Auckland Council are calling for feedback on Western Springs Stadium‘s future use, with three options being proposed and a deadline of Sunday 15 June, 2025 for submissions. The options (in order of up-front investment capital) are for a mixed use Arena, an entertainment-focused Western Springs Bowl, and doing nothing for now, hopefully allowing for other proposals to be developed.

Option 1: Auckland Arena is for a state-of-the-art, multi-purpose venue combining sport, culture and entertainment incorporating a new 12,500 – 15,000-seat stadium.
Option 2: Western Springs Bowl references the famous Hollywood Bowl, as a live music concert and festival venue. New permanent staging infrastructure would create the opportunity for a 5,000 – 8,000 seat boutique stadium, while retaining the natural amphitheatre’s capacity for up to 50,000 when needed. 
Option 3: The Neither option is to keep things as they are, and possibly explore other ideas. 

Aside from the differing future usage models, major issues under consideration include the upfront and ongoing cost to ratepayers, the degree of public vs private investment, and future public access to the area. Major Auckland music festival promoters Eccles Entertainment and CRS Records are backing the transformative Option 2, proposing that Western Springs be developed as a world-class, multi-use venue that can serve community needs and the city’s commercial goals. Brent Eccles says the plan responds directly to a long-standing gap in New Zealand’s concert, festival and live event infrastructure. 

“There is a real need for a purpose-built live music venue that fills a space not provided for by Eden Park, Spark Arena or Go Media Stadium. Right now, we are missing a cost-effective, scalable outdoor site that can support everything from intimate to full-scale concerts and festivals.  

“Western Springs is uniquely positioned to be that venue. It offers natural beauty in a stunning amphitheatre, an historic performance setting, and the flexibility to host between 5,000 and 50,000 people. With the addition of a permanent stage and some basic complementing infrastructure, it becomes a world-class and financially attractive live performance asset.” 

Option 2 features include a permanent stage in the bowl, a stage pad in the outer field area, upgraded seating for concerts and sports, and the ability to scale the venue for major outdoor concerts, festivals and events. Preserving the natural amphitheatre bowl structure, it would keep the land in public hands and ensure that community groups continue to have access.

APRA AMCOS NZ has made a submission in srong support of Option 2, with some of our leading musicians adding their voice.
“My first concert was at Western Springs in 1971,” says Neil Finn. “Elton John on his first tour. I was so thrilled to play there in ‘92 with REM. I think it’s by far the best outdoor venue in Auckland. 
“I am completely behind the proposal to preserve and further develop this as a concert venue. A major city like Auckland should have a beautiful dedicated space in the city that’s easy to get to where the very best of New Zealand and the world’s entertainers can play. It’s an essential part of what makes a city hum, bringing people together to be uplifted by music.”

The proposals are currently open for public consultation through Auckland Council’s AKHaveYourSay platform.