Palmerston North City Council is progressing plans for a new Air Dome facility on the green space at the corner of Cuba and Pascal Streets.
The new facility will help meet growing demand for indoor court space across the city and support Palmerston North’s role as a major regional sporting and events hub.
Why we need a new Arena
In 2024, Council commissioned the Multi-use Indoor Courts and Covered Outdoors Courts Study. This study confirmed the need for additional indoor court space to meet growing community demand.
This need for additional courts has also been highlighted through feedback from the community, commercial users, national sporting organisations, and organisers of several national sporting tournaments.
Many national sporting events require more court space to operate successfully. These events bring significant benefits to the city’s hospitality, retail, and accommodation sectors.
To help meet future demand and support the city’s ability to retain and attract major events, Council approved funding for the project through the Long-term Plan (2024-34).
The new facility will provide four additional indoor courts, and help reduce pressure on Arenas 3 and 4, which are used heavily by local sporting codes and the community.
This need for a new Arena was identified in the Arena Masterplan and supported by feedback from local sports organisations and community groups.
Read more about the Arena Masterplan(PDF, 13MB)
What the new facility will include
The facility will feature timber sprung floors – an important requirement strongly advocated for by local sporting organisations to ensure courts are suitable for a broad range of sports and competitions.
Councillors approved the procurement of a main contractor to design and build an air dome facility in May 2026.
The air dome approach allows Council to deliver the project faster and at a lower cost than a traditional building, while still providing a high-quality playing environment.
The total expected project budget, including contingency, is estimated at $13.5 million – significantly lower than the original $17.5 million budget identified through the Long-Term Plan and the estimate of $18.4 million for a traditional build.
Actual project costings will be confirmed through the procurement process.
Safety, noise and durability
The air dome membrane material is fire-retardant, meaning it is designed to slow and suppress the spread of fire. The facility will also include fire protection systems that meet all relevant building and fire safety requirements.
The structure is highly resistant to sharp objects and punctures, helping reduce concerns around vandalism and accidental damage.
The Air Dome’s mechanical systems must operate continuously to maintain air pressure within the structure. Noise impacts will be carefully considered during the design process, including the placement of mechanical plant away from nearby residential areas where possible and design features which could minimise noise.
Project timeline and next steps
The key milestones are:
- May 2026 – Councillors approve to move forward into procurement of a main contractor to design and build an Air Dome facility
- Mid 2026 – Request for Proposal of a main contractor and tender evaluations
- Late 2026 – Main contractor appointed, and design refinement and construction begins
- Late 2027 – Construction completed
Working with sports groups and the community
Council is continuing to work with a user group made up of sports organisations and community groups that currently use the Arena facilities, or are expected to use the new Arena, to make sure the new facility meets the community’s needs.
We’ll work to minimise disruption across the precinct during construction. Access to all other arenas and facilities will remain open throughout the project.
We’re also looking at how parking and pedestrian access can be maintained and supported during and after construction.
We’ll continue to share updates as the project progresses.