The world’s first permanently covered stadium with a natural turf pitch. The Forsyth Barr is the worlds most advanced sports stadium and one of New Zealand’s 2011 Rugby World Cup venues.

Comprising of over 20,569 m2 of Texlon ETFE, the structure has almost 300 double layer cushions covering the main roof and façade. As the largest Texlon^® ETFE building in the southern hemisphere, the stadium takes full advantage of both the light weight and energy efficient properties of Texlon^® ETFE. At approximately 1% the weight of glass and with 1% of the embodied carbon energy of comparable cladding systems, Texlon^® ETFE is the product of the future.

This revolution in stadia design saw two years of rigorous testing and countless studies to establish that grass flourishes under Texlon^® ETFE. As the self-repairing alternative to synthetic grass, natural grass turf is environmentally and economically more beneficial. The use of clear Texlon^® ETFE and the design of the stadium promotes maximum solar light transmission to aid natural grass growth.

As Argentina take on England in Forsyth Barr’s first Rugby World Cup match, over 30,000 spectators and players will experience unprecedented comfort. No longer victims of the elements, spectators can appreciate the sport as well as the luxury of a Texlon^® ETFE permanent roof.