ANZ National Stadium

The ANZ National Stadium (known as ANZ Stadium)[3] is a multi-purpose stadium in Suva, Fiji.

ANZ National Stadium
ANZ Stadium
Location Suva, Fiji
Coordinates18°9′0″S 178°26′57″E
OwnerGovernment of Suva City
OperatorGovernment of Suva City
Capacity4,300 (stadium seating)[1]
15,000 (total with embankments)[2]
Construction
Built1951
Renovated1978–1979
2012–2013
Tenants
Suva Highlanders
Suva FC
Fiji national football team

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 concrete and grass embankments that increase the capacity to 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.[4][5]

The stadium was first renovated in 1978–1979 for the Sixth South Pacific Games.[6] Work commenced in April 1978 with the demolition of the grandstand, which had lost its roof during Hurricane Bebe.[1] The stadium was renamed National Stadium upon reopening in 1979.[6]

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.[4] 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]

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See also

References
  1. Elbourne, Frederica (22 June 2013). "Sporting history begins". Fiji Times. Archived from the original on 2015-04-14. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
  2. Fiji Sports Council (10 July 2014). "Facilities". Archived from the original on 2016-04-26.
  3. Kumar, Rashneel (8 May 2013). "New stadium ready for Flying Fijians". Fiji Times. Suva, Fiji. Archived from the original on 2014-11-08.
  4. "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.
  5. "Les Iles Fidji et l'Olympisme" (PDF). LA84 Foundation (in French). Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
  6. "South Pacific Games 1979 - Fiji". Solomon Islands Games Record. Fox Sports Pulse. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
  7. 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.
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