Wikipedia

Cowles Stadium

Cowles Stadium is a multi-purpose indoor arena in Aranui, Christchurch. It is the home arena of the Canterbury Rams of the New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL) and the Mainland Pouākai of the Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa women's basketball league. It is the former home arena of the Christchurch Cougars of the NZNBL and the Christchurch Sirens of the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL).

Cowles Stadium
Map
Address170 Pages Road
Aranui, Christchurch
Canterbury, New Zealand
Christchurch
New Zealand
LocationAranui, Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand
Coordinates43°31′19″S 172°41′46″E / 43.521847°S 172.696029°E / -43.521847; 172.696029
Construction
Opened25 September 1961
Construction cost£31,400[1]
General contractorF. W. Matthews, Ltd.
Tenants
Canterbury Rams (NZNBL) 1982–1999, 2007–2008, 2014–present
Mainland Pouākai (Tauihi) 2022–present
Christchurch Sirens (WNBL) 2007–2008
Christchurch Cougars (NZBL) 2009–2010

History edit

Cowles Stadium was constructed by F. W. Matthews, Ltd. Construction began in April 1960[1] and the stadium opened on 25 September 1961.[2][3] Cowles Stadium was named in commemoration of William James Cowles, a Christchurch city councilor and sports administrator whose advocacy for an indoor sports stadium led to its construction.[4] Cowles sponsored and supervised the stadium's construction.[5]

Events edit

Cowles Stadium served as a venue for badminton at the 1974 British Commonwealth Games[6] and volleyball and basketball at the 1989 World Games for the Deaf.[7]

The Benson & Hedges Classic men's Grand Prix tennis tournament was held at Cowles Stadium during the 1973[8] and 1974 circuits.[9] The tournament venue was shifted from Wilding Park to Cowles Stadium during the 1973 tournament due to rain,[8] and remained indoors at Cowles Stadium in 1974 to avoid further potential disruptions from bad weather.[9]

Cowles Stadium is the venue for the Dead End Derby roller derby league.[10]

Home teams edit

Cowles Stadium was the home arena for the Canterbury Rams basketball team from the first NBL season in 1982 until 1999, when they relocated to Westpac Arena. The Rams returned to Cowles Stadium in 2007.[11] In 2008, the Rams withdrew from the NBL[12] and were replaced by the Christchurch Cougars, who used Cowles Stadium as their home arena for the 2009 and 2010 NBL seasons. The Cougars were barred from playing at Cowles Stadium in 2011 due to an unpaid debt to the Christchurch City Council[13] and withdrew from the league following the 2011 Christchurch earthquake.[14] The Rams returned to the NBL for the 2014 NBL season[15] and have used Cowles Stadium as their home arena since their return.[16]

Cowles Stadium was the home arena of the Christchurch Sirens from November 2007 for the 2007–08 WNBL season — their only season in the WNBL. The Sirens relocated from Westpac Arena along with the Rams following upgrades to Cowles Stadium.[17]

Cowles Stadium has been the home arena of Mainland Pouākai of the Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa women's basketball league from the league's debut in 2022.[18]

The Mainland Tactix netball team used Cowles Arena as one of their home arenas for the 2022 ANZ Premiership season.[19]

Earthquakes edit

Cowles Stadium was used as a welfare centre after the 2010 Canterbury earthquake, February 2011 Christchurch earthquake, and June 2011 Christchurch earthquake. It was closed in 2011 due to roof damage cause by the earthquakes and re-opened in August 2012 following $480,000 renovations for repairs and earthquake strengthening.[20]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "New Sports Stadium £31,400 Tender Accepted". The Press. Vol. XCIX, no. 29174. 7 April 1960. p. 15.
  2. ^ "Cowles Stadium Opening Ceremony on Monday". The Press. Vol. C, no. 29625. 23 September 1961. p. 13. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  3. ^ "Cowles Stadium Opened". The Press. Vol. C, no. 29628. 26 September 1961. p. 19. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  4. ^ "Obituary: Mr W. J. Cowles, City Council Chairman". The Press. Vol. C, no. 29490. 17 April 1961. p. 14. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  5. ^ "Indoor Sports Stadium Naming after Cr. W. J. Cowles". The Press. Vol. C, no. 29488. 14 April 1961. p. 20. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  6. ^ "Cowles Stadium heat fears". The Press. Vol. CXIII, no. 33411. 18 December 1973. p. 1. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  7. ^ "Today's programme". The Press. 14 January 1989. p. 29. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  8. ^ a b Menzies, A. M. (16 November 1973). "All hands to the pump, but... Another frustrating day as rain wins again". The Press. Vol. CXIII, no. 33384. p. 20. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  9. ^ a b Menzies, A. M. (21 October 1974). "Problems met by first classic avoided". The Press. Vol. CXIV, no. 33670. p. 8. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  10. ^ "Dead End Derby". Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  11. ^ Longley, Geoff (26 May 2010). "Saturday night fever brings back basketball fans". The Press. Retrieved 11 April 2024 – via Stuff.
  12. ^ "New cats clawing for place on basketball court". Stuff.co.nz. 3 December 2008. Archived from the original on 16 October 2016. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  13. ^ Longley, Geoff (22 January 2011). "Christchurch Cougars out til stadium debt paid". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  14. ^ "Christchurch Cougars withdraw from NBL". Stuff.co.nz. 7 March 2011. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  15. ^ Egan, Brendon (9 April 2014). "Wellington Saints deny Rams in Christchurch". Fairfax Media – via Stuff.
  16. ^ "Fixtures & Results". Canterbury Rams.
  17. ^ "Basketball returns home to Cowles". archived.ccc.govt.nz. Christchurch City Council. 28 September 2007. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  18. ^ "Tauihi Schedule". Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa. Basketball New Zealand. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  19. ^ "Netball returns to Cowles Stadium in 2022". tactixnetball.co.nz. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  20. ^ Bayer, Kurt (5 April 2012). "Christchurch stadium to be repaired". Otago Daily Times. Retrieved 11 April 2024.

External links edit

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