Lang Park
Suncorp Stadium, The Cauldron
Location	Milton, Brisbane, Queensland
Broke ground	1911
Opened	1914
Closed	Open
Demolished	Redeveloped 2001-2003
Owner	Queensland Government
Operator	AEG Ogden (Brisbane) Pty Ltd
Surface	Grass
Construction cost	$280,000,000 (redevelopment)
Architect	HOK and PDT
Former names	Suncorp-Metway Stadium
Tenants	Queensland (State of Origin) (1980 - ) Brisbane Broncos (NRL) (1988 - 1992, 2003 - ) Queensland Roar (A-League) (2005 - ) Queensland Reds (Super 14) (2005 - )
Capacity	52,500

Lang Park, presently known as Suncorp Stadium, is a rectangular sporting stadium located in the Brisbane suburb of Milton, Queensland, Australia. Milton is an inner suburb of Brisbane, Australia, located approximately two kilometres west of Brisbane's Central business district. Brisbane ( is the state capital of Queensland. Brisbane is the third most populous city in Australia and the most populous city of Queensland Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern corner of the mainland continent The Government of Queensland is commonly known as the Queensland Government. The Queensland State of Origin team is a Rugby league team representing the state of Queensland that plays in Australia's annual three-match State of Origin State of Origin is an annual best-of-three series of Rugby league matches between the Maroons, representing the state of Queensland, and the Blues Year 1980 ( MCMLXXX) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar) The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional Rugby league club based in the city of Brisbane Queensland. Year 1988 ( MCMLXXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar) Year 1992 ( MCMXCII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar) Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Queensland Roar FC is an Australian Association football (soccer club from Brisbane, Australia competing in the A-League competition playing The A-League is the premier Australasian domestic Association football competition Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Queensland Reds (for sponsorship reasons referred to as QR Queensland Reds) represent Queensland in the sport of Rugby union. The Super 14 is the largest Rugby union football club championship in the Southern hemisphere, consisting of four state teams from Australia (Queensland/Reds Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Brisbane ( is the state capital of Queensland. Brisbane is the third most populous city in Australia and the most populous city of Queensland Milton is an inner suburb of Brisbane, Australia, located approximately two kilometres west of Brisbane's Central business district. Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern corner of the mainland continent For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. Built on the site of a cemetery, the stadium has been the home of rugby league football in Queensland since 1957 and today also hosts rugby union and football (soccer) matches. A cemetery is a place in which dead bodies and cremated remains are buried. History See also History of rugby league The grass roots of rugby league can be traced to early football history, through the playing of ball games Year 1957 ( MCMLVII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1957 Gregorian calendar) Overview See also Playing rugby union A rugby union match lasts for 80 minutes (plus stoppage time with a short Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a Team sport played between two teams of eleven players and is widely considered It will host the 2008 Rugby League World Cup Final. Teams See also 2008 Rugby League World Cup squads Format Draw The draw after being confirmed by the RLIF on April

History

Origins

The site of Lang Park was originally the North Brisbane Burial Grounds, and until 1875 was Brisbane's primary cemetery. Year 1875 ( MDCCCLXXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common A cemetery is a place in which dead bodies and cremated remains are buried. By 1911 the area was heavily populated, so the Paddington Cemeteries Act (1911) was introduced and the site was redeveloped as a recreational site. Year 1911 ( MCMXI) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year In 1914 it was fenced off and named Lang Park after John Dunmore Lang. Year 1914 ( MCMXIV) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year John Dunmore Lang ( 25 August 1799 &ndash 8 August 1878) Australian Presbyterian clergyman writer politician and activist was the ^[1]

In 1953 the Brisbane Rugby League (BRL) amalgamated with the Queensland Rugby League (QRL). Year 1953 ( MCMLIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. History of the QRL Associated Article: Brisbane Rugby League The Queensland Rugby Football League (QRFL was formed in 1908 by seven 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. Ronald Edward McAuliffe OBE ( 25 June 1918 – 16 August 1988) was a politician and sports administrator in Queensland, Brisbane City Council is the governing council for Brisbane, which is the capital of Queensland, Australia. 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. The 1930s were described as an abrupt shift to more radical and conservative lifestyles as countries were struggling to find a solution to the Great Depression. In 1958 it hosted its first Brisbane rugby league grand final in which Brothers defeated Valleys 22 points to 7. Year 1958 ( MCMLVIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Brisbane Rugby League (BRL premiership was a Rugby league competition held in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia from 1922 to 1997 Past Brothers Rugby League Football Club, more commonly known simply as 'Brothers' or as 'the Leprechauns' are a Rugby league club in Brisbane, Australia History Until their demise in 1995 the Fortitude Valley Diehards, often referred to simply as Valleys, were the oldest surviving Rugby league ^[2]

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. Year 1962 ( MCMLXII) was a Common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Parliament of Queensland is the Legislature of Queensland, Australia. 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. The Government of Queensland is commonly known as the Queensland Government. Brisbane City Council is the governing council for Brisbane, which is the capital of Queensland, Australia. History of the QRL Associated Article: Brisbane Rugby League The Queensland Rugby Football League (QRFL was formed in 1908 by seven The Brisbane Rugby League (BRL premiership was a Rugby league competition held in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia from 1922 to 1997 ^[3]

On February 11, 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 juvenille delinquency. Activities such as boxing, wrestling, basketball and gymnastics all occur at these premises to today.

From the 1960s Lang Park hosted interstate and international rugby league, including the inaugural Rugby League State of Origin match. State of Origin is an annual best-of-three series of Rugby league matches between the Maroons, representing the state of Queensland, and the Blues 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. The Western Suburbs Panthers, often simply referred to as Wests, are a Rugby league club from Brisbane, Australia, and until their merger Year 1988 ( MCMLXXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar) Year 1992 ( MCMXCII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar) The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional Rugby league club based in the city of Brisbane Queensland.

In 1994 the stadium's name was changed to Suncorp Stadium when naming sponshorship was attained by Queensland financial institution, Suncorp-Metway Limited. Suncorp-Metway Limited ( is an Australian finance insurance and Banking corporation based in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

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 defeated Sydney United 2-0. Events 1085 - Alfonso VI of Castile takes Toledo Spain back from the Moors. Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar This page is on the former Australian soccer league For the former Canadian league see Canadian National Soccer League. The Brisbane Strikers are an Australian Football (soccer club from Brisbane, Queensland, Australia who play in the Queensland State Sydney United Football Club are an Australian Football (soccer club from Sydney, Australia, established in 1957 by Croatian immigrants in the

Redevelopment

Suncorp Stadium. The photo also shows part of a mural depicting some Queensland legends of the game. (outside the entrance to the stadium)

In the late 1990s it was decided that Brisbane needed a state of the art football stadium, and after much debate about the location, Lang Park (now known as Suncorp Stadium) was chosen as the site.

At a cost of $280,000,000 the redevelopment was completed in 2003. Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. The redeveloped stadium's first event was a National Rugby League match between the Brisbane Broncos and the Newcastle Knights on 1 June 2003. The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional Rugby league club based in the city of Brisbane Queensland. The Newcastle Knights are an Australian professional Rugby league football team based in Newcastle New South Wales. Events 193 - Roman Emperor Didius Julianus is Assassinated 987 - Hugh Capet is elected Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. 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. Brisbane City Council is the governing council for Brisbane, which is the capital of Queensland, Australia.

During their relocating year, the Broncos only recorded one win at Suncorp, against the Sydney Roosters in Round 16, 2003, unlike one loss at ANZ Stadium in round 5, 2003, against the New Zealand Warriors. The Sydney Roosters is a professional Rugby league club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, Australia. The QSAC was formerly known as ANZ Stadium ANZ now holds the naming rights for Sydney's Stadium Australia. The New Zealand Warriors (formerly the Auckland Warriors) are a professional Rugby league team based in Auckland, New Zealand

The stadium design allows most spectators to sit close to the field. 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 footballers 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.

Much of this mythology centred around the Queensland State of Origin Team who play their home games at the stadium. The Queensland State of Origin team is a Rugby league team representing the state of Queensland that plays in Australia's annual three-match State of Origin 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.

Today

Although the stadium has been the traditional home of rugby league in Queensland, it has also become the state's premier venue for rugby union & soccer. History See also History of rugby league The grass roots of rugby league can be traced to early football history, through the playing of ball games Overview See also Playing rugby union A rugby union match lasts for 80 minutes (plus stoppage time with a short Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a Team sport played between two teams of eleven players and is widely considered The re-developed Suncorp Stadium first hosted rugby union games at the 2003 Rugby World Cup and in 2006, the stadium became the new home of the Queensland Reds Super 14 team when they moved from their former home at Ballymore Stadium. The 2003 Rugby World Cup was the fifth Rugby union world cup and was won by England. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. The Queensland Reds (for sponsorship reasons referred to as QR Queensland Reds) represent Queensland in the sport of Rugby union. The Super 14 is the largest Rugby union football club championship in the Southern hemisphere, consisting of four state teams from Australia (Queensland/Reds Ballymore Stadium is the name of a Rugby union stadium situated in Herston, a suburb of Brisbane, Australia. [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 previous year to the reds move the newly established football (soccer) team Queensland Roar FC of the A-League also elected to play their home games at Suncorp Stadium. Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a Team sport played between two teams of eleven players and is widely considered Queensland Roar FC is an Australian Association football (soccer club from Brisbane, Australia competing in the A-League competition playing The A-League is the premier Australasian domestic Association football competition

On July 29, 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. Events 1014 - Byzantine-Bulgarian Wars: Battle of Kleidion: Byzantine emperor Basil II inflicts a decisive defeat Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. The Australian national rugby union team is the representative side of Australia in Rugby union. The All Blacks are New Zealand's national team in Rugby union, the country's National sport. Though Australia narrowly lost the match, the game saw a new ground record set.

A month later on the 7th of October the stadium hosted a 1-1 friendly football (soccer) game between Australia and Paraguay in which four Socceroos Tony Vidmar, Stan Lazaridis, Zeljko Kalac & goal scorer Tony Popovic retired from international football. Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a Team sport played between two teams of eleven players and is widely considered The Australian national football team represents Australia in international association football competitions The Paraguay national football team is the national team of Paraguay and is controlled by the Asociación Paraguaya de Fútbol. The Australian national football team represents Australia in international association football competitions Tony Vidmar (born July 4, 1970 in Adelaide) is a former Australian Football (soccer player of Slovenian-Italian origin Stanley "Stan" Lazaridis (born August 16, 1972 in Perth, Australia) is an Australian former Football (soccer Zeljko Kalac ( Croatian: Željko Kalac) ˈʒɛʎkɔ ˈkalats] (born December 16, 1972 in Sydney, New South Wales) Anthony Popovic (born July 4, 1973 in Sydney, Australia) is a Croatian Australian Football (soccer player

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. Robert Peter Maximilian Williams (born 13 February 1974) is an English singer

The stadium is also home to the Lang Park Police Citizens Youth Club which has had ongoing accessibility problems since the redevelopment with closures occurring for each major event. This has had a negative impact upon amateur sport participating particularly in the inner Brisbane area.

Crowd Averages

Popular culture

In the 1980s Wally Lewis became known as The Emperor of Lang Park after his performances in Rugby League State of Origin matches played at the ground. The Queensland State of Origin team is a Rugby league team representing the state of Queensland that plays in Australia's annual three-match State of Origin The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional Rugby league club based in the city of Brisbane Queensland. The Queensland Reds (for sponsorship reasons referred to as QR Queensland Reds) represent Queensland in the sport of Rugby union. Queensland Roar FC is an Australian Association football (soccer club from Brisbane, Australia competing in the A-League competition playing Walter James "Wally" Lewis AM (born 1 December 1959 in Brisbane, Queensland) is an Australian former State of Origin is an annual best-of-three series of Rugby league matches between the Maroons, representing the state of Queensland, and the Blues Brisbane-based beer XXXX, which is brewed at the nearby Castlemaine Brewery, ran a television advertisement celebrating this title in song. Brisbane ( is the state capital of Queensland. Brisbane is the third most populous city in Australia and the most populous city of Queensland XXXX (pronounced four-X) is a Brand of Beers brewed in Milton, Brisbane by Queensland brewers Castlemaine Castlemaine Perkins is a Brewery located in Milton, Brisbane, Australia.

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 glue on all his fingers, he's the Emperor of Lang Park^[7]

There is a bronze statue of Wally Lewis erected outside the stadium. Stradbroke Island, also known as Minjerribah was a large sand island that formed much of the eastern side of Moreton Bay near Brisbane, Queensland until

The stadium has been nicknamed Fortress Suncorp for the Wallabies due to their impressive record at the redeveloped venue. The Australian national rugby union team is the representative side of Australia in Rugby union. ^[8]

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.

Accessibility

Facts

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 December 7, 2005
4. ^ Suncorp Stadium History retrieved December 5, 2005
5. Suncorp Stadium by the Queensland Government Major Sports Facilities Authority, retrieved December 6, 2005
6. Suncorp Stadium Redevelopment retrieved December 6, 2005
7. ^ Time to deliver accessed July 19, 2006.

External links

• Suncorp Stadium - Official site
• Lang Park at Austadiums