In celebration of this exciting event, the city is offering a chance for one lucky winner and a friend to experience a luxurious weekend getaway, right in the heart of Palmy.

This incredible prize package includes:

• Three-night stay at the luxury Hiwinui Country Estate (Check-in 13 September, check-out 16 September)
• Exclusive courtside hospitality for the Saturday and Sunday Davis Cup matches
• Meet and greet with the international tennis teams competing in the tournament
• $200 dining voucher for a top Palmy restaurant
• Round-trip flights for two to Palmerston North

Entries are now closed.

More about the Davis Cup fixture – New Zealand vs Luxembourg

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Both nights of the hugely popular annual event at CET Arena sold out, with about 16,000 people buying tickets, and those people are a fillip for shops, bars, eateries and accommodation.

There was a carnival atmosphere in Palmerston North throughout the weekend, with Teams Champs fans enjoying the racing and festivities.

Palmerston North City Council venues and events manager John Lynch said 80 per cent of the 16,000 ticket holders were from outside the region.

“This is the biggest annual event on the speedway calendar, which generates over $6 million of economic benefit for the local economy.”

He said sport generated about $30m of economic benefit annually for the city, with people attending meetings during the year.

The Central Economic Development Agency’s chief executive, Linda Stewart, said the event had significant economic benefits for the city and the region.

She estimated last year’s event injected $3.5m into the economy.

“Major events held in the region bring a significant rise in visitor’s daily spending …on the event tickets, food and beverages, accommodation, shopping, transport and other.”

It wasn’t only the hospitality and tourism sector that benefited from the Teams Champs event, it was also mechanics, engineers, sign writers and other car-servicing businesses.

“We also know that it is a big weekend for shopping, so we anticipate a good boost to our retail spend too.”

A sports field at CET Arena, transformed into a campground for the weekend, was packed with people.

Janine Neale had travelled from Waipawa in Central Hawke’s Bay and was part of a group of about 20 who had booked four sites for their camper vans and tents.

Neale arrived at the venue at 2.30pm on Thursday to ensure they got the best spot at the ground, in a sheltered corner of the field.

She said it was a great weekend to get together and relax. “I like to get this spot because there’s a few of us. We keep it nice and quiet.”

They were Hawke’s Bay Hawkeye fans, but were happy as long as the perennially successful Palmerston North Panthers didn’t win.

The group used to stay in motels for the event, but the cost of $150 for three nights, and the atmosphere made the campground more attractive.

Fellow campers Robert Semple and Zena O’Grady had come from Mercer, south of Auckland, and were supporting the Auckland Allstars.

It was the first time for O’Grady, but Semple had been coming for more than 30 years.

Saturday was his birthday – he turned 61 this year – which always made Teams Champs a special weekend.

Ricky Quirk owns central city bars The Cobb, The Daily and Trader McKendry’s and he said the weekend had been crazy with people in his establishments.

Starting with a “huge” Friday night, his bars had been busy all weekend.

The Fitzherbert Regency Motor Lodge in Palmerston North was decorated with speedway flags and manager Kevin Davey said the motel was full of speedway fans from around the country.

“We’re very passionate about [speedway], we embrace it and it’s exciting for the city,” he said.

The motel offers accommodation for next year’s Teams Champs as guests are leaving, but any rooms that aren’t booked are quickly snapped up.

“The motel has been full along with every other motel in the city, just about as far away as Ōtaki and Taihape.”

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Racing on Monday 28 December will see the Saloon Series, the Brent Lowe Memorial Stockcars, the Manawatu Minisprint Champs, and the ever-popular Ramp Derby, with drivers and support crews making use of the new space.

The pits have not been available for early season racing, as time was needed to ensure grassed areas had settled well, so they wouldn’t become damaged.

While construction at Central Energy Trust Arena is ongoing, speedway visitors will also be able to see the new entrance plaza structure in place, with stockcars and a walkway passing under it.

“We know anticipation has built around this development and are delighted to be able to deliver this Christmas present to the speedway community. You’ll really be able to see the vision for the entrance plaza beginning to take shape as well,” Palmerston North City Council’s Venues Manager John Lynch says.

This stage of the CET Arena Masterplan redevelopment, including the entrance plaza and ablution blocks, is set for completion end of March.  “While there is still construction around the new pits, work is progressing well and to plan,” Lynch says.

Teams Champs tickets

Struggling to find the BEST Christmas gift … go high-octane with tickets to the ENZED Superstock Teams Champs.   This is the premier event on the New Zealand and International Speedway calendars, for which fans travel from far and wide to be part of its thrilling atmosphere! You can buy tickets here: http://ow.ly/hl2w50CE9q3

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World champion Silver Ferns suit up

The world champion Silver Ferns will suit up against three New Zealand teams in the four-day Cadbury Netball Series from Wednesday 21 October through to Saturday 24 October. The Ferns will take on the New Zealand Men, an NZ A side and the New Zealand Under 21s.

The New Zealand Men’s Team provided a great matchup for the Silver Ferns last year and brought an exciting element to the game with their dynamic style. The whole Silver Ferns Squad will be in action during the series, including such names as Karin Burger, Gina Crampton, Ameliaranne Ekenasio, Bailey Mes, Katrina Rore, Shannon Saunders, Te Paea Selby-Rickit and Jane Watson, who were all part of the 2019 Netball World Cup-winning squad.

Doors will open 5pm each day followed by the first game at 6pm and the second game at 8pm. Head to the Ticketek for game and ticket information.

Venues Palmerston North Manager John Lynch said it is a real coup to see such top-calibre netball talent on show in the city. “This is an opportunity for our developing netball talent and sports fans to see big names in New Zealand netball live on court. We can expect to see vigorous competition, especially when the women pit their skills against the New Zealand Men’s side.”

• Cadbury Netball Series

Women’s Lifestyle Expo 2020

Head to the B&M Centre (Arena 4) on the Saturday and Sunday of Labour Weekend (24-25 October) to take in one of Manawatu’s largest events.

The Women’s Lifestyle Expo 2020 hosts about 140 companies, showcasing everything from gourmet food and beverages to jewellery, fashion, makeup/beauty products, homeware, art and more. You can also learn about areas such as fitness, business and travel. “The Taste and Artisan Craft zones are always popular, not to mention the goodie bags offered,” Lynch says.

Entry to the event is $10, with under 12s free. More information is available on Facebook, including about discount deals and competitions shared before the show.

• Women’s Lifestyle Expo event details
• Women’s Lifestyle Expo on Facebook

Speedway season opens

The 2020-21 season at the Robertson Motors International Speedway starts its engines at the Central Energy Trust Arena on October 24, with the Grand Opening including the Lucas Oil Superstock Series and Quin Buildings Super Saloon Series.

Speedway fans will see work progressing towards the new pits and entrance plaza, which will enhance the Central Energy Trust Arena facilities for the city’s speedway enthusiasts. For the first few events for the speedway season, the Waldegrave Street car park will be temporarily used for speedway pits. Within a few speedway events, the fantastic new pit facilities will be available to speedway drivers and for public activity use, Lynch says.

The toilet block is not programmed to be completed until the New Year, along with the entrance. For the first few speedway events of 2020, alternative public facilities, including food and beverage service and toilets, is being set up.

• Robertson Holden International Speedway Grand Opening

Coming to speedway? Here’s what you need to know

With the entrance plaza completion due early next year, there will be two entrances in operation for the speedway meetings. These are Gate 1 on Waldegrave Street and Gate 4 on Pascal Street. Ticket booths are located at both entrances.

There will be no public car parking at the Waldegrave Street car park while it is being used for temporary speedway pits. We encourage people to use the railway land area close by. Please park responsibly by not blocking commercial or public driveways and premises.

Mayor Grant Smith says Palmy is booming along with some real vibrancy, which is reflected in the busy Labour Weekend Venues offerings.

“There’s so much to see and do here this Labour Weekend. These events are great opportunities for our residents to support local and see their national netball and speedway heroes. Visitors will see why Palmy is such a great place to visit and ultimately live.”

New events are regularly being added to the Venues and Events Palmerston North calendar. To keep up to date, visit venuespn.co.nz.

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Speedway fans will see work progressing towards the new pits and entrance plaza, which will enhance the Central Energy Trust Arena facilities for the city’s speedway enthusiasts. For the first few events for the speedway season, the Waldegrave Street car park will be temporarily used for speedway pits.  Within a few speedway events, the fantastic new pit facilities will be available to speedway drivers and for public activity use.

Venues Palmerston North manager John Lynch says “while we would have loved to have the speedway pits ready for the start of the season, weather has played a part, and the COVID-19 lockdown delayed the project start”.

“We want to ensure we deliver fantastic state-of-the-art facilities for the speedway promoter and competitors, which the public will also enjoy.”

The new pits area needs more time for grassed areas to settle and grass to strike – using them too soon might mean they become rutted and damaged.   “We need to ensure this doesn’t happen as this grassed area will be used for other purposes as well, like placing bouncy castles at markets and festivals. The grassed area is used for children’s sports training during winter months.”

The toilet block is not programmed to be completed until the New Year, along with the entrance. For the first few speedway events of 2020, alternative public facilities, including food and beverage service and toilets, is being set up.

Coming to speedway … what you need to know

• With the entrance plaza completion due early next year, there will be two entrances in operation for the Speedway meetings. These are Gate 1 on Waldegrave Street and Gate 4 on Pascal Street. Ticket booths are located at both entrances.

• There will be no public car parking at the Waldegrave Street car park while it is being used for temporary speedway pits. We encourage people to use the railway land area close by. Please park responsibly by not blocking commercial or public driveways and premises.

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The world champion Silver Ferns will suit up against three New Zealand teams in the Cadbury Netball Series Labour weekend at Fly Palmy Arena.

The four-day series will see the Silver Ferns take on the New Zealand Men, an NZ A side and the New Zealand Under 21s in Palmerston North from 21-24 October. Read Netball New Zealand’s media release here.

Keep an eye out on our Event page for ticketing information.

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Brought to you by Robertson Holden International Speedway at Central Energy Trust Arena, tickets for the 2021 ENZED Superstock Teams Champs, on February 6-7, will go on sale at 10am on Thursday 27 August through Ticketek.

This is a star event of the New Zealand speedway scene – grandstand seats for 2020’s event sold out in one day. The atmosphere is electric – this year’s event drew in up to 16,000 people each night of the two-day event, with local, national and international spectators in raucous support of their Superstock heroes.

Venues & Events Palmerston North is thrilled to be in partnership with Ticketek to deliver the venues’ ticketing requirements.

“We’ve had an association with Ticketek for many years and enjoy their level of service and support. We’re looking forward to working with the team to deliver the City’s largest annual event,” says Palmerston North City Council Venues Manager John Lynch.

This year’s event (2020) was the fortieth time Teams Champs was held. The Hawkes Bay Hawkeyes Team who have attended every Teams Champs event since its inception, won this year’s milestone event.

The British Lions have made the trip from the United Kingdom 12 times. The team has been in three finals and five semi-finals over the years, with their best placing second at two consecutive events. For the last couple of seasons, ENZED Teams Champs have had a USA Super Saloon driver race at the event, in the Burger King Pro Dirt Super Saloon Series.

Bruce Robertson says Superstock Team Champs originated in Palmerston North and was modelled off rugby’s Ranfurly Shield, where challengers would come to complete for the title and take home the trophy.

“The Teams Champs title has been won by 11 different teams from nine tracks, with 24 different teams having competed since 1981. The Palmerston North Panthers and Hawkes Bay Hawkeyes have competed at every event since its inception. We’re looking forward to these teams returning for 2021 and seeing the new facilities. The upgrades will make this one of the best speedways in New Zealand and if not in the world because of the facilities that will be here and the general layout,” Robertson says.

Lynch says the 2021 ENZED Superstock Teams Champs is set to be bigger and better than ever before, with Phase 2 of the Central Energy Trust Arena Masterplan set to deliver a redeveloped embankment, a new plaza entrance, plus new speedway pits.

“Teams Champs is our biggest annual event at Central Energy Trust Arena and it generates many millions of dollars of economic benefit for our city and surrounding regions. We’re excited to see the venue and facilities operating at maximum capacity and showcasing the benefits of our venue upgrades. The speedway fraternity are looking forward to the much-anticipated and world-class pits area, which run parallel to Cuba Street,” Lynch says.

Mayor Grant Smith says the Teams Champs are a great economic benefit to Palmerston North, each year bringing in more than $5.2 million in economic benefits to the city, including boosted visitor and resident spending on accommodation, shopping, hospitality and entertainment.

Tickets can be purchased online through Ticketek or by calling 0800 842 538.

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