People climbed trees, stood on vehicles and peered over fences to catch a glimpse of a 390-tonne piece of steel being hoisted into the air at the Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin on Saturday.
The main truss, spanning the gap between two support columns and stretching the length of what will become the venue's playing surface, was lifted into position by one 400-tonne crane and two 280-tonne cranes assisted by about 35 workers by early evening.
The 35m lift was understood to be the highest such a weight had been lifted in New Zealand.
The weight was equivalent to three and a-half Boeing 787-9s, and took more than six hours. The truss was assembled on the pitch last week. It will anchor the five arch trusses which will span 105m over the pitch to the north stand.
The crowd of about 50 people was kept waiting for much of the day. The hoist was first expected to go ahead on Saturday morning.
The stadium also proved a popular stopping point for sightseers yesterday.
Dunedin man Craig Paddon was one of those to gather outside the gated western entrance to the construction site, beside Anzac Ave.
He said he had been following the progress of the construction project since its inception, keeping tabs on changes whenever he visited the nearby waste transfer station.
"It's quite fascinating to see a bit of history in the making," he said.
"I'm just really excited by the whole project. I'm just drawn to it really."
Robert Thompson (35), of the United States, and Maria Ioannou (32), decided to stop and do some "rubber-necking" after noticing the crowd gathering at the edge of the stadium site.
Carisbrook Stadium Trust chairman Malcolm Farry said the roof structure would come together in the next few months.
Work on the ETFE roofing and pitch preparation would begin early next year.
