Vector Arena Set To Launch

The long-awaited 12,000-capacity Vector Arena in Auckland, New Zealand, finally has a launch date: April 19th.

The venue will celebrate with a gala event featuring performances by rock bands, indigenous Maori performers, an 88-piece symphony orchestra, Chinese dragons and Scottish bagpipes.

New Zealand previously lacked an indoor arena with more than a 10,000 capacity, and large international shows were usually played outdoors.

Red Hot Chili Peppers are set to play there April 21-22.

The arena took three years and $98 million to build, said Kevin Jacobsen, chairman of QPAM Ltd., which will operate the Vector.

Venue CEO is Bruce Mactaggart. Costs were split between QPAM and the Auckland council. Jacobsen said a 12-month construction delay saw superstar acts such as Pearl Jam and Elton John bypass New Zealand.

"New Zealand has been waiting for a venue of this size for ages," Jacobsen said. "As a state of the art venue, I’d match it against anything else in the world of the same size."