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Ballymore Stadium

Coordinates:27°26′31″S153°1′4″E/ 27.44194°S 153.01778°E/-27.44194; 153.01778
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Ballymore Stadium
Ballymore
Map
LocationHerston, Queensland
Coordinates27°26′31″S153°1′4″E/ 27.44194°S 153.01778°E/-27.44194; 153.01778
OwnerQueensland Rugby Union
Capacity6,000[1]
SurfaceGrass
Opened1966
Tenants
Queensland Reds(Super Rugby) (1996–2004)
Brisbane City(NRC) (2014–2019)
Brisbane RoarA-League Men(2024–present)
Brisbane RoarA-League Women(2023–present)
Australia women's rugby union team

Ballymoreis arugby unionstadium situated inHerston,a suburb ofBrisbane,Australia.It is the headquarters ofQueensland Rugby Unionand was the home ground of theBrisbane Cityteam in theNational Rugby Championship,until the league's disbandment in 2019. It is also used as a training facility for theQueensland Redsand theAustralia national rugby union team.

The stadium was the home ground of the Reds until they moved toSuncorp Stadiumin 2006. TheBrisbane Strikersfootball club also played at the ground prior to 2003. Ballymore was used as a training facility and headquarters forA-LeagueclubBrisbane Roarfrom 2008 to 2014. It will be used as the club's women's home stadium from2023–24 season.[2]

History

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TheQueensland Rugby Union(QRU) set up its headquarters at Ballymore in 1966 under a deed of grant from thestate government.The first club game played at the new site was a match between Teachers and Wests. The QRU moved in February 1967. In March of the following year Ballymore's grandstand was officially opened. The Eastern Stand was opened on 21 June 1992. The ground exceeded capacity in 1993 when 26,000 watched the Wallabies play South Africa. A year later the first match under lights was played at the ground. Today the grandstand is known as the McLean Stand (named in 1982 after theMcLean family).[3]The Eastern stand is known as theBank of Queenslandstand.

The Queensland Reds played their home matches at Ballymore from 1967 until 2005.[4]TheirSuper Rugbymatches were moved toLang Parkfor the 2006 season but they still played their home games in the2006 Australian Provincial Championshipat Ballymore. The stadium also hosted theBallymore Tornadoesduring the only season of theAustralian Rugby Championshipin 2007.

During the2032 Summer Olympics,Ballymore will hostfield hockey.[5][6]

Present use

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Though the Reds have since moved out of Ballymore to Suncorp Stadium, which has almost three times the capacity, Ballymore is still the host to many rugby union matches. TheQueensland Premier Rugbyfinals are held at the ground, and Queensland XV and off-season matches for the Reds are also played at Ballymore. From 2014 until 2019,Brisbane Cityheld its homeNational Rugby Championshipmatches at the stadium.

The QRU has plans to redevelop the site to include a high performance centre comprising advanced sports medicine and training facilities, a gymnasium and aquatic facilities, as well as on-site accommodation for visiting teams, with Brisbane firm Blight Rayner as architects for the project.[7]

Ballymore was the planned home venue forBrisbane City'sfailed bid to join theA-League.[8]In November 2018, a plannedfriendlyfootball match betweenSouth KoreaandUzbekistanhad to be moved toQSACdue to the poor state of the pitch.[9]

In February 2021 demolition and construction works commenced on the stadium and surrounding precinct, to allow for the creation of the National Rugby Training Centre. The McLean Stand was demolished in February 2021, and will be replaced by the indoor training centre which includes a new grandstand capable of seating 3010 spectators, and also features corporate facilities, a 700 square-metre gym, rehabilitation areas, a 75-seat auditorium, a 120-seat function room, changing rooms and offices. A second rugby field with surrounding offices is included in the masterplan, though has not been constructed.[10][11]

The National Rugby Training Centre will be the headquarters for theAustralia women's national rugby union team(the Wallaroos) and a training site for the Queensland Reds men's, women's and academy teams.

Rugby World Cup

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Ballymore hosted five matches of the1987 Rugby World Cup.These matches were:

Date Competition Team Score Team Attendance
24 May 1987 1987 Rugby World Cup Pool 1 Japan 8–21 United States 4,000
31 May 1987 1987 Rugby World Cup Pool 1 Australia 47–12 United States 10,855
3 June 1987 1987 Rugby World Cup Pool 2 Ireland 32–9 Tonga 4,000
8 June 1987 1987 Rugby World Cup Quarter-final England 7–16 Wales 15,000
14 June 1987 1987 Rugby World Cup Semi-final New Zealand 49–6 Wales 22,576

See also

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References

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  1. ^"Ballymore Stadium".Austadiums.Retrieved28 April2024.
  2. ^D'Urbano, Nick (19 April 2023)."Roar to return to Brisbane permanently next season".KeepUp.au.Australian Professional Leagues.Archivedfrom the original on 14 August 2023.Retrieved14 August2023.
  3. ^Meares, Peter (2002).Legends of Australian Sport: The Inside Story.University of Queensland Press. pp. 166–167.ISBN9780702234101.Archivedfrom the original on 1 March 2017.Retrieved20 May2013.
  4. ^"The move to Suncorp from Ballymore".Queensland Rugby.2013. Archived fromthe originalon 6 March 2016.Retrieved25 July2015.
  5. ^Ballymore Stadium becomes first Brisbane 2032 Olympic venue under constructionArchived20 November 2023 at theWayback MachineInside the Games 12 January 2022
  6. ^Hockey body blasts Brisbane's Olympic Ballymore planArchived20 November 2023 at theWayback MachineBrisbane Times12 April 2023
  7. ^"Ballymore redevelopment: State Government's $15 million injection".The Courier Mail.29 June 2020.Archivedfrom the original on 11 March 2022.Retrieved2 June2021.
  8. ^Rugari, Vince (5 May 2017)."FC Brisbane City's bid to enter A-League has redevelopment of home ground Ballymore as a key proposal".Fox Sports Australia.Archivedfrom the original on 9 June 2017.
  9. ^Atfield, Cameron (16 November 2018)."Poor pitch sees international switched from Ballymore to QSAC".Brisbane Times.Archivedfrom the original on 22 November 2018.Retrieved21 November2018.
  10. ^"Ballymore redevelopment set to kick-off".Austadiums.17 February 2021.Archivedfrom the original on 23 February 2022.Retrieved23 February2022.
  11. ^"Construction works begins at Ballymore".Austadiums.17 February 2022.Archivedfrom the original on 23 February 2022.Retrieved23 February2022.
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