Queenstown Events Centre or Davis Park is a multi-purpose stadium located in Otago, New Zealand. It has the capacity to hold 19,000 spectators.
The ground was established in the year 1997 which is located at the foothills of the mountain range “The Remarkables”and Lake Wakatipu. The ground is considered as one the most spectacular Cricket venues in the world.
The stadium has two ends, namely Remarkables End and Coronet Peak End. The ground is home to Cricket, Rugby and Tennis.
The stadium as of now is just hosts ODI, T20 and first class matches. Talks are going on to hold test matches at this location after ground facilities are upgraded.
History
The Davis Park is under the control of Queenstown Lakes District Council which owns the land of the venue.
In 2003, first match at the venue was played when New Zealand hosted India in the 4th ODI during the India’s tour to New Zealand. The hosts won the match by seven wickets .
The ground hosts matches of Otago Volts team in the Burger King Super Smash T20 competition. The venue also hosts matches of Highlanders Rugby games.
Apart from games the ground also hosts concerts, trade events, film shoots and acts.
Major Matches
The ground hosted its first international cricket match in 2003 just after hosting 2 years of first class matches.
On January 1st 2014, Corey Anderson broke Shahid Afridi’s 17-year old record of fastest century in ODI by scoring the century in just 36 balls against West Indies in the 3rd ODI during the West Indies’ tour to New Zealand. He slammed a total of 14 sixes and six fours in his match winning knock of 131 not out.
Anderson, along with Jesse Ryder helped New Zealand set the record for most sixes for a team in an innings in ODI’s during this match.New Zealand totally hit 22 sixes in that match going past India’s record of 19 sixes. Out of the 22 sixes scored 19 of them came from Corey Anderson and Jesse Ryder.
Controversies
In 2016, during a conference in the venue anti-smoking activist Trish Fraser expressed discomfort over the invitation of Philip Morris who is owner for cigarette selling companies.
Speaking among the 250 delegates invited, she expressed her concern for people smoking and warned the organisers on bringing such people. This raised a controversy in the venue.
