But down on the waterfront, on some reclaimed land next to Logan Park, the stadium has been steadily rising, its roof trusses lifted into place by giant cranes, and ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) roofing material attached, pumped up and now keeping the weather at bay.
The Otago Daily Times was this week given a tour of the site, the first media contingent to see how the stadium has taken shape.
While work was most definitely still under way, and the east and west ends of the complex were still open to the elements, it was possible to get a good idea of what the stadium experience might offer the city.
One obvious change on the site was the rapid development of what will be the University of Otago's Oamaru stone-clad building, understood to be costing about $50 million, which is taking shape on the Logan Park side of the stadium.
On entering the site, it becomes very clear concerns the roof is not high enough to accommodate the sort of towering bombs some rugby players can put up are wide of the mark.
The roof is high - very high.
It is also clear one of the claims that has been made about the stadium - that it will deliver excellent sight lines from every seat - is true.
Whether standing at the bottom corner of the north stand, or the very top of the south stand, the area where the grass will grow next year is in clear view, and never far away.
That is despite the upper levels of the south stand bringing on the dizzying beginnings of vertigo.
The Dunedin stadium differs from, for instance, the Sydney Football Stadium, where the upper levels are some way away from the pitch.
The steep nature of the stands means that up just a few "steps" of the north stand, for instance, you quickly begin to rise well above the ground, with a good view of the pitch.
The ETFE roof, from inside the structure, appears much clearer than from a distance.
The sky is clearly in view, and, on Tuesday, the sun was shining directly on to the pitch, giving the feeling of being outside, while protected from the elements.
Ground level on both south and north stands contains plenty of spaces for food and goods outlets.
While the inside of the south stand is still under construction, it features an extended concourse running the length of the stand at ground level.
The corporate and membership lounges in the upper floors are, at the moment, long empty halls, also running the length of the stand, but they will be partitioned as building progresses.
There appears to be no shortage of space on those levels.
The overall impression of the stadium is of a structure that is both substantial, yet intimate - for a stadium.
Its eventual success may come down to details; the provision of plenty of video screens and similar technology, and the experience on game day for punters.
It will be that experience that will help make or break the success of the facility.
