Future looking bright for Auckland’s Western Springs Bowl

Image: Tātaki Auckland Unlimited

A bold new future is being heralded for Auckland’s Western Springs Bowl ahead of its launch with a new name, brand and event plans.

Auckland Unlimited said the former Western Springs Stadium in Auckland, New Zealand will operate as a dedicated outdoor venue for major concerts and festivals during the summer season.

The reinvention as a concert and festival venue is being facilitated with the installation of permanent and semi-permanent infrastructure to reduce the cost and complexity of hosting major concerts.

Outside of the concert season, the venue can operate as a broadcast-quality boutique sports stadium, capable of hosting elite sport including NPC rugby.

Grassroots and community access will be maintained year-round, with Ponsonby Rugby Club continuing to call Western Springs home.

Western Springs Bowl will primarily host concerts and festivals from 15,000 to 30,000 people, with sporting events of up to 5,000.
 

Western Springs Bowl redevelopment

A transformation of the historic venue is currently underway, with the installation of semi-permanent concert staging and two new hospitality spaces. The upgrades will be delivered over four months of work from July to October 2026.

The project is expected to cost up to NZ$2.5 million and will be paid for from venue owner-operator Tātaki Auckland Unlimited’s existing capital budget, with no additional cost to ratepayers.

Tātaki Auckland Unlimited Chief Executive Nick Hill says last summer’s concert season demonstrated the incredible impact that events at Western Springs can have on the region.

He said, “Two concerts generated an estimated $10m in net regional benefit for the Auckland economy, so we are excited to be able to cater for even more events moving forward.

“Western Springs Bowl gives Auckland’s wider stadium network a clear point of difference. This venue will be part of keeping Auckland ‘always on’ by creating opportunities for more regular high-profile outdoor events, while ensuring Aucklanders can continue to enjoy this important regional asset.”

Confirmed in March 2026 following approval by Auckland Council’s Governing Body, the Western Springs Bowl concept was proposed by experienced Auckland concert promoters Campbell Smith and Brent Eccles alongside Ponsonby Rugby Club in a 2024 expression of interest process.

Venue partner Campbell Smith has facilitated concert content at Western Springs for years and is excited by the next steps.

He said, “What we want to build at Western Springs will be one of a kind in New Zealand. Western Springs Bowl fits perfectly in the industry as a ready-made outdoor venue in a green, city park environment and the natural amphitheatre makes it the ideal music venue.”
 

Attractive event proposition

Venue partner Brent Eccles believes the new Bowl will be an attractive option for event promoters.

He said, “Event logistics can be a costly business, especially for outdoor sites where you need to build everything from scratch. By installing staging and hospitality facilities, we can say to promoters – you bring the act and we’ve got a stage ready to go for you. It’s a cost-effective but high-quality option.

“I’ve been enjoying music at the Springs for decades, but I firmly believe that the best is yet to come for this incredible facility. Campbell and I have dreamt about this concept for years, so it’s exciting to be now one step closer to seeing it happen.”

Ponsonby Rugby Club supported the original proposal for the site and will continue to operate from the Bowl.”

Greg Edmonds, Chairman of Ponsonby Rugby Club, added, “Western Springs has been our home for nearly thirty years, so securing a five-year lease extension gives the club welcome certainty. The development of the site is an exciting thing to be part of and should open up opportunities for us to push the club forward, all while retaining community access year-round.”

The Western Springs Bowl name and new visual identity reflect the history and shape of the land. The natural amphitheatre informs the shape of the logo, while ‘Te Wai Ōrea’, or ‘the waters of the eel’, also influences the bold new design.

The sporting configuration of the upgrade project will be complete in early August before Auckland Rugby take on Wellington on Saturday 8 August – the first event at the newly named venue.

The music configuration, including the installation of the new stage and hospitality facilities, will be completed in October.

American rock icons Foo Fighters are scheduled to perform at Western Springs Bowl in January 2027.

The new Western Springs Bowl website is now live, featuring venue information, upcoming events, and an option to sign up for priority access to event tickets.

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