Newcastle International Sports Centre,currently known asMcDonald Jones Stadiumfor sponsorship reasons, is a multi-purpose sportsstadiumlocated inNewcastle,Australia. The ground is home to theNewcastle Knights(National Rugby League) andNewcastle Jets FC(A-League). It is owned by theGovernment of New South Walesand is administered byVenues NSW.Due to past sponsorship deals, the ground has been previously known asMarathon Stadium,EnergyAustraliaStadium,AusgridStadiumandHunter Stadium.Newcastle International Sports Centre is also known asNewcastle Stadiumwhen in use duringAFCcompetitions due to conflicting sponsorship reasons.
 | |
 Main grandstand | |
  Newcastle International Sports Centre Location within New South Wales | |
| Full name | Hunter International Sports Centre |
|---|---|
| Former names | International Sports Centre (1970–91) Marathon Stadium (1992–2001) EnergyAustraliaStadium (2001–10) AusgridStadium (2011) Hunter Stadium (2012–16) |
| Location | New Lambton,Newcastle,New South Wales,Australia |
| Coordinates | 32°55′08″S151°43′36″E/ 32.91889°S 151.72667°E |
| Public transit | Turton Road |
| Owner | Government of New South Wales |
| Operator | Venues NSW |
| Type | Stadium |
| Genre(s) | Sporting events |
| Capacity | 30,000[1](23,000 seated)[2] |
| Record attendance | 42,000 (1990,1989 Newcastle earthquakerelief concert)[3] |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1967 |
| Opened | 10 April 1970 |
| Renovated | 2003–05, 2008–11 |
| Tenants | |
| Newcastle Knights(NRL) (1988–present) Hunter Eagles(ABL) (1994–1998) Newcastle Jets FC(A-League) (2000–present) | |
| Website | |
| hunterstadium | |
History
editWork began on the stadium on 1 December 1967, and was officially opened byQueen Elizabeth IIon 10 April 1970. It was originally known as theInternational Sports Centre,and is still part of the ISC complex to this day. The playing surface back then was originally oval shaped to allow both codes of rugby, soccer and cricket to be able to make use of it.
TheNewcastle Knightssecured a lease on the stadium in 1986, and converted it from an oval to a rectangle layout. During the1988 Great Britain Lions tour,the Newcastle Knights, in their first season, hosted a match at the ground. On that occasion the Lions, captained byEllery Hanley,defeated the Knights 28–12.
In 1992, local tyre outlet Marathon Tyres became the naming rights sponsor for the stadium, and it was renamedMarathon Stadium.That year the Knights playedGreat Britainfor a second time as part of the LionsTour of Australasia.The Ellery Hanley captained Lions took the Knights apart winning 22–0. Later in the1992 NSWRL season,the Knights qualified for their first ever Finals series.
Towards the end of 2001, energy supplierEnergyAustraliatook over naming rights, and thus the stadium becameEnergyAustralia Stadium.In February 2011 it was announced that the stadium would be renamed Ausgrid Stadium after EnergyAustralia was renamedAusgrid.[4]
Before redevelopment, the stadium had a capacity of 28,000, including 5,000 in the main grandstand. The ground attendance record for a sporting event at the venue prior to the redevelopments is 32,642, which was set when the Knights took on theManly-Warringah Sea Eaglesin July 1995.[5]
Following the retirement of former Knights captainAndrew Johns,the new eastern grandstand was renamedThe Andrew Johns Standin honour of Johns in front of a packed crowd before the Knights vsBrisbane BroncosNRL match on 22 April 2007.
The name (Newcastle International Sports Centre) is used primarily by those who wish to mention stadiums by original names, such as non-commercial organisations like theAustralian Broadcasting Corporation,and those with other corporate interests such asFIFAor theAsian Football Confederation.
On 16 October 2011, the venue's all-time record sporting attendance was set with 32,890 attending theAustraliavsNew ZealandRugby League test match.
In October 2016, McDonald Jones Homes, a local Newcastle company, was named as the new naming rights sponsor of the stadium. This new deal left behind a five year gap between naming rights sponsors at the ground.[6]
Redevelopments
edit2003–05
editThe stadium underwent redevelopment during the years 2003–05, funded mostly by local and state government grants.
Factors that brought on the redevelopment included:
- non-compliance ofNational Rugby League(NRL) stadium criteria, especially the dressing rooms;
- failure to attract major sporting events to the area, specifically the2003 Rugby World Cup;
- inadequate and ageing spectator and corporate facilities;
- coveredseating capacitywell below best practice and NRL standards;
- minimal areas within the grandstand to increase members' patronage both during a sporting event and on non-match-days;
- poor facilities for media officials;
- unsatisfactory temporary spectator facilities to the north and south of the western stand;
- the perceived need for the incumbentStateLaborgovernment to contribute to thepublic infrastructurein aregionofsafe seats.[7][8]
The first stage of the redevelopment was completed in early 2004. This consisted of;
- The construction of the lower level of the Eastern Stand (brought into operation for the 2004 NRL season and Anzac Test between Australia and New Zealand). This level holds 7,700 people.
- The relocation of corporate boxes and seating to the North and South stands.
The second stage of construction began in 2004 and was completed in 2005. This consisted of:
- The construction of the Eastern Stand's second level of seating and corporate boxes;
- a new video screen; and
- remedial work for the Western Grandstand, including updating the media facilities.
2008–11
editDuring the2007 NSW Electioncampaign, thePremierMorris Iemmapromised$30 million towards an upgrade of the stadium, conditional on theFederal Governmentmatching the funds.[9]
On 1 April 2008 the federal government confirmed $10m towards the development of the Western Grandstand. This was in addition to the $30m commitment from the state government. This was a critical step for the stadium's development for the upgrade to be in by 2011.[10]TheA$40 million contributed to an expansion of the stadium's capacity to eventually hold over 40,000 as well as general improvements in the stadiums facilities.[11][12]
From 2008 to 2010 the stadium was upgraded again[13]to around 33 000 seats, with a hope for the stadium to be involved in the2015 Asian Cupand2018 World Cupwere Australia be the host of those tournaments (Australia did host the Asian Cup, but not the World Cup). As part of the announcement, Morris Iemma stated that the capacity of 33,000 could be increased to the 40,000 necessary for World Cup Hosting, through temporary seating.[14]The total cost of the upgrade was estimated as $60 million, with $50 million from the state government and $10 million from the Federal Government. Although construction was slated to take place during both theNewcastle KnightsandNewcastle Jetsseasons, developers stated that there would be minimal effect on attendances due to the staged approach.[13]
The stadium development was planned to be carried out over four stages.
- Stage 1 (now completed) included dressing, warm up and medical rooms, with showers, toilets, ice baths and 855-seats of the spectator concourse in the stadium's south-west.[15]
- Stage 2 (now completed) replicates Stage 1 on the northern side of the Western Grandstand and also included the main western stand's lower concourse.
- Stage 3 (now completed) demolished the old western Grandstand and is replacing it with one similar to the eastern stand.
- Stage 4 (undertaking preparation) will involve building the northern and southern ends of the ground, replacing the grass hills with seated areas.
Newcastle Knights Centre of Excellence
editIn June 2018, plans were announced for a Centre of Excellence for the Newcastle Knights located at the southern end of the ground at a cost of $20 million with $10 million provided by the NSW government with the other $10 million funded by the Knights' owners The Wests Group.[16]
2024 upgrades
editPrior to the start of the2024 NRL season,the two video screens at the ground were replaced with two 160sqm screens along with a series of minor upgrades to spectator facilities.[17][18]
Transport
editThe nearest railway station isBroadmeadow.Newcastle Transportoperate a shuttle service fromQueens Wharfon match days.[19]
Uses
edit
Rugby league
editTheNewcastle Knightsof theNational Rugby Leagueteam have been tenants of the ground since their formation in 1988.
In October 2011 the ground hosted arugby leagueone-off test match between Australia and New Zealand. This event set a new ground attendance record for a sporting event of 32,890.
Soccer
editDuring theNational Soccer Leaguecompetition, three clubs have played their home ground games at this stadium. They areNewcastle KB United(1978–84);Newcastle Rosebud United(1984–86) andNewcastle United(2000–04). The NSL competition folded in 2004.
In 2005, the newly formed national competition (A-League) began to operate.Newcastle United Jetswas part of the newly formed competition, and have played at this ground ever since.
The stadium also hosted two2015 AFC Asian Cupgroup stage matches, and also a semi final betweenAustraliaand theUnited Arab Emiratesand a third place playoff between United Arab Emirates andIraq.
In February 2017 it was announced that theNational Premier Leagues Northern NSWGrand Final would be taking place at the ground in September that year. In the Grand Final between theEdgeworth EaglesandLambton Jaffasa crowd of 4174 was on hand to see the Jaffas clinch the title beating the Eagles 2–0 deep into Extra Time.
The2018 A-League Grand Finalwas held at the venue, contested by the Newcastle Jets and Melbourne Victory, on 5 May 2018.
Baseball
editTheHunter Eagleswere formed for the1994–95 Australian Baseball League seasonafter purchasing theSydney Wave's licence. The Eagles played in the Australian Baseball League until the end of the1997–98season.[20]
Rugby union
editIn 2012, it was used for the first match of the2012 Scotland rugby union tour of Oceania.Scotland won the match, beating Australia 9–6.[21]
TheNew South Wales Waratahsplayed a home fixture of theirSuper Rugbyseason from 2019 in Newcastle whilst theSydney Football Stadiumwas rebuilt.[22]
Notable games
editRugby league test matches
editThe venue has hosted threeAustraliainternationals and oneRugby League World Cupgame. The results were as follows;[23]Hunter Stadium was also chosen as the host venue for the2016 Anzac Testbetween Australia andNew Zealandon 6 May.[24]
| Date | Opponents | Result | Attendance | Part of |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 1996 |  Fiji(NRL)
|
84–14 | 19,234 | |
| 23 April 2004 |  New Zealand
|
37–10 | 21,537 | 2004 Anzac Test |
| 16 October 2011 | 42–6 | 32,890 | ||
| 6 May 2016 | 16–0 | 27,724 | 2016 Anzac Test |
Rugby League World Cup
edit| GameNo. | Date | Result | Attendance | Part of |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 November 2008 | New Zealanddef. England36–24
|
15,145 | 2008 World Cup |
Rugby league tour matches
editThe Newcastle Knights twice hosted theGreat Britain Lionsat the stadium.
| GameNo. | Date | Result | Attendance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 31 May 1988 |  Great Britaindef. Newcastle Knights28–12
|
8,970 | 1988 Great Britain Lions tour |
| 2 | 23 June 1992 | Great Britaindef.Newcastle Knights22–0
|
9,758 | 1992 Great Britain Lions tour |
2015 AFC Asian Cup matches
edit| GameNo. | Date | Stage | "Home" team | Score | "Away" team | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 January 2015 | Group |  Japan
|
4–0 |  Palestine
|
17,147 |
| 2 | 17 January 2015 | Group |  Oman
|
1–0 |  Kuwait
|
7,499 |
| 3 | 27 January 2015 | Semi-final |  Australia
|
2–0 |  United Arab Emirates
|
21,079 |
| 4 | 30 January 2015 | 3rd place | United Arab Emirates
|
3–2 |  Iraq
|
12,829 |
References
edit- ^"McDonald Jones Stadium".Austadiums.Retrieved28 December2023.
- ^Bossi, Dominic (19 January 2015)."Socceroos Asian Cup semi-final won't be moved to Sydney despite Hunter Stadium limitations".Sydney Morning Herald.Fairfax Media.Retrieved19 January2015.
- ^Tarala, Kate (17 January 2013)."VIDEOS, GALLERY: Golden gig that rocked Newcastle".Newcastle Herald.Archivedfrom the original on 3 March 2016.Retrieved19 August2016.
- ^Goffet, Neil (18 February 2011)."EnergyAustralia stadium to change name".Newcastle Herald.Archivedfrom the original on 17 February 2011.Retrieved4 March2011.
- ^Ferguson, Shawn Dollin and Andrew."ARL 1995 – Round 17 – Rugby League Project".www.rugbyleagueproject.org.Archived fromthe originalon 4 March 2016.Retrieved17 December2015.
- ^Green, Penelope (7 October 2016)."McDonald Jones Homes is the new naming rights sponsor of Hunter Stadium".Newcastle Herald.Archivedfrom the original on 18 April 2019.Retrieved9 October2016.
- ^"Newcastle Stadium, NSW Legislative Assembly Hansard extract".New South Wales Government Publisher. 27 June 2002. Archived fromthe originalon 29 September 2007.Retrieved23 May2007.
- ^"Newcastle Stadium, NSW Legislative Assembly Hansard extract".New South Wales Government Publisher. 28 May 2002. Archived fromthe originalon 29 September 2007.Retrieved23 May2007.
- ^"Protester crash-tackled by Iemma minder".Sydney Morning Herald.20 March 2007.
- ^'Funding powers development of stadium' – Department of Health and AgeingArchived25 August 2008 at theWayback Machine
- ^"Group's goal for growing stadium – Local News – News – General – The Herald".yourguide.com.au.Archived fromthe originalon 12 February 2008.Retrieved5 May2008.
- ^Davutovic, David (5 April 2008)."Sydney fights Melbourne for the right to host World Cup".The Daily Telegraph.
- ^ab"State's $20m grand stand – Local News – News – General – Newcastle He…".theherald.com.au.18 July 2012.Archivedfrom the original on 18 July 2012.
- ^"$20m to create a field of dreams – Local News – News – General – The Herald".yourguide.com.au.Archived fromthe originalon 11 August 2008.Retrieved15 June2008.
- ^"Images of Stage 1 of 2008 Energy Australia Stadium redevelopment".Archived fromthe originalon 4 March 2016.Retrieved9 April2013.
- ^"Newcastle Knights Centre of Excellence concept designs unveiled".Austadiums.Retrieved15 February2019.
- ^"Screen upgrade for McDonald Jones Stadium".Austadiums.Retrieved18 October2024.
- ^"Gema Group to deliver food and beverage offerings at Newcastle's McDonald Jones Stadium".Australiasian Leisure Management.Retrieved18 October2020.
- ^Stadium shuttleNewcastle Transport
- ^"The Clubs".pflintoff.com.Retrieved9 October2012.
- ^"Australia 6–9 Scotland".BBC Sport.5 June 2012.
- ^"Waratahs announce Newcastle Super Rugby game".
- ^Ferguson, Shawn Dollin and Andrew."Newcastle International Sports Centre – Results – Rugby League Project".www.rugbyleagueproject.org.
- ^"Representative Round: Newcastle to host Test".NRL.com.25 January 2016.