Rugby league organisation's stadium lease comes to an end

Orangetheory Stadium.
Orangetheory Stadium.
Canterbury Rugby League's lease of Orangetheory Stadium (formerly AMI Stadium) will not be renewed.

At its meeting on Tuesday night, the Spreydon-Cashmere Community Board approved the organisation's request to discontinue its lease of the Christchurch stadium.

Canterbury Rugby League no longer needed to lease the stadium now it has a new shared headquarters at the Nga Puna Wai Sports Hub in Halswell.

Nga Puna Wai Sports Hub. Photo: Geoff Sloan
Nga Puna Wai Sports Hub. Photo: Geoff Sloan
After the now-demolished Lancaster Park was badly damaged in the earthquakes, there was an urgent need for a temporary rugby union stadium. 

In order to build the new temporary stadium, Canterbury Rugby League agreed to partially surrender its lease of what was then known as Rugby League Park (formerly Addington Showgrounds).

This stadium has since been predominately used for rugby union, and is the venue for the Crusaders home Super Rugby matches.