BDO changes revealed in sitemap release

Big Day Out sitemap.

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The Big Day Out has released its sitemap for next Friday's event and revealed a reconfiguration of Auckland's Mt Smart stadium from previous years.

Major changes have been made to access to the January 20 event including the closing of the Maurice Road gate, previously known as Gate A.

Instead, entry to the festival, which usually attracts around 30,000 people, is now only through Gate B, accessed from O'Rorke Road and now also via Beasley Ave off Church Street. Beasley Ave was closed to the public in previous years.

New features and changes inside the Big Day Out are also shown on the map, including a new Skate Stage and a 12 metre wide skate ramp, both in the main arena, where there is now just a single headline stage called the Big Day Out stage.

The Converse Green Stage where acts including Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, Foster The People, The Adults and Best Coast will perform, has been repositioned on the top field to a new angle that promoters believe will ''definitely improve the experience''.

The map also reveals a return to the Show'n'Shine hot rod display area.

''With the line-up and staging changes for 2012, we had our first chance to look at how we use the stadium in a long time,'' explains Auckland promoter Campbell Smith.

''Moves like we've made to the Green Stage will improve the day there for everyone wanting to get up there and see the bands.

''And I think all the action now focused in the main arena with skaters all day and bands alternating between the Big Day Out Stage and the Skate Stage will make it a really exciting environment.

''Fans are going to feel a lot closer to the action. And not just when it comes to the bands - being down amongst it when Tony Hawk is on the Vert Ramp later in the day is going to be one of the experiences of this year's festival. That guy is the biggest name in world skateboarding, a true legend.''

The Big Day Out is now just over a week away and Smith says he feels pumped for this year's event: ''Like a water bottle set to explode.''

- © Fairfax NZ News