Martin Luckie Park Explained

Stadium Name:Martin Luckie Park
Location:Lavaud Street, Berhampore, New Zealand, Wellington, New Zealand
Renovated:2017
Owner:Wellington City Council
Operator:Wellington City Council
Surface:Grass Pitch
Construction Cost:NZD$550,000 (2017)
Website:Wellington City Council
Tenants:Wellington Olympic (occasional)
Capacity:1,000

Martin Luckie Park, is a multi-purpose stadium in the suburb of Berhampore in Wellington, New Zealand.[1] It is used for football matches and is the occasional home stadium of Wellington Olympic including OFC Champions League games.[2] The fields have also been used for volleyball, ultimate frisbee and touch rugby.[3] Martin Luckie has also hosted other events such as the Wellington Fringe Festival.[4]

The stadium is named after Martin Luckie.[5]

History

Fletcher Construction completed construction of a pavilion in 1956.[6] In 2017, Martin Luckie Park received two new sand-based pitches to an "elite-training level". Wellington City Council provided $550,000 for the upgrades, with Wellington Phoenix also providing money for the upgrades. There were some concerns as the public were fearful of losing access to the ground should it be upgraded for the Phoenix, as well as the predicted yearly maintenance costs being $180,000.[7] [3]

In September 2023 FIFA announced that Martin Luckie Park would be a venue-specific training site for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. $1,900,000 was spent on three Wellington venues for World Cup upgrades, including Martin Luckie Park.[8] [9] [10] As part of the upgrades for the World Cup, Martin Luckie received new floodlights, upgraded changing rooms and field upgraded to FIFA standards.[11] [12]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sportsground locations. 25 February 2024. Wellington City Council. en-NZ.
  2. Web site: 3 February 2024 . Dates set for OFC Champions League tie between Olympic and Auckland City . 25 February 2024 . friendsoffootballnz.com . en-NZ .
  3. Web site: 9 March 2016 . Fears for kids' sport if park upgraded for Phoenix . 25 February 2024 . . en-NZ .
  4. Web site: Fringe Festival offers more than 800 artists and over 160 events. 12 December 2023. 25 February 2024. Wellington Scoop. en-NZ.
  5. Web site: Fletcher Construction Co Ltd - sites and buildings, Wellington: Jan1956. 25 February 2024. Fletcher Construction. en-NZ.
  6. Web site: The Streets of Tawa. 25 February 2024. Tawa Historical Society. en-NZ.
  7. Web site: 24 January 2017 . No potholes, no bumps: Wellington Phoenix boots finally touch the green grass of home . 25 February 2024 . . en-NZ .
  8. Web site: The grounds that will get upgrades as part of $19 million plan for Women’s World Cup. friendsoffootballnz.com. en-NZ. 27 September 2022. 29 January 2024.
  9. Web site: FIFA World Cup: Facility upgrades offer community teams 'quality experience' too. Waikato Times. en-NZ. 6 July 2023. 29 January 2024.
  10. Web site: New Zealand Football welcomes Government facility investment. New Zealand Football. en-NZ. 23 September 2022. 25 February 2024.
  11. Web site: 2 November 2022 . Newtown Park and Martin Luckie Park upgrades . 5 December 2022 . . en-NZ . 5 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221205032132/https://wellington.govt.nz/your-council/projects/newtown-park-and-martin-luckie-park-upgrades . live .
  12. Web site: 6 July 2023 . FIFA World Cup: Facility upgrades offer community teams 'quality experience' too . 25 February 2024 . . en-NZ .