Lang Park, also known as the Brisbane Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium located in Brisbane, Australia. It is named Suncorp Stadium due to the sponsorship reasons.
Suncorp Stadium with a capacity to hold 52,500 people, is home to the Queensland Cricket team, Brisbane Broncos in National Rugby League, Queensland Reds in Super Rugby tournament, Brisbane Roar in A-League football and South Queensland Crushers in Australia Rugby League.
History
The Lang Park was established in the year 1914, where the North Brisbane Cemetery was situated earlier. Initially the ground was used for sports like cycling, athletics and soccer. Later, the stadium was leased by Queensland Amateur Athletics Association(QAAA) in 1920’s.
Queensland Soccer Council (QSC) became a sub tenant of QAAA in 1935 for its soccer matches. During the World War I, the ground was used for parades by the military.
In the year 1994, the ground was renamed as the “Suncorp Stadium” when the naming rights were attained by Suncorp-Metway Limited.
The Queensland Government decided to renovate the stadium in 1999, which cost $280 million to the state. The Suncorp Stadium was reopened in 2003 after the redevelopment.
Major Matches
In 2005, the stadium became new home for Queensland Reds, a Super Rugby team who moved from their former home at Ballymore Stadium.
From 2005, the stadium hosts the Anzac Rugby test match between Australia and New Zealand.
In 2017, the stadium hosted the World Rugby League semi-finals and final.
The stadium has also hosted three non-Australian team matches which eventually featured England in all 3 fixtures.
Suncorp Stadium has also hosted a single WBO welterweight fight featuring Manny Pacquiao and Jeff Horn. 51,052 spectators witnessed the fight at the stadium.
Controversies
Following its renovation, questions were raised about the standard of the surface in the stadium which was soft underfoot and very sandy which caused serious injuries to players. Due to this the ground temporarily got a nickname “Sandcorp Stadium”.
