But bringing different sports into the stadium comes with a major logistical challenge – protecting its turf.
Harvie-Teare said there are different ways to protect the playing surface, including specialised matting and turf protection similar to that used for concerts.
The stadium also has an off-site turf farm, allowing damaged sections to be replaced if required.
However, timing was the biggest consideration when scheduling events.
“As long as there’s enough time to remediate the turf and get it back to health, that’s kind of the most important thing,” Harvie-Teare said.
“In the middle of a rugby season, for example, that’s where it gets a little bit more tricky.”
She said the stadium was effectively playing a “scheduling game” to make sure the turf could be restored between events.
A proposed Hyrox event at the stadium is still under consideration, with Harvie-Teare saying timing was a factor in whether it could go ahead.
Newstalk ZB revealed earlier this year that the viral fitness competition, which combines running with functional workout stations, was planned for six days in August after its New Zealand debut in Auckland.
NPC rugby games planned before and after the dates were a major barrier to the event going ahead.
The push to diversify the stadium’s events calendar is partly commercial, but Harvie-Teare said it was also about ensuring the venue was used by the wider community.
“We need the venue to be highly utilised and we need to do good and long-term strategic commercial deals,” she said.
“But we’re not just here for that reason. We want to make sure that there’s a good amount of diverse content to meet the needs of our whole community.”
Venues Ōtautahi chief executive Caroline Harvie-Teare confirmed talks are taking place with several “unique” sports. Photo / Alyse Wright
The stadium has already hosted NRL, club rugby and football, while about 6000 people have taken part in tours of the venue since they began eight weeks ago.
One NZ Stadium has already pumped more than $21 million into Christchurch’s economy in its first 60 days of operation since opening in April.
Harvie-Teare said there were currently active conversations around at least three or four of the sports being considered, although commercial viability and scheduling would ultimately determine whether they make it to the stadium.
“We do want to see obviously more entertainment, but also more kind of diversity of content, which really leverages what we’ve got here, which is a multi-use facility.”
Jaime Cunningham is a Christchurch-based reporter with a focus on education and general news. She joined Newstalk ZB in 2023 after working as a sports reporter at the Christchurch Star.