Iconic New Zealand rugby stadium now a park after devastating earthquake forced 38,620-seater venue to be abandoned

A STADIUM once feared by the British and Irish Lions has been turned into a recreational PARK after a deadly earthquake left it abandoned.

The turn-stiles at Lancaster Park in Christchurch, New Zealand were closed for good after the devastating quake hit on 22 February 2011.

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The earthquake took 185 lives that day.

And the iconic stadium closed permanently due to damage sustained, before it was ultimately demolished in 2019.

It has since been transformed into a public recreational park with facilities for community sport, and was re-opened in June 2022.

Lancaster Park was the home of the Crusaders rugby union team and hosted Canterbury cricket games too, for more than 100 years.

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But the 38,628-seater was forced to close after the tremor lifted the concrete piles under the stands and dropped them at the wrong angle.

The a dark grey syrup from the liquefaction that oozed through the surface essentially killed any hope of the venue returning to its former glory.

Liquefaction is a process that occurs when sediment loses strength during and earthquake and behaves like a fluid.

But the Crusaders' fortunes changed when plans were announced to build a brand new INDOOR stadium in Christchurch.

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The £315m Te Kaha Stadium, which translates to 'One New Zealand' is NOT on the same site as Lancaster Park - but 1.5 miles away.

But Google maps says it's just a five-minute drive.

Rob Penney admits it is "emotional" to see construction of a new ground in central Christchurch, more than a decade on from the devastating earthquakes.

The new Crusaders manager said: "That ripped everyone's lives apart here.

"We were unable to use the stadium after that and we ended up using Rugby Park and that was a great venue in the short-term and then the move to where the boys are now (Apollo Projects Stadium).

"It's a little bit emotional really because it's something the city has been crying out for, for a long time."

Penney was Canterbury's provincial coach when a first 7.1-magnitude earthquake hit during the early hours of 4 September 2010.

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Another 6.3-magnitude quake hit the following year.

The last sheets of the new Te Kaha Stadium will be installed in the north stand around the middle of 2025.

Crusaders' chief executive Colin Mansbridge said he was confident the 25,000-seater will open in April 2026.

Crusaders membership holders for both the 2024 and 2025 seasons will automatically join a priority waitlist to secure a desired seat at Te Kaha.

Mansbridge added: "People have just been so excited about the arrival of Te Kaha.

"It's an opportunity for them to get first dibs."

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City Infrastructure General Manager Brent Smith says the third stage of works is "the final piece of the puzzle".

Lancaster Park was scheduled to host five pool matches and two quarter finals at the 2011 Rugby World Cup, won by the All-Blacks.

But Christchurch lost its rights to host the seven World Cup games in September 2011, as the city was too damaged to host fixtures.

Lancaster Park (also known as the AMI Stadium and Jade Stadium) was far from the only venue affected.

QEII Park, which hosted the 1974 Commonwealth Games, was also damaged beyond repair and demolition began in 2012.

Christchurch has gone over a decade without an international-quality ground.

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Lancaster Park previously hosted 48 All Blacks test matches from 1913 to 2010.

The Lions' were beaten 13-10 in their first appearance there in 1930, and lost 13-10 in lost their most recent in 2005.