Fireworks for stadium for Big Night In

Organisers are quietly hoping the Otago Daily Times Big Night In doesn't go off with too big a bang.

The community concert at the Forsyth Barr Stadium next month will feature an ambitious fireworks display inside the world's first fully-enclosed grassed stadium.

The stadium's 20,500m2 ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) roof has a maximum working temperature of 150C and a plastics flammability standard rating of UL 94 VO.

Although, when ETFE does burn, it releases hydrofluoric acid.

"It's exciting, because it will be the largest indoor space we've ever worked in. That offers more opportunities," Christchurch pyrotechnic technician Paul Collins said yesterday.

He was unfazed that the stadium roof sits just 37m above the pitch centre line.

"We won't be up there, but it [the fireworks display] will be twice the height of a normal indoor concert.

You are talking about 20m high, instead of 10m, in places like the Vector Arena [Auckland]," he said.

"It means we can go higher and do falls and things. We're going to do stuff from the ground up; like fountains, jets, mini-mines and comets."

However, he was reluctant to go into too much detail.

"It's still a work in progress and I wouldn't want to ruin the surprise.

We're still designing it and we will be till we get down there. But, we're really looking forward to it; I can tell you that much."

The fireworks being deployed were low to zero debris products designed for close proximity events.

"Big Night In" artistic producer Doug Kamo said the presentation would include a display by master pyrotechnician Martin van Tiel, of Van Tiel Pyrotechnics, who staged the fireworks at the opening of the Rugby World Cup and New Zealand's largest ever display for the Auckland Millennium celebrations.

"I don't want to give too much away, but, it will be huge," he said yesterday.

"There will be plenty of surprises, with pyros going off behind the stage ... they're going to be throwing everything at it."

The Big Night In celebrates the 150th anniversary of New Zealand's first daily newspaper and is being supported by the Dunedin City Council as the opening community event in the Forsyth Barr Stadium.

Ticket details for the free November 12 concert are in the ODT today and tomorrow.

nigel.benson@odt.co.nz