Porirua Park is gearing up for an exciting season of top-tier football and rugby, with both the Wellington Phoenix women’s team and provincial rugby set to take the field. The Porirua City Council’s Parks & City Services and Events teams are embracing the challenge of preparing the park for these prestigious events, following a successful run of home games last season.
After hosting six home games in the 2023-24 season, the Wellington Phoenix women’s side is eager to return to Porirua Park for their upcoming campaign, which kicks off in the first weekend of November. The park, which received upgrades to its changing rooms ahead of the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023, is now fully equipped to meet the demands of professional sport.
Julian Emeny, Parks & City Services manager, expressed pride in the work done to maintain the ground’s quality. “Porirua Park has long been a premier ground for sport in the region—our team works hard to maintain it to the highest level and takes a lot of pride in the facility,” Emeny says. He added that having teams like the Phoenix, Pride, and Lions playing there is a significant boost for the city, and council staff are committed to ensuring the park looks its best on every game day.
Wellington Phoenix forward Emma Main echoed this sentiment, praising the electric atmosphere at Porirua Park. “It was amazing playing at Porirua Park, with the atmosphere created by the Yellow Fever and the crowd that showed up in numbers to support us. I’m looking forward to playing in front of them again,” she says.
Porirua Mayor Anita Baker also highlighted the importance of the facility to the community. “Porirua Park’s top-notch surface and revamped dressing rooms have added to what is already an important facility for Porirua. These high-level competitions are fantastic for our residents and visitors to Porirua.”
While the A-League draw for both men and women has yet to be released, fans can already secure their memberships through the Wellington Phoenix website. The Wellington Lions rugby schedule and other related information are available on the Wellington Rugby Football Union website.
Porirua Park continues to solidify its reputation as a leading venue for sports in the region, offering a high-quality experience for both players and fans alike.