4,300 demountable seats to allow for the scaling of events, while the design will allow for the option of a fixed, transparent roof above a natural turf pitch.

Christchurch City Council will build the stadium in partnership with a range of stakeholders - such as the New Zealand government and the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority.

Meanwhile, the recovery plan also includes the refurbishment of the existing Cricket Oval at Hagley Park, which will be brought up to standard for international Test matches.

A new Metro Sports Facility will house a 50m, 10-lane competition pool and an indoor stadium with eight indoor courts and a high performance centre for coaching/training.

A spokesperson for the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority said the CCDU’s role is to explore the range of facilities needed for Christchurch, with design and building work to follow.

The spokesperson added that the covered stadium concept had been discussed before, and follows the construction of the Forysth Barr Stadium in Dunedin – one of the world’s first permanently-covered venues to include a natural playing surface.

Further details will be announced in due course.

Christchurch mayor Bob Parker said: "Just as important is balancing the sense of community, creating a city which is vibrant and in which today's and future generations want to call home."

Click here for more information on the Christchurch Central Recovery Plan

To read more about Dunedin's Forsyth Barr Stadium - one of the world's first permanently-covered venues with a natural turf surface - see Sports Management 2011 Issue 3, p34

To read the current issue of Sports Management, visit: www.sportsmanagement.co.uk/magazine