Refurbished Y Stadium Reopens to Community with Carnival Celebration

• Y Southland’s Stadium has been refurbished and modernised for community use after six months of work.
• A carnival-themed event marked the official reopening, with hundreds in attendance on 21 June 2024.
• Upgrades include a new floor, windows, fire doors, internal painting, and roof repairs.

Y Southland’s Stadium is officially refurbished, modernised, and open for community use. The re-opening was celebrated with a carnival-themed event on 21 June 2024, attracting hundreds of attendees.

Over the past six months, the Stadium, featuring a full basketball and netball court, has undergone a complete transformation. The renovation includes a new, state-of-the-art floor, making it a modern and safe space for the community.

The project was funded by Community Trust South, ILT Foundation, the NZ Lottery Grants Board, the Murihiku Rūnaka, and the Rio Tinto/NZAS Community Development Fund. The Y Southland Chief Executive, Pete Thompson, expressed excitement about the re-opening and highlighted the community-focused nature of the space. “We want this space to be for the community – that’s who the redevelopment is for, community organisations or groups, sporting organisations, social groups, or even just groups of friends who want to shoot hoops,” he said.

Thompson emphasised the space’s versatility, inviting community organisations, sports groups, social groups, and friends to utilise the upgraded facility. “It’s a fantastic area, right in the middle of town, and now that it has been modernised it brings a whole new raft of potential opportunities for use,” he added.

In addition to the new floor, the upgrade features new windows, fire doors, a complete internal paint job, roof repairs, and other key enhancements. Originally opened in 1959 after significant fundraising efforts, the Stadium has long been a community asset. Mr Thompson said, “We are so fortunate to have such amazing local funders who have contributed to this project – their support cannot be underestimated and we genuinely appreciate it.”

Thompson acknowledged the crucial support from local funders, appreciating their contributions to the project. He noted that the Y Stadium upgrade aligns with the Y’s broader vision of renovating the 77 Tay Street building, a long-standing Y property.