Lang Park

Suncorp Stadium

The Cauldron
Former names	John Brown Oval Suncorp-Metway Stadium Lang Park
Location	40 Castlemaine Street, Milton, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Coordinates	27°27′53″S 153°0′34″E / 27.46472°S 153.00944°E / -27.46472; 153.00944Coordinates: 27°27′53″S 153°0′34″E / 27.46472°S 153.00944°E / -27.46472; 153.00944
Owner	Queensland Government
Operator	AEG Ogden (Brisbane) Pty Ltd
Capacity	52,500[1]
Record attendance	52,500 (Queensland rugby league team vs New South Wales 8 July 2015)
Field size	136 x 82 m
Field shape	Rectangular
Surface	Grass (Strathayr turf)[2]
Construction
Broke ground	1911
Opened	1914[3]
Construction cost	A$ 280 million (redevelopment)
Architect	Populous & PDT Architects in Association
Structural engineer	Ove Arup & Partners
Tenants
Queensland (State of Origin) (1980–present) Brisbane Broncos (NRL) (1988–1992, 2003–present) Queensland Reds (Super Rugby) (2005–present) Brisbane Roar (A-League) (2005–present) South Queensland Crushers (ARL) (1995–1997) Brisbane Strikers (NSL) (1994–1999) 2015 AFC Asian Cup Brisbane City (NRC) (2014-present)

Brisbane Stadium is the official name of the venue, with Lang Park being the original name of the site located in the Brisbane suburb of Milton, Queensland, Australia, now occupied by the major sports facility known by its sponsorship name, Suncorp Stadium (formerly Suncorp-Supa Stadium). While now a multi-purpose stadium, it is better known locally as a rugby league venue.

The current facility comprises a three tiered rectangular sporting stadium with a capacity of 52,500 people.^[1] Phil Gould suggests that the enclosed stands situated on the sidelines make it arguably the best rectangular stadium in Australia for spectator viewing and atmosphere for rugby league, rugby union and soccer. The top tier is closed for events less than 30,000 enhancing the intimacy. Its playing field is 136 metres x 82 metres.^[2]

Lang Park was established in 1914, on the site of the former North Brisbane Cemetery, and in its early days was home to a number of different sports, including cycling, athletics and soccer. The lease of the park was taken over by rugby league and it became the home of the game in Queensland in 1957 (and remains so to this day). It has also been the home ground of major rugby union and soccer matches in Queensland since its modern redevelopment, including the Queensland Reds and the Brisbane Roar, and some Wallabies and Socceroos matches. It hosted the 2008 Rugby League World Cup Final.

History

Origins

The site of Lang Park was originally the North Brisbane Cemetery, 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.^[4][5]

The ground was leased by the Queensland Amateur Athletics Association (QAAA) in the 1920s. In 1935, the Queensland Soccer Council (QSC) became a sub-tenant of the QAAA, with a view to using it as the home ground for Brisbane soccer fixtures (leaving its former home, the Brisbane Cricket Ground).^[6] The Latrobe Soccer Club, in turn, became a sub-tenant of the QSC, using the ground for its home games (see image below).

However, by 1937, the QSC was considering sub-leasing Lang Park to "another code of football" (most likely Western Suburbs Rugby League) as it "was not satisfied with the financial returns ... under the sub-lease to the Latrobe-Milton club".^[7] Latrobe in turn responded that "'If no action Is taken to introduce the Ipswich clubs into the Brisbane competition this' season ... the Latrobe-Milton Club cannot accept an increase in rental for Lang Park. Give us competition play with Ipswich and my club will hold the ground as headquarters for the code."^[8] On 11 February 1950, the official opening of the Lang Park Police Citizens Youth Club took place and youth activities commenced because of the concerns with the increase of juvenile delinquency. Activities such as boxing, wrestling, basketball and gymnastics all occur at these premises to this day. Contemporaneous records are scant, but it appears the QSC did not renew the lease the ground after the intervening World War II. 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 during the 1930s, with regular BRL games commencing there in 1955. In 1958 it hosted its first Brisbane rugby league grand final in which Brothers defeated Valleys 22 points to 7.^[9] A record crowd of 19,824 saw Northern Suburbs defeat Fortitude Valley at Lang Park in the BRL grand final in September 1961.^[10] Fonda Metassa became a part of Lang Park folklore when he famously burst from the back of an ambulance to return to the field after being carted off injured in a match for Norths against Redcliffe in 1960s. 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 McAuliffe Stand (1975) 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.^[11]

From the 1960s Lang Park hosted interstate and international rugby league, including the inaugural State of Origin match. Up until 1972, it was the home ground of the Western Suburbs Panthers and from 1988 to 1992 it was also the home ground of the Brisbane Broncos.

In 1994, the stadium's name was changed to Suncorp Stadium, when naming sponsorship was attained by Queensland financial institution, Suncorp-Metway Limited. On 25 May 1997 the 1996/1997 National Soccer League Grand final was played in front of then a capacity crowd of 40,446, where the Brisbane Strikers F.C. defeated Sydney United FC 2–0.

Redevelopment

In the late 1990s, it was decided that Brisbane needed a state of the art rectangular stadium. Suncorp Stadium was chosen as the site. The $280 million redevelopment commenced in July 2001 after Game One of the 2001 State of Origin series. The redevelopment was completed in time for the match between the Brisbane Broncos and Newcastle Knights on 1 June 2003; Brisbane's first game at Suncorp Stadium since 1996.

The stadium is now a 52,500 state of the art all-seater rectangular stadium, a far cry from the former Lang Park oval with two grandstands set back from a perimeter road. The only remaining stand from before the redevelopment is the Western Grandstand. The extension of the facility resulted in the demolition of a number of buildings along Milton Road, including the former Brisbane City Council trolley-bus depot.

During their relocating year, the Broncos only recorded one win at the venue, against the Sydney Roosters in Round 16, 2003, unlike one loss at their previous home, ANZ Stadium in Round 5, 2003, against the New Zealand Warriors.

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 rugby league players using it (temporarily earning the stadium the nickname "Sandcorp Stadium" ). 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.

Suncorp Stadium suffered major damage as a result of the 2010–2011 Queensland floods with the entire playing field being covered by flood water.^[12] As a result, an electrical fire started in a transformer room, however there was no major damage from the fire.^[13] Brisbane Roar's match with Wellington Phoenix, originally scheduled for the weekend of 14–16 January, was postponed until 26 January, and the remaining Brisbane Roar home matches were relocated to Skilled Park on the Gold Coast. Suncorp Stadium was out of action until late February, but restored just in time for the NRL season kick-off. However, temporary change rooms have been set up as the original change rooms were damaged as a result of the floods. The original change room was restored in time for the 2012 NRL season kick-off.

In September 2016 it was announced that the video screens, originally installed in 2003, would be replaced.^[14]

Today

Although the stadium has been the traditional home of rugby league in Queensland, it has also become the state's premier venue for soccer, as well as rugby union. The re-developed Suncorp Stadium first hosted rugby union games at the 2003 Rugby World Cup and in 2005, the stadium became the new home of the Queensland Reds Super Rugby team when they moved from their former home at Ballymore Stadium. This move caused some disquiet amongst rugby traditionalists, however was accepted by Queensland Rugby Union CEO Theo Psaros, who said that "our hearts may be at Ballymore but our heads say it's time to move.". The year before the Reds' move, the newly established football team Queensland Roar of the A-League also elected to play their home games at Suncorp Stadium.

New Zealand rugby journalist Wynne Gray called Suncorp Stadium perhaps the best rugby stadium in the world. "It is so intimate you can hear the smack of bodies, the boot on leather, you feel the power and rhythm of the games."^[15]

The stadium has also been favourably compared to Cardiff's Millennium Stadium and London's Twickenham Stadium.^[16]

On 29 July 2006 the Bledisloe Cup clash between the Wallabies and the All Blacks returned to Brisbane for the first time in over a decade for the 2006 Tri Nations Series. Though Australia narrowly lost the match, the game saw a new ground record set.

A month later on 7 October the stadium hosted a 1–1 friendly soccer game between Australia and Paraguay in which Tony Vidmar, Stan Lazaridis, Zeljko Kalac and goal scorer Tony Popovic all retired from international football.

On 8 November 2006 a crowd of 44,358 at Suncorp Stadium saw the Great Britain national rugby league team play against Australia for the last time.

On Wednesday 13 and Thursday 14 December, Suncorp Stadium hosted its first music concert since the 1980s and the stadium's redevelopment when Robbie Williams performed in front of two 52,413 sell-out crowds during his "Close Encounters" tour of Australia, and was the venue for the U2 360 tour in December 2010. That same month the stadium hosted Bon Jovi as part of The Circle Tour.

Suncorp Stadium was also the site of the 2011 A-League Grand Final, drawing a crowd of over 50,000 for the climactic football event. The match was one of the dramatic in A-League history, with the Brisbane Roar scoring two goals in the last five minutes to level the scores with the Central Coast Mariners after several hundred home supporters had left the stadium early, many returning after hearing the stadium erupt while waiting for the train. The Roar went on to win 4–2 in the penalty shootout, making for an incredible victory.

The stadium is also home to the Lang Park Police Citizens Youth Club.

American Singer-Songwriter Taylor Swift played at Suncorp Stadium for her Red Tour on 7 December 2013.

Crowd averages

Team	Sport	Crowd average	Season
Queensland Maroons	Rugby league	52,500	2015 (one game)
The Wallabies	Rugby union	47,444	2012 International Rugby Union Tests
Brisbane Broncos	Rugby league	35,354	2014
Queensland Reds	Rugby union	28,500	2014 Super Rugby season
Brisbane Roar	Association football	14,128	2012–13

Popular culture

In the 1980s Brisbane rugby league icon Wally Lewis became known as The Emperor of Lang Park after his performances in 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^[11]

There are bronze statues of Wally Lewis,^[17] Darren Lockyer,^[18] Mal Meninga,^[19] and the legendary Arthur Beetson^[20] erected outside the stadium.

The stadium has been nicknamed Fortress Suncorp for the Wallabies due to their impressive record at the redeveloped venue.^[21]

It is also known colloquially in rugby league circles as "the Cauldron", especially by visiting teams. This is due to how difficult it is for visiting teams to escape with a win under their belt, and the fact that when large crowds are present verbal communication is almost non-existent between players as their voices are inevitably lost beneath the roar of the crowd. This is also due to Suncorp Stadiums perfect rectangular stadium design, where patrons are almost sitting on top of the players: the roar has been indicated to develop a noise higher than the Melbourne Cricket Ground and ANZ Stadium but slightly quieter than Adelaide Oval, many high class players have also indicated the atmosphere value of Suncorp Stadium.

In 2006, Queensland Minister for Sport, Tom Barton introduced the Stadium's Sports Media Hall of Fame which honours the achievements of media representatives who have covered the two major football codes (Rugby League and Rugby Union) played at this historic ground over the past 40 years.^[22] So far there are five inductees: rugby league commentator George Lovejoy, rugby league journalists Jack Reardon and Steve Ricketts, Gerry Collins and Frank O'Callaghan.

Concerts

Date[23]	Performer(s)	Attendance
13–14 December 2006	Robbie Williams	104,992
22 January 2008	The Police	25,391
3–4 December 2008	André Rieu	46,835
8–9 December 2010	U2	84,011
14 December 2010	Bon Jovi	40,520
21 November 2012	Coldplay	52,497
7 December 2013	Taylor Swift	38,907
17 December 2013	Bon Jovi	41,376
20 February 2014	Eminem	43,339
11 February 2015	One Direction	32,889
24 February 2015	Foo Fighters	39,851
28 November 2015	Ed Sheeran	46,135
5 December 2015	Taylor Swift	46,881
6 December 2016	Coldplay	TBA
13 March 2017	Justin Bieber	TBA

Accessibility

Controversially, the redevelopment was the first major sporting facility in Australia with no car parking, primarily due to concerns with traffic congestion in the surrounding residential neighborhood. The stadium's proximity to pubs, restaurants, cafes, bars and the XXXX brewery, together with dedicated pedestrian links to Milton railway station and Brisbane CBD adds to the match day experience and is seen as a model for new stadiums and large entertainment venues. The stadium redevelopment has been the catalyst for the Barracks urban renewal development at Petrie Terrace midway along the dedicated pedestrian link to the CBD.

Walking	Pedestrian access Suncorp Stadium is within walking distance of the CBD area of Brisbane.
Ferry	CityCat Suncorp Stadium is within walking distance of the Milton CityCat stop, which opened in January 2015.
Bus	Bus access Suncorp Stadium is close to bus-stops for the 375 City bus. The bus route is Bardon (outbound) — Stafford (via city – inbound) 385 CityXpress "BUZ" bus. The bus route is The Gap (outbound) — City (inbound). The BUZ bus runs every 10–15 minutes, 6am to 11pm, 7 days a week. Frequent shuttle bus services are provided by Brisbane Transport on match days and for special events, typically from the CBD, Chermside, Carindale and Eight Mile Plains to the bus station under the stadium concourse.
Train	Train access Suncorp Stadium is easily accessible from Milton and Roma Street stations. Ticket holders are granted free transport on match days:with additional trains scheduled to Milton before and after all major events.
Car	There is no public parking at the Stadium. However, paid parking stations are available within 10-minute walking distance in the CBD.

Facts

Record crowd	52,500 – Rugby League, 8 July 2015 Queensland vs New South Wales 2015 State of Origin series
Video screen	Yes (x2)
Lights	Yes
Sports played	Rugby league, Rugby union, Soccer
Annual events	State of Origin series, Queensland Cup Grand Final
Historic events	1968 Rugby League World Cup 1975 Rugby League World Cup 1977 Rugby League World Cup 1980 State of Origin game 1993 FIFA World Youth Championship* * The first golden goal since the 1993 rule change by FIFA was in March 1993 by Australia against Uruguay in a quarterfinal match at the FIFA World Youth Championships at Suncorp Stadium, Qld, Australia 2003 Rugby World Cup 2008 Rugby League World Cup (plus the Final) 2011 Super Rugby Final 2011 A-League Grand Final 2012 A-League Grand Final 2015 AFC Asian Cup.

2015 AFC Asian Cup

Date	Time (UTC+10)	Team #1	Res.	Team #2	Round	Attendance
10 January 2015	19:00	Saudi Arabia	0–1	China PR	Group B	12,557
12 January 2015	19:00	Jordan	0–1	Iraq	Group D	6,840
14 January 2015	19:00	China PR	2–1	Uzbekistan	Group B	13,674
16 January 2015	19:00	Iraq	0–1	Japan	Group D	22,941
17 January 2015	19:00	Australia	0–1	South Korea	Group A	48,513
19 January 2015	19:00	Iran	1–0	United Arab Emirates	Group C	11,394
22 January 2015	21:30	China PR	0–2	Australia	Quarter-finals	46,067

Controversies

On Saturday, 16 June 2011, The Weekend Australian revealed that Suncorp Stadium was in danger of either losing the hosting rights to all Queensland based NRL finals matches to Sydney, or having its capacity limited to 25,000 seats, due to a condition included in the legislation regarding the Stadium's redevelopment that only 24 'special events' (i.e. with attendance in excess of 25,000) a year can hosted at the venue. This number of special events was reached when the Brisbane Broncos faced the Manly Sea Eagles in Round 26 of the 2011 NRL Telstra Premiership Season. On 6 September 2011, legislation was passed to lift the crowd capacity limit to 35,000 for those 24 events, enabling the Broncos to host finals matches should they progress that far. ^[24]

The stadium's grass quality was criticized by coaches and players during 2015 AFC Asian Cup.

Rugby league test matches

The venue has hosted forty Australia internationals. The results were as follows;^[25]

Date	Opponents	Result	Attendance	Part of
30 July 1962	Great Britain	10–17	34,766	1962 Ashes series
22 June 1963	New Zealand	13–16	30,748	1963 Trans-Tasman Test series
20 July 1963	South Africa	34–6	10,210
4 July 1964	France	27–2	20,076
16 July 1966	Great Britain	6–4	45,057	1966 Ashes series and pre redevelopment attendance record
1 July 1967	New Zealand	35–22	30,122	1967 Trans-Tasman Test series
1 June 1968		31–12	23,608	1968 World Cup
8 June 1968	France	37–4	32,664	1968 World Cup
6 June 1970	Great Britain	37–15	42,807	1970 Ashes series
15 July 1972	New Zealand	31–7	20,847	1972 Trans-Tasman Test series
1 June 1975		36–8	12,000	1975 World Cup
22 June 1975	France	26–6	9,000	1975 World Cup
18 June 1977	Great Britain	15–5	27,000	1977 World Cup
15 July 1978	New Zealand	38–7	14,000	1978 Trans-Tasman Test series
16 July 1979	Great Britain	35–0	23,051	1979 Ashes series
18 July 1981	France	17–2	14,000
3 July 1982	New Zealand	11–8	11,400	1982 Trans-Tasman Test series
9 July 1983		12–19	15,000	1983 Trans-Tasman Test series
26 June 1984	Great Britain	18–6	26,534	1984 Ashes series
18 June 1985	New Zealand	26–20	22,000	1985 Trans-Tasman Test series
29 July 1986		32–12	22,811	1985-88 World Cup and 1986 Trans-Tasman Test series
21 July 1987		6–13	16,500
28 June 1988	Great Britain	34–14	27,130	1988 Ashes series
31 July 1991	New Zealand	40–12	29,139	1989-92 World Cup and 1991 Trans-Tasman Test series
3 July 1992	Great Britain	16–10	32,313	1989-92 World Cup and 1992 Ashes series
30 June 1993	New Zealand	16–4	32,000	1993 Trans-Tasman Test series
23 June 1995		26–8	25,309	1995 Trans-Tasman Test series
14 July 1995		46–10	20,803	1995 Trans-Tasman Test series
11 July 1997	Rest of the World	28–8	14,927	Only test match played for the ARL test team for 1997
9 October 1998	New Zealand	30–12	18,501
22 October 1999	Great Britain	42–6	12,511	1999 Tri-Nations
25 April 2005	New Zealand	32–16	40,317	2005 Anzac Test
5 May 2006		50–16	44,191	2006 Anzac Test
18 November 2006	Great Britain	33–10	44,358	2006 Tri-Nations
20 April 2007	New Zealand	30–6	35,241	2007 Anzac Test
23 November 2008		20–34	50,599	2008 World Cup Final. Record Test attendance at Lang Park
8 May 2009		38–10	37,152	2009 Anzac Test
13 November 2010		12–16	36,299	2010 Four Nations Final
25 October 2014		12–30	47,813*	2014 Four Nations
3 May 2015		12–26	32,681	2015 Anzac Test

It also hosted three non Australia matches. Incidentally, they were all England matches. The first was a 1975 Rugby League World Cup match against Wales on 10 June 1975 with 6,000 in attendance and lost 12 - 7. The second was a 2008 Rugby League World Cup match against New Zealand on 15 November 2008 with 26,659 in attendance and lost 32 - 22. The third and final to date was a 2014 Four Nations match between against Samoa with 47,813 in attendance and was a double header which was followed by the Australia New Zealand match. England won 32 - 26.

Suncorp Stadium will host two matches of the 2017 Rugby League World Cup. The venue will play host to the first semi-final on 24 November and the tournament final on 2 December.

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lang Park.

• Suncorp Stadium
• Lang Park at Austadiums

Preceded by Old Trafford 2000	Rugby League World Cup Final venue 2008	Succeeded by Old Trafford 2013