Forsyth Barr Stadium

Located in Dunedin, New Zealand, Forsyth Barr Stadium serves as the city's premier multi-purpose venue and the home of the Highlanders Super Rugby franchise. Opened on August 5, 2011, by Prime Minister John Key, the stadium was constructed to replace the aging Carisbrook ground, which had long served as the heart of Otago rugby. The project was fast-tracked to ensure the facility was ready to host matches for the 2011 Rugby World Cup, marking a significant shift in the city's sporting infrastructure by providing a climate-controlled environment in a region known for its cold and blustery weather. The stadium is widely recognized for its innovative design, featuring a permanent, fully enclosed roof clad in ethylene tetrafluoroethylene, or ETFE. This transparent polymer allows sufficient sunlight to reach the pitch, making it the only stadium in the world that maintains a natural grass playing surface under a permanent roof. The northern stands were specifically designed to be lower to maximize light exposure, while the end facades are raised to facilitate airflow across the field. Beyond its primary role as a rugby fortress, the stadium has established itself as a versatile cultural hub. It has hosted a wide array of international music acts, including a notable series of concerts by Ed Sheeran in 2018, as well as major sporting events such as the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup. By successfully blending the tradition of natural-grass rugby with cutting-edge engineering, the venue has become a landmark of modern civic identity for Dunedin, proving that high-level sport can thrive regardless of the elements.