ANZ National Stadium

ANZ Stadium

The ANZ National Stadium (known as ANZ Stadium)[1] is a multi-purpose stadium in Suva, Fiji.

ANZ Stadium is used primarily for rugby league, rugby union and football matches, and features a track as well as a pitch suitable for worldwide competition.[2] It has undercover seating for 4,000 spectators, and an embankment that can accommodate an additional 15,000 people.[2]

Construction and renovations

Originally called Buckhurst Park, the stadium was constructed in 1951 on sixteen hectares of land given by William H. B. Buckhurst in 1948.[3][4]

The stadium was first renovated in 1978–1979 for the Sixth South Pacific Games.[5] Work commenced in April 1978 with the demolition of the grandstand, which had lost its roof during Hurricane Bebe.[6] The stadium was renamed National Stadium upon reopening in 1979.[5]

A second renovation took place in 2012, sponsored by ANZ Fiji, Fiji's largest bank, at a cost of FJD $17.5 million.[7] The stadium reopened in March 2013, with a rugby union game between the Fiji national team and Classic All Blacks.[7]

Buckhurst and Bidesi Parks

The 2012–2013 renovation also included the park and playing grounds behind the ANZ National Stadium, which are known as Bidesi Park and Buckhurst Park,[7] retaining the stadium's original name.[3] The Buckhurst and Bidesi grounds include three pitches primarily used for training and competition in rugby, rugby league, football, and cricket,[2] and a small stadium and synthetic training track.[7] Buckhurst Park was the site of the National Baseball Diamond used in the 2003 South Pacific Games.[8][2]

References

  1. ↑ Kumar, Rashneel (8 May 2013). "New stadium ready for Flying Fijians". Fiji Times (Suva, Fiji). Archived from the original on 2014-11-08.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Fiji Sports Council (10 July 2014). "Facilities". Archived from the original on 2016-04-26.
  3. 1 2 "Rotary Club of Suva, Fiji, First Club of the South Pacific Islands". Rotary Global History Fellowship. Archived from the original on 2016-04-24. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  4. ↑ "Les Iles Fidji et l'Olympisme" (PDF). LA84 Foundation (in French). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
  5. 1 2 "South Pacific Games 1979 - Fiji". Solomon Islands Games Record. Fox Sports Pulse. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
  6. ↑ Elbourne, Frederica (22 June 2013). "Sporting history begins". Fiji Times. Archived from the original on 2015-04-14. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Ratuva, Anasilini (9 August 2012). "$17.5m For Stadium Upgrade". Fiji Sun. Archived from the original on 2016-04-26.
  8. ↑ "Buckhurst Baseball Ground – Competition Venue". 2003 South Pacific Games. Fox Sports Pulse. 29 June 2003. Archived from the original on 2016-04-26.

Coordinates: 18°9′0″S 178°26′57″E / 18.15000°S 178.44917°E / -18.15000; 178.44917

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