Lang Park
The Cauldron | |
 | |
| Former names | Lang Park Suncorp-Metway Stadium |
|---|---|
| Location | Milton, Brisbane, Queensland |
| Owner | Queensland Government |
| Operator | Ogden IFC (Brisbane) Pty Ltd |
| Capacity | 52,579 |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1911 |
| Opened | 1914 |
| Closed | Open |
| Demolished | Redeveloped 2001-2003 |
| Construction cost | $280,000,000 (redevelopment) |
| Architect | HOK and PDT |
| Tenants | |
| Brisbane Broncos (NRL) (2005 average: 30,300) Queensland Roar FC (A-League) (2005 average: 16,895) Queensland Reds (Super 14) (2005 average: 15,619) | |
Suncorp Stadium, located in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia and formerly known as Lang Park, is the home of rugby league in Queensland since 1957, and today hosts rugby league, rugby union and football (soccer) matches. The original Stadium Lang Park was built on the site of a cemetery in 1857, and then redeveloped and renamed to Suncorp Stadium in 2003.
History
Origins
The site of Lang Park was originally the North Brisbane Burial Grounds, and until 1875 was Brisbane's primary cemetery. By 1911 the area was heavily populated, so the Paddington Cemeteries Act (1911) was introduced and the site was redeveloped as a recreational site. In 1914 it was fenced off and named Lang Park after John Dunmore Lang.[1]
In 1953 the Brisbane Rugby League (BRL) amalgamated with the Queensland Rugby League (QRL). QRL secretary Ron McAullife negotiated a 21 year lease of Lang Park from the Brisbane City Council in order to give the QRL a financially viable base of operations. The park had only the most basic facilities, and the QRL contributed £17,000 to its development.
Lang Park hosted its first game of first grade rugby league in 1957. In 1958 it hosted its first Brisbane rugby league grand final in which Brothers defeated Valleys 22 points to 7.[2]
As the ground was used increasingly by the QRL it became no longer viable for use as a public recreation facility. In 1962 the Lang Park Trust was created under an act of Parliament. This allowed for the construction of the Frank Burke Stand (1962), Ron McAullife Stand (early 1970s) and the Western Grandstand (1994). The Trust had on its board one member from the Queensland Government, one member from the Brisbane City Council, two members from the Queensland Rugby League and one member from the Brisbane Rugby League.[3]
From the 1960s Lang Park hosted interstate and international rugby league, including the inaugural Rugby League State of Origin match. During the 1970s it was the home ground of the Wests Panthers and from 1988 to 1992 it was also the home ground of the Brisbane Broncos.
Redevelopment
In the late 1990s it was decided that Brisbane needed a state of the art football stadium, and after much debate about the location Lang Park (now known as Suncorp Stadium) was chosen as the site.
At a cost of $280,000,000 the redevelopment was completed in 2003. The redeveloped stadium's first event was a National Rugby League match between the Brisbane Broncos and the Newcastle Knights on 1 June 2003. The only remaining stand from before the redevelopment is the Western Grandstand.
The stadium design allows most spectators to sit close to the field. Following its redevelopment, questions were raised about the standard of the surface, which was soft underfoot and sandy and was blamed for a spate of injuries to footballers using it (temporarily earning the stadium the nickname "Sandcorp Stadium" [4]). Prior to the redevelopment, the stadium was known as "The Cauldron", and Queensland fans developed a reputation for vocal support of their teams, adding to this mythology.
Much of this mythology centred around the Queensland Rugby League team who played home games at the stadium until 2001. The Maroons were viewed as almost unbeatable in front of their fanatical home supporters, however the first games played after the redevelopment of the stadium ended in victories to the visiting team. While the home fans are beginning to reassert themselves, many believe that the aura of invincibility that home teams have at the stadium has been permanently lost.
Today
Although the stadium has been the traditional home of rugby league in Queensland it hosted games during the 2003 Rugby World Cup, and from 2006 it will be the home ground for the Queensland Reds rugby union team. [5] This move has caused some disquiet amongst rugby traditionalists. "Our hearts may be at Ballymore but our heads say it's time to move," said Queensland Rugby Union CEO Theo Psaros. [6]. The Queensland Roar FC also plays at Suncorp Stadium in the newly formed A-League
Popular culture
In the 1980s Wally Lewis became known as The Emperor of Lang Park after his performances in Rugby League State of Origin matches played at the ground. Brisbane-based beer XXXX, which is brewed at the nearby Castlemaine Brewery, ran a television advertisement celebrating this title in song.
- Here's to Wally Lewis for lacing on a boot
- Sometimes he plays it rugged, sometimes he plays it cute
- He slices through a backline like a Stradbroke Island shark
- There's glue on all his fingers, he's the Emperor of Lang Park[7]
Accessibility
The stadium is within walking distance of the CBD area of Brisbane. It is close to bus-stops for the 375 City Bus and 385 CityXpress Bus and easily accessible from Milton Railway Station and Roma Street Railway StationCityTrain stations. Ticket holders are granted free transport on match days.
Facts
| Record crowd | 52,429 Rugby League State of Origin Game 1 11 June 2003 |
| Video screen | Yes |
| Lights | Yes |
| Sports played | Rugby League, Rugby Union, Football (soccer) |
| Annual events | State of Origin, Queensland Cup Grand Final |
| Historic events | 1968 Rugby League World Cup 1975 Rugby League World Cup 1977 Rugby League World Cup 1980 Rugby League State of Origin 2003 Rugby Union World Cup |
Image gallery
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The Milton Road entrance to Suncorp Stadium -
Suncorp Stadium hosting a State of Origin Rugby League match in 2003.
Sources
- ^ Gallaway, Jack Origin: Rugby League's Greatest Contest 1980-2002 University of Queensland Press, 2003 ISBN 0702233838
- ^ McGregor, Adrian King Wally University of Queensland Press, 1986 ISBN 070222037X
- ^ Mallory, Greg "Key 'Milestones' Affecting Community and Administration in the Brisbane Rugby League: 1922 -1987" retrieved December 7, 2005
- ^ Suncorp Stadium History retrieved December 5, 2005
- Suncorp Stadium by the Queensland Government Major Sports Facilities Authority, retrieved December 6, 2005
- Suncorp Stadium Redevelopment retrieved December 6, 2005
External links
- Suncorp Stadium - Official site