The Crusaders will have to play their first two Super Rugby home fixtures away from the Garden City after it was confirmed Christchurch's AMI Stadium will be closed until at least March the 15th.
Bryan Pearson, the chief executive of Vbase, which runs AMI stadium, says the venue has repairable structural damage, significant damage to fixtures and fittings and liquefaction impacts within the stadium including the playing surface.
He says there is also substantial damage to surrounding streets and infrastructure and as a result the Crusaders are considering options for the home games scheduled at AMI Stadium for March the 4th and 11th.
The Crusaders CEO Hamish Riach says the Crusaders preference is to keep those matches within the Franchise region if possible and the Crusaders, NZRU and SANZAR are currently working through the alternative venue options and logistical arrangements.
The most likely choices as replacement venues include the Tasman Mako's two homes, Nelson's Trafalgar Park and Blenhiem's Lansdowne Park, which would keep the games in the Crusaders region.
