Communal showers, urinals and pitches knee-deep in mud will be a thing of the past for many New Zealand footballers.
There has been a $20 million investment in 30 sporting facilities around the country ahead of the FIFA Women's World Cup, including $5m to create gender neutral changing rooms.
Porritt Stadium is being used as one of three training facilities ahead of the five first-round matches hosted in Hamilton.
It has received $600,000 for new turf, lights, and to convert urinals to unisex bathroom facilities.
Porritt Stadium has received $600,000 for new turf, lights, and to convert urinals to unisex bathroom facilities. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
Mayor Paula Southgate said the refurbishment brought the facility into the 21st century.
"Upgrading what were largely 1970s changing rooms into gender equal changing rooms that are equally suited to men and female athletes is just a big step."
Gower Park, KoriKori Park, and Waikato Stadium have picked up another $500,000 in upgrades.
From left, Waikato Bay of Plenty Football Federation legacy manager Dr Alida Shanks, former All Black and Sport Waikato chief executive Matthew Cooper, and Hamilton Mayor Paula Southgate at Porritt Stadium which has received upgrades ahead of hosting five first-round matches. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
Southgate said the refurbishments were a big win for local sportspeople who would reap the benefit of top quality facilities long after the tournament finished.
"We're coming out of the past, an old-fashioned way of dealing with sports, into a more modern way, and that will encourage people to continue in sports for a much longer time," she said.
"Because we want women in particular not to give up sport when they leave school. We want them to continue in their much-loved sport and enjoy it."
From left, Waikato Bay of Plenty Football Federation legacy manager Dr Alida Shanks, Hamilton Mayor Paula Southgate, and former All Black and Sport Waikato chief executive Matthew Cooper at Porritt Stadium which has received upgrades ahead of hosting five first-round matches. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
During a walk around of Porritt Stadium on Thursday, the mayor was joined by Waikato Bay of Plenty Football Federation legacy manager Dr Alida Shanks and former All Black and Sport Waikato chief executive Matthew Cooper.
Shanks said the upgrades were a game changer, particularly for women.
Cooper said it was the way facilities needed to be.
"We have to ensure that we're creating a quality experience for participants," he said.
In Wellington, Newtown Park and Martin Luckie Park have also been upgraded, including getting new floodlights.
Wellington City Council FIFA project coordinator Wendy Turton was most excited about what it would mean for local sportspeople.
"FIFA aside, all the other teams from the communities have worked hard to get to to this level, so it's actually enabling us to include them in that."
Turton said appropriately-appointed facilities also gave the players a sense of respect.
In Porritt, apprentice groundsman Ian Cambell Cutler has the tricky job of mowing the distinctive FIFA pattern into the turf.
Apprentice groundsman Ian Cambell Cutler will mow the FIFA pattern on to the field at Porritt Stadium ahead of the start of the FIFA Women's World Cup. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
The pattern required the grass to be mowed in a way that had dark stripes one way and light stripes the other way, Cambell Cutler said.
As a defensive midfielder at the Hamilton Wanderers club himself, he said he was looking forward to testing out his handy work after the tournament.
The White Ferns kickoff the FIFA Women's World Cup against Norway on 20 July at Eden Park.
