Suncorp Stadium, officially named Brisbane Stadium, is a multi-purpose stadium located in Brisbane, Australia. It is used mostly for rugby league, rugby union and soccer matches, hosting the home games of Brisbane Broncos, Queensland Reds and Brisbane Roar, among others.
Opened on 1 June 2003 with a rugby league match between the Brisbane Broncos and the Newcastle Knights, it replaced the original Lang Park, which had a seating capacity of around 40,000. The seating capacity of the new stadium is currently set at 52,500. The stadium was designed by Populous (formerly HOK Sport Venue Event) and had a construction cost of AUD$280 million.
A category two stadium according to the Asian Football Confederation, and one of the biggest stadiums by capacity in Australia, Suncorp Stadium hosted several matches of the 2008 Rugby League World Cup, including its final, as well as the 2017 and 2021 finals of the A-League. It was recognized as the premier stadium in Australia in a 2009 online poll by Stadium Journey. By its fifteenth birthday, Suncorp Stadium had welcomed more than 20 million spectators. The stadium is one of the potential venues for the 2032 Summer Olympics, which Brisbane will host.
While the prior stadium of Brisbane Broncos was also officially named 'Lang Park', both the old and the new stadia are invariably referred to by their unofficial name, Suncorp Stadium. Suncorp is the name of the sponsor of the stadium, Suncorp Group, which is a finance, insurance, and banking corporation in Australia. The stadium is located in the Milton area, which is a suburb in the inner Brisbane. This unofficial name caught on soon after the original stadium's renovation; the people of Brisbane used to simply call it Lang Park. Therefore, the stadium's common name became 'Suncorp Stadium', which is usually anglicized to 'Suncorp'. This translation, however, could be argued to be inaccurate as Suncorp refers not to the 'sun' but to the original sponsor of the stadium: Suncorp Group.
The history of the Suncorp Stadium dates back to the early 19th century when it was initially used for grazing cattle and horses, and later as a cemetery. In 1914, it was officially named as Lang Park, in honor of John Dunmore Lang, one of the founders of the state of Queensland. For a majority of its life, the Lang Park was the spiritual home of rugby league in Queensland.
In 2001, the Queensland Government initiated a redevelopment plan for the Lang Park, which led to the construction of a new stadium, the Suncorp Stadium. The new stadium was opened in 2003 with a seating capacity of 52,500, making it the second largest stadium in Queensland and the third largest in Australia. The Suncorp Stadium is known for its steep, amphitheater-style seating which creates an intimate atmosphere for spectators, providing them an excellent view of the field.
Over the years, the Suncorp Stadium has hosted numerous significant sporting events, including rugby league, rugby union, football matches, and concerts. It is the home ground for the Brisbane Broncos, Queensland Reds, and Brisbane Roar. The Suncorp Stadium is also one of the venues for the National Rugby League, the Super Rugby, and the A-League. Despite the changes in its name and the massive redevelopment, the Suncorp Stadium remains a hallowed ground for sports enthusiasts in Brisbane and across Australia.
Positioned in an ideal area, conveniently accessible and with sufficient space for future developments, the location was identified in the Milton neighborhood in the city of Brisbane. Known for being on the border between the Milton and Paddington neighborhoods, the new stadium was initially known as 'Lang Park'.
The aim of the organisation was always to hold ownership of both the stadium and the surrounding land, though initially a lease was made on the state-owned land. The ultimate purchase only took place in 2003. The designs for the sports complex had been outlined as early as the late 1990s by Populous, a global architectural firm.
Driven by the Queensland Government and the Australian Rugby League, the stakeholders agreed to an increased fee to support the construction costs for the new stadium, offered significant donations, and some even contributed their efforts to the construction process during holidays or weekends. There was even a 'material campaign', whereby large quantities of building materials were donated to the project.
The construction officially began on 27 November 2001. Less than two years later, and at a cost of 280 million Australian dollars, on 1 June 2003 (a day of celebration), a 52,500-capacity crowd filled the stadium for the inaugural match between the Brisbane Broncos and the Newcastle Knights.
Suncorp Stadium (2003): A detailed account of the history and significance of Suncorp Stadium, as well as its role in Queensland's rugby culture. http://www.queenslandrugby.com.au/
Suncorp Stadium (The Cauldron) – since 2003: An overview of Suncorp Stadium, including its construction, capacity, and key events. http://www.stadiumdb.com/
The Cauldron never dims: A book that chronicles the history of Suncorp Stadium, referred to as 'The Cauldron'. http://www.primebooks.com/
Queensland Rugby Union 100 glorious years - The History 1: A comprehensive history of the Queensland Rugby Union, which includes information on Suncorp Stadium. http://www.qru.com.au/
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