Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder is confident the team's new home stadium will be ready for their Super Rugby game in Christchurch.
Severe damage to AMI Stadium in the February earthquake left the city without a venue for top level sports events and music concerts and the Crusaders without a home ground.
On Friday, Blackadder was among VIPs who visited the $25 million Christchurch Stadium to see its progress.
The stadium in the suburb of Addington expected to be ready by 24 March for the Crusaders' first home game against the Cheetahs from South Africa.
It will be able to seat 17,000 people and eventually have the capacity to seat 25,000. Turf harvested from the AMI Stadium has been laid at the new ground.
Blackadder says workers at the stadium are doing a fantastic job and putting in long hours to get it ready in time.
The stadium will be an important step back to normality for the Crusaders and the city, he says.
