Ballymore Stadium

Last updated

Ballymore Stadium
Ballymore
The Duke of Edinburgh, Brisbane, October 1982.jpg
Ballymore Stadium
Location Herston, Queensland
Coordinates 27°26′31″S153°1′4″E / 27.44194°S 153.01778°E / -27.44194; 153.01778
OwnerQueensland Rugby Union
Capacity 6,000 [1]
SurfaceGrass
Opened1966
Tenants
Queensland Reds (Super Rugby) (1996–2004)
Brisbane City (NRC) (2014–2019)
Brisbane Roar A-League Men (2024–present)
Brisbane Roar A-League Women (2023–present)
Australia women's rugby union team

Ballymore is a rugby union stadium situated in Herston, a suburb of Brisbane, Australia. It is the headquarters of Queensland Rugby Union and was the home ground of the Brisbane City team in the National Rugby Championship, until the league's disbandment in 2019. It is also used as a training facility for the Queensland Reds and Australian Wallabies rugby teams.

Contents

The stadium was the home ground of the Reds until they moved to Suncorp Stadium in 2006. The Brisbane Strikers football club also played at the ground prior to 2003. Ballymore was used as a training facility and headquarters for A-League club Brisbane Roar from 2008 to 2014. It will be used as the club's women's home stadium from 2023–24 season. [2]

History

The Queensland Rugby Union (QRU) set up its headquarters at Ballymore in 1966 under a deed of grant from the state government. The first club game played at the new site was a match between Teachers and Wests. The QRU moved in February 1967. In March of the following year Ballymore's grandstand was officially opened. The Eastern Stand was opened on 21 June 1992. The ground exceeded capacity in 1993 when 26,000 watched the Wallabies play South Africa. A year later the first match under lights was played at the ground. Today the grandstand is known as the McLean Stand (named in 1982 after the McLean family). [3] The Eastern stand is known as the Bank of Queensland stand.

The Queensland Reds played their home matches at Ballymore from 1967 until 2005. [4] Their Super Rugby matches were moved to Lang Park for the 2006 season but they still played their home games in the 2006 Australian Provincial Championship at Ballymore. The stadium also hosted the Ballymore Tornadoes during the only season of the Australian Rugby Championship in 2007.

During the 2032 Summer Olympics, Ballymore will host field hockey. [5] [6]

Present use

Though the Reds have since moved out of Ballymore to Suncorp Stadium, which has almost three times the capacity, Ballymore is still the host to many rugby union matches. The Queensland Premier Rugby finals are held at the ground, and Queensland XV and off-season matches for the Reds are also played at Ballymore. From 2014 until 2019, Brisbane City held its home National Rugby Championship matches at the stadium.

The QRU has plans to redevelop the site to include a high performance centre comprising advanced sports medicine and training facilities, a gymnasium and aquatic facilities, as well as on-site accommodation for visiting teams, with Brisbane firm Blight Rayner as architects for the project. [7]

Ballymore was the planned home venue for Brisbane City's failed bid to join the A-League. [8] In November 2018, a planned friendly football match between South Korea and Uzbekistan had to be moved to QSAC due to the poor state of the pitch. [9]

In February 2021 demolition and construction works commenced on the stadium and surrounding precinct, to allow for the creation of the National Rugby Training Centre. The McLean Stand was demolished in February 2021, and will be replaced by the indoor training centre which includes a new grandstand capable of seating 3010 spectators, and also features corporate facilities, a 700 square-metre gym, rehabilitation areas, a 75-seat auditorium, a 120-seat function room, changing rooms and offices. A second rugby field with surrounding offices is included in the masterplan, though has not been constructed. [10] [11]

The National Rugby Training Centre will be the headquarters for the Australia women's national rugby union team (the Wallaroos) and a training site for the Queensland Reds men's, women's and academy teams.

Rugby World Cup

Ballymore hosted five matches of the 1987 Rugby World Cup. These matches were:

DateCompetitionTeamScoreTeamAttendance
24 May 1987 1987 Rugby World Cup Pool 1 Japan  Flag of Japan.svg8–21Flag of the United States.svg  United States 4,000
31 May 1987 1987 Rugby World Cup Pool 1 Australia  Flag of Australia (converted).svg47–12Flag of the United States.svg  United States 10,855
3 June 1987 1987 Rugby World Cup Pool 2 Ireland  IRFU flag.svg32–9Flag of Tonga.svg  Tonga 4,000
8 June 1987 1987 Rugby World Cup Quarter-final England  Flag of England.svg7–16Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 15,000
14 June 1987 1987 Rugby World Cup Semi-final New Zealand  Flag of New Zealand.svg49–6Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 22,576

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Queensland Reds</span> Australian rugby union club, based in Brisbane

The Queensland Reds is the rugby union team for the Australian state of Queensland that competes in the Southern Hemisphere's Super Rugby competition. Prior to 1996, they were a representative team selected from the rugby union club competitions in Queensland. With the introduction of the professional Super 12 competition they moved to a model where players are contracted to the Reds through the Queensland Rugby Union rather than selected on the basis of club form.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lang Park</span> Multi-purpose stadium in Milton, Queensland, Australia

Lang Park, nicknamed "The Cauldron", also known as Brisbane Stadium and by the sponsored name Suncorp Stadium, is a multi-purpose stadium in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, located in the suburb of Milton. The current facility comprises a three-tiered rectangular sporting stadium with a capacity of 52,500 people. The traditional home of rugby league in Brisbane, the modern stadium is also now used for rugby union and soccer and has a rectangular playing field of 136 by 82 metres. The stadium's major tenants are the Brisbane Broncos, the Dolphins (NRL), the Queensland Reds and the Queensland Maroons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Newcastle International Sports Centre</span> Sports stadium in Newcastle, Australia

Newcastle International Sports Centre, known as McDonald Jones Stadium for sponsorship reasons, is a multi-purpose sports stadium located in Newcastle, Australia. The ground is home to the Newcastle Knights and Newcastle Jets FC (A-League). It is owned by the Government of New South Wales and is administered by Venues NSW. Due to past sponsorship deals, the ground has been previously known as Marathon Stadium, EnergyAustralia Stadium, Ausgrid Stadium and Hunter Stadium. Newcastle International Sports Centre is also known as Newcastle Stadium when in use during AFC competitions due to conflicting sponsorship reasons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carrara Stadium</span> Stadium on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia

Carrara Stadium is a stadium on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia, located in the suburb of Carrara.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Gabba</span> Sports stadium in Brisbane, Australia

The Brisbane Cricket Ground, commonly known as the Gabba, is a major sports stadium in Brisbane, the capital of Queensland, Australia. The nickname Gabba derives from the suburb of Woolloongabba, in which it is located. Over the years, the Gabba has hosted athletics, Australian rules football, baseball, concerts, cricket, cycling, rugby league, rugby union, Association football and pony and greyhound racing. At present, it serves as the home ground for the Queensland Bulls in domestic cricket, the Brisbane Heat of the Big Bash League and Women's Big Bash League, and the Brisbane Lions of the Australian Football League. It is also the secondary home of the Brisbane Broncos of the National Rugby League. The stadium will receive an upgrade for the 2032 Summer Olympics and Paralympics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre</span> Multi-puropse sports facility in Brisbane, Queensland

The Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre is a multi-purpose sports facility in Nathan, Queensland, located 10 kilometres south-east of the Brisbane CBD. Its main stadium – formerly known as QEII Stadium, and later ANZ Stadium under a naming rights agreement with ANZ – accommodates 48,500 spectators, while its smaller State Athletics Facility accommodates 2,100 spectators. Both stadiums feature Rekortan running tracks and natural grass fields. The Queensland Academy of Sport, Queensland State Netball Centre, and a complex of beach volleyball courts are also housed at the facility. QSAC is owned by the Queensland Government, and its main stadium and State Athletics Facility are operated through its agency, Stadiums Queensland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hindmarsh Stadium</span> Football stadium

Hindmarsh Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Hindmarsh, an inner western suburb of Adelaide, South Australia. It is the home of the Australian A-League team, Adelaide United.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Willows Sports Complex</span> Stadium in Townsville, Queensland, Australia

The Willows Sports Complex was a grass football stadium situated in Townsville, Queensland, Australia. It was used predominantly as a rugby league ground as the home ground of the North Queensland Cowboys National Rugby League club. The ground was also used for rugby union and soccer. From 2009 to 2011, A-League football club North Queensland Fury called it home.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sport in Brisbane</span>

Sport is a significant aspect of the Brisbane lifestyle. Activities range from the occasional international event, annual competitions, competitive leagues and individual recreational pursuits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Browne Park</span>

Browne Park is a rectangular football stadium located in the Rockhampton suburb of Wandal, Queensland, Australia. The venue has been the home of rugby football in Central Queensland since 1890 and today also hosts rugby union and soccer matches. It hosted a match of the 2008 Rugby League World Cup. The ground was named Browne Park in 1958 as a posthumous honour to long serving president of Rockhampton Rugby League, Jack Browne who died in office.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dolphin Stadium (Brisbane)</span> Stadium in Kippa-Ring, Queensland, Australia

Dolphin Stadium is a sports stadium in the suburb of Kippa-Ring in the City of Moreton Bay, north of the adjoining Brisbane metropolitan city, Queensland, Australia. Formerly known as Moreton Daily Stadium under a previous naming rights agreement, the stadium serves as the home ground for the Redcliffe Dolphins rugby league club in the Queensland Cup, and NRL club, the Dolphins.

Clive Berghofer Stadium is a stadium in Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia. Situated on Mary Street on the eastern fringes of Toowoomba CBD adjacent to Queens Park and Toowoomba East State School. The ticket counters and entrance are on Arthur Street behind the grandstand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Concord Oval</span> Rugby stadium in Sydney

Concord Oval, is a rugby football stadium in the inner-west Sydney suburb of Concord, Australia. The stadium is able to hold 5,000 people as of November 2022, down from 20,000 when the Concord Oval was opened in 1985. As of 2022, it is used mostly for rugby union matches and hosted eight matches during the 1987 Rugby World Cup. It is also a venue for soccer matches and local rugby league matches.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brisbane City (rugby union)</span> Rugby team

Brisbane City is an Australian rugby union football team based in Brisbane that competed in the National Rugby Championship (NRC). The team is one of two Queensland sides in the competition, the other being Queensland Country. Brisbane City is organised and managed by the Queensland Rugby Union (QRU), with the coaching and training programs utilised by the Queensland Reds being extended to players joining the team from the Reds and Queensland Premier Rugby teams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Queensland Country (NRC team)</span> Rugby team

Queensland Country is an Australian rugby union football team that competed in the National Rugby Championship (NRC). The team is one of two Queensland sides in the competition, the other being Brisbane City. Queensland Country is organised and managed by the Queensland Rugby Union (QRU), with the coaching and training programs used at the Queensland Reds extended to players joining the team from the Reds, Premier and Country rugby teams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rugby union in Queensland</span>

Rugby union in Queensland has traditionally been one of the most popular professional and recreational team sports in the state. Rugby union was introduced in the British colony's capital Brisbane in 1876. Initially it struggled to gain a foothold due to the popularity of Australian rules there until it got its break in 1882 with the first inter-colonial matches against New South Wales, and the formation of the Northern Rugby Union. Between 1885 and 1887 it became the dominant code after the leading schools association decided to play it exclusively and after 1890 spread virtually unopposed throughout the colony.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Penrith Stadium</span> Stadium in Penrith, New South Wales, Australia

Penrith Stadium is a rugby league and association football stadium located in Penrith, New South Wales, Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Springfield Central Stadium</span> Australian rules football stadium in Ipswich, Queensland, Australia

Springfield Central Stadium is an Australian rules football venue located in Springfield, a suburb of Ipswich, approximately 30 km south-west of Brisbane.

References

  1. ↑ "Ballymore Stadium". Austadiums. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  2. ↑ D'Urbano, Nick (19 April 2023). "Roar to return to Brisbane permanently next season". KeepUp.com.au. Australian Professional Leagues. Archived from the original on 14 August 2023. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  3. ↑ Meares, Peter (2002). Legends of Australian Sport: The Inside Story. University of Queensland Press. pp. 166–167. ISBN   9780702234101. Archived from the original on 1 March 2017. Retrieved 20 May 2013.
  4. ↑ "The move to Suncorp from Ballymore". Queensland Rugby. 2013. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
  5. ↑ Ballymore Stadium becomes first Brisbane 2032 Olympic venue under construction Archived 20 November 2023 at the Wayback Machine Inside the Games 12 January 2022
  6. ↑ Hockey body blasts Brisbane's Olympic Ballymore plan Archived 20 November 2023 at the Wayback Machine Brisbane Times 12 April 2023
  7. ↑ "Ballymore redevelopment: State Government's $15 million injection". The Courier Mail. 29 June 2020. Archived from the original on 11 March 2022. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  8. ↑ Rugari, Vince (5 May 2017). "FC Brisbane City's bid to enter A-League has redevelopment of home ground Ballymore as a key proposal". Fox Sports Australia . Archived from the original on 9 June 2017.
  9. ↑ Atfield, Cameron (16 November 2018). "Poor pitch sees international switched from Ballymore to QSAC". Brisbane Times. Archived from the original on 22 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  10. ↑ "Ballymore redevelopment set to kick-off". Austadiums. 17 February 2021. Archived from the original on 23 February 2022. Retrieved 23 February 2022.
  11. ↑ "Construction works begins at Ballymore". Austadiums. 17 February 2022. Archived from the original on 23 February 2022. Retrieved 23 February 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.