Lang Park

Suncorp Stadium
The Cauldron
Former names	Lang Park Suncorp-Metway Stadium
Location	40 Castlemaine St, Milton, Queensland
Coordinates	27°27′53″S 153°0′34″E
Broke ground	1911
Opened	1914
Owner	Queensland Government
Operator	AEG Ogden (Brisbane) Pty Ltd
Surface	Grass
Construction cost	A$ 280 miliion (redevelopment)
Architect	Populous (formerly HOK Sport) and PDT Architects
Capacity	52,500
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)

Lang Park is 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-Metway Stadium). This facility comprises a rectangular sporting stadium with a capacity of 52,500 people.

Lang Park was established in 1914, on the site of a former 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 that game in Queensland in 1957 (and remains so to this day).

It has also been the home ground of major Rugby Union and Association Football (soccer) matches in Queensland since its modern redevelopment, including the Queensland Reds and the Brisbane Roar and some Wallabies and Socceroos matches. It also hosted the 2008 Rugby League World Cup Final.

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.

1937 soccer match at Lang Park Milton, (looking towards Milton Road) - teams not known

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). 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". 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."

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.

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.

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.

A record crowd of 19,824 saw Northern Suburbs defeat Fortitude Valley at Lang Park in the BRL grand final in September 1961. 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.

From the 1960s Lang Park hosted interstate and international rugby league, including the inaugural Rugby League 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.

Lang Park was the venue of the third and deciding test of the 1992 Rugby league Ashes series which Australia won.

In 1994, the stadium's name was changed to Suncorp Stadium, when naming sponshorship 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

Outside the entrance to the Suncorp Stadium. The mural, seen at right, depicts some Queensland legends of the game.

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 rugby league State of Origin series. The redevelopment was completed in time for the match between the Brisbane Broncos and Newcastle Knights on June 1, 2003; Brisbane's first game at Suncorp Stadium for more than a decade.

The stadium is now a 52,500 state of the art all-seater rectangular stadium, a far cry from the 2 grandstands of the old Suncorp Stadium. 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.

The stadium design allows most spectators to sit close to the field, with the third tier closer for events less than 30,000. 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" [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.

Suncorp Stadium before the Australia vs Paraguay Soccer international

Much of this mythology centred around the Queensland State of Origin Rugby League Team who play their home games at the stadium. 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.

Suncorp Stadium suffered major damage as a result of the 2010–2011 Queensland floods with the entire playing field being covered by flood water. As a result, an electrical fire started in a transformer room, however there was no major damage from the fire. Brisbane Roar's match with Wellington Phoenix, originally scheduled for the weekend of 14–16 January, was postponed until January 26, 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 should be restored in time for the 2012 NRL season kick-off.

Today

Although the stadium has been the traditional home of rugby league in Queensland, it has also become the state's premier venue for Football, 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 14 team when they moved from their former home at Ballymore Stadium.[5] 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."[6]. 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."

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

On 29 July 2006 the Bledisloe Cup clash between Australia 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.

Inside Lang Park during NRL game

A month later on the 7th of October the stadium hosted a 1–1 friendly football game between Australia and Paraguay in which four Socceroos Tony Vidmar, Stan Lazaridis, Zeljko Kalac and goal scorer Tony Popovic 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 it will be the venue for the upcoming U2 360 tour on 8 December 2010.

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 best-played in Australian football history, with the Brisbane Roar scoring two goals in the last five minutes to level the scores with the Central Coast Mariners with several hundred home supporters returning to the ground 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.

Crowd Averages

Team	Sport	Crowd Average	Season
Queensland (State of Origin)	Rugby League	52,498	2011
Brisbane Broncos	Rugby League	30,746	2011
Queensland Reds	Rugby Union	29,435	2011
Brisbane Roar	Football	12,619	2010–11

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 blue on all his fingers, he's the Emperor of Lang Park

There is a bronze statue of Wally Lewis erected outside the stadium.

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

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 many high class players have also indicated the atmosphere value of Suncorp Stadium.

In 2006, Queensland Minister for Sport, Tom Barton introduced the Stadium'd Sports Media Hall of Fame which honours 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. So far there are three inductees: rugby league commentator George Lovejoy, rugby league journalist Jack Reardon and Frank O'Callaghan.

Accessibility

Walking	Pedestrian access Suncorp Stadium is within walking distance of the CBD area of Brisbane.
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. Suncorp Stadium is situated on the bus outbound side of Caxton Street.
Train	Train access Suncorp Stadium is easily accessible from Citytrain stations Milton Station and Roma Street Station. Ticket holders are granted free transport on match days, with some additional trains scheduled to Milton to increase capacity.
Car	There is no available parking at the Stadium. However, parking stations are available within easy walking distance of the Stadium.

Facts

Record crowd	52,498 – Rugby League, 6 July 2011 Queensland vs New South Wales State of Origin
Video screen	Yes (x2)
Lights	Yes
Sports played	Rugby league, Rugby union, Football
Annual events	State of Origin, Queensland Cup Grand Final, ANZAC Test
Historic events	1968 Rugby League World Cup 1975 Rugby League World Cup 1977 Rugby League World Cup 1980 State of Origin 2003 Rugby Union World Cup 2008 Rugby League World Cup 2011 Super Rugby Final 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.

Controversy

On Saturday, June 16, 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 September 6, 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.

References

1. ^ Gallaway, Jack Origin: Rugby League's Greatest Contest 1980–2002 University of Queensland Press, 2003 ISBN 0-7022-3383-8
2. ^ McGregor, Adrian King Wally University of Queensland Press, 1986 ISBN 0-7022-2037-X
3. ^ Mallory, Greg "Key 'Milestones' Affecting Community and Administration in the Brisbane Rugby League: 1922 -1987" retrieved 7 December 2005
4. ^ Suncorp Stadium History retrieved 5 December 2005
5. Suncorp Stadium by the Queensland Government Major Sports Facilities Authority, retrieved 6 December 2005
6. Suncorp Stadium Redevelopment retrieved 6 December 2005
7. ^ Intimate Suncorp best in world. Wynne Gray, New Zealand Herald, 4:00AM Saturday 13 Sep 2008 retrieved 14 September 2008.
8. ^ Time to deliver accessed 19 July 2006.
9. ^ Is the optimism in English rugby justified? Garth Hamilton, www.theroar.com.au accessed 19 November 2010.

External links

• Suncorp Stadium – Official site
• Lang Park at Austadiums

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