An artist’s impression of how the Hall of Fame will look inside Cambridge Velodrome later this year.
Cambridge Velodrome is to progress from an elite cycling centre to a multi‑purpose venue. Mary Anne Gill reports.
An artist’s impression of how the revamped velodrome will look after the Hall of Fame takes up space in the northeast, and eastern sections.
Cambridge Velodrome is entering what its chair describes as a “turning point in our history”, with a transformation that will see the venue rebranded and operating under the name Cambridge Arena.
The trust behind the Grassroots Trust‑sponsored facility is signalling the shift from Velodrome New Zealand’s Home of Cycling as part of a change in direction, expanding its role beyond elite track cycling to operate as a multi‑purpose regional arena and events centre.
See: Sports fame coming our way
See: Wooing halls of fame
Cambridge News 19 February 2026
The transformation includes the relocation of the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame from Dunedin, the introduction of an interactive Play Lab experience aimed at young people, and the installation of screens that will increase the venue’s ability to host sporting events, awards ceremonies, conferences, school programmes and community activities alongside cycling.
Velodrome chair Simon Perry said the developments marked a strategic evolution.
“We’ve had a fantastic run with cycling here, and that will absolutely continue,” Perry said. “But we’re now opening the doors to a much wider range of users. For us, it’s about getting more kids off the couch and into sport. This really is a turning point in our history.”
The Sports Hall of Fame, which has been based in Dunedin for more than three decades, will move to the Cambridge venue this year. The hall will be integrated around the concourse, allowing visitors to engage with New Zealand’s sporting heritage while still being connected to live activity on the track.
An artist’s impressions of how the revamped velodrome will look after the Hall of Fame takes up space in the north east, and eastern sections. Top of the photo is the main road end. Bottom of the photo is towards St Peters Equestrian area. Main entrance is bottom left corner
Miff Macdiarmid
General manager Miff Macdiarmid said the Hall of Fame experience would be interactive and strongly focused on education – not just about looking at trophies behind glass.
The velodrome attracts about 180,000 visitors a year and supports a range of community uses from boxing, martial arts and fitness training to walking groups, seniors’ programmes and corporate events.
Macdiarmid said the upgrades were expected to lift visitor numbers and bring economic benefits to Cambridge, Waipā and neighbouring districts.
Former Waipā mayor Alan Livingston, with wife Janet, talks about the velodrome’s future plans. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Aksel Bech
Waikato mayor Aksel Bech, Hamilton city councillors Emma Pike, Robbie Neha and Jamie Strange attended the announcement last week alongside former Waipā mayor Alan Livingston who played a key role in seeing the velodrome built and opened by Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, in 2014.
Speaking as the Oceania Track Cycling Championships were under way, with hundreds of competitors on the track, Macdiarmid said the facility already had a strong economic footprint.
“What we’re probably most proud of is the community use the velodrome has on a daily basis,” she said.
A key part of the transformation is the Play Lab, an interactive sport and movement space. Transition manager Tony Smith said the lab would combine physical activity with technology and storytelling to engage young people in new ways.
Keirin cyclists make their way around the velodrome and in front of the area where the Hall of Fame will be. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
“Inspiration isn’t enough without action,” Smith said.
The Play Lab is being developed with Sport Waikato, the Waikato University and the New Zealand Olympic Committee and programmes will align with school curricula.
Perry said the venue’s location made it ideally placed to serve as a regional hub.
How the rebranding to an arena could look.
MP Louise Upston and Simon Perry with the ceremonial sod turning last year.
“We’re within 30 minutes of two‑thirds of the Waikato region,” he said. “Schools can come here for a whole day, immerse themselves in sport, and then we can help connect kids back to clubs in their own communities.”
A small number of spectator seats will be removed to accommodate the Hall of Fame. The trust has resource consent to expand the velodrome, but that’s been shelved because of the multi‑million‑dollar cost.
Planning and fundraising is largely complete and the upgrades will roll out over the coming months. Perry is confident the shift to a Cambridge Arena concept will future‑proof the facility.
An artist’s impression of how the Hall of Fame will look inside Cambridge Velodrome later this year. Photo: Supplied.
An artist’s impression of how the Hall of Fame will look inside Cambridge Velodrome later this year. Photo: Supplied.
