Ballymore Stadium

Multifunctional Australian stadium in Brisbane

Ballymore Stadium

Ballymore

Location| Herston, Queensland
Coordinates| 27°26′31″S 153°1′4″E﻿ / ﻿27.44194°S 153.01778°E﻿ / -27.44194; 153.01778
Owner| Queensland Rugby Union
Capacity| 18,000 (Capped at 8,000)
Surface| Grass
Opened| 1966
Tenants
Queensland Reds (Super Rugby) (1996–2004)
Brisbane City (NRC) (2014–2019)
Brisbane Roar A-League Men (2024–present)
Brisbane Roar A-League Women (2023–present)
Australia women's rugby union team

Ballymore  is a rugby union stadium situated in Herston, a suburb of Brisbane, Australia. It is the headquarters of Queensland Rugby Union and was the home ground of the Brisbane City team in the National Rugby Championship, until the league's disbandment in 2019. It is also used as a training facility for the Queensland Reds and Australian Wallabies rugby teams.

The stadium was the home ground of the Reds until they moved to Suncorp Stadium in 2006. The Brisbane Strikers football club also played at the ground prior to 2003. Ballymore was used as a training facility and headquarters for A-League club Brisbane Roar from 2008 to 2014. It will be used as the club's women's home stadium from 2023–24 season.[1]

## History[edit]

The Queensland Rugby Union (QRU) set up its headquarters at Ballymore in 1966 under a deed of grant from the state 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 the McLean family).[2] The Eastern stand is known as the Bank of Queensland stand.

The Queensland Reds played their home matches at Ballymore from 1967 until 2005.[3] Their Super Rugby matches were moved to Lang Park for the 2006 season but they still played their home games in the 2006 Australian Provincial Championship at Ballymore. The stadium also hosted the Ballymore Tornadoes during the only season of the Australian Rugby Championship in 2007.

During the 2032 Summer Olympics, Ballymore will host field hockey.[4][5]

## Present use[edit]

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. The Queensland Premier Rugby finals 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 City held its home National Rugby Championship matches 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. [6]

Ballymore was the planned home venue for Brisbane City's failed bid to join the A-League.[7] In November 2018, a planned friendly football match between South Korea and Uzbekistan had to be moved to QSAC due to the poor state of the pitch.[8]

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.[9][10]

The National Rugby Training Centre will be the headquarters for the Australia 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[edit]

Ballymore hosted five matches of the 1987 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[edit]

* Rugby union in Queensland
* Queensland Rugby Union

## References[edit]

1. ^ D'Urbano, Nick (19 April 2023). "Roar to return to Brisbane permanently next season". KeepUp.com.au. Australian Professional Leagues. Archived from the original on 14 August 2023. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
2. ^ Meares, Peter (2002). Legends of Australian Sport: The Inside Story. University of Queensland Press. pp. 166–167. ISBN 9780702234101. Archived from the original on 1 March 2017. Retrieved 20 May 2013.
3. ^ "The move to Suncorp from Ballymore". Queensland Rugby. 2013. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
4. ^ Ballymore Stadium becomes first Brisbane 2032 Olympic venue under construction Archived 20 November 2023 at the Wayback Machine Inside the Games 12 January 2022
5. ^ Hockey body blasts Brisbane's Olympic Ballymore plan Archived 20 November 2023 at the Wayback Machine Brisbane Times 12 April 2023
6. ^ "Ballymore redevelopment: State Government's $15 million injection". The Courier Mail. 29 June 2020. Archived from the original on 11 March 2022. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
7. ^ 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. Archived from the original on 9 June 2017.
8. ^ Atfield, Cameron (16 November 2018). "Poor pitch sees international switched from Ballymore to QSAC". Brisbane Times. Archived from the original on 22 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
9. ^ "Ballymore redevelopment set to kick-off". Austadiums. 17 February 2021. Archived from the original on 23 February 2022. Retrieved 23 February 2022.
10. ^ "Construction works begins at Ballymore". Austadiums. 17 February 2022. Archived from the original on 23 February 2022. Retrieved 23 February 2022.

## External links[edit]

* Ballymore Redevelopment Proposal Archived 1 March 2010 at the Wayback Machine
* Ballymore Stadium at Austadiums
* “State of the art” Rugby Centre proposed for Ballymore

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Queensland Rugby Union

Member of the Australian Rugby Union

Super Rugby team|

Queensland Reds

Super W teams|

* Queensland Reds Women

NRC teams|

* Brisbane City
* Queensland Country

Premier Rugby|

* Bond University
* Brothers
* Easts
* GPS
* Norths
* Souths
* Sunnybank
* University of Queensland
* Wests

Venues|

* Ballymore Stadium
* Lang Park

Regional bodies|

* Queensland Suburban Rugby Union
* Queensland Country Rugby Union

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Brisbane landmarks

Government|

* City Hall
* Customs House
* Government House
* Lands Administration Building
* Newstead House
* Old Government House
* Parliament House
* South Brisbane Town Hall
* Treasury Building

Arts and culture|

* Brisbane Powerhouse
* Great Court, University of Queensland
* Museum of Brisbane
* Old Museum Building
* Queensland Art Gallery
* Queensland Gallery of Modern Art
* Queensland Maritime Museum
* Queensland Museum
* Queensland Performing Arts Centre
* Old Windmill
* Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium
* State Library

Entertainment|

* Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre
* Brisbane Exhibition Ground
* Brisbane Entertainment Centre
* Brisbane Festival Hall
* Brisbane Powerhouse
* Cloudland
* Queensland Performing Arts Centre
* Riverstage
* Queen's Wharf
* Treasury Casino
* Wheel of Brisbane

Squares and plazas|

* Anzac Square
* Courier Mail Piazza
* King George Square
* Post Office Square
* Queen Street Mall
* South Bank
* Gasworks Newstead

Parkland|

* Brisbane Forest Park
* City Botanic Gardens
* Mount Coot-tha Botanic Gardens
* New Farm Park
* Queens Gardens
* Roma Street Parkland
* South Bank Parklands
* Wickham Park

Transport|

* Airport Link
* Brisbane Airport
* Central station
* Clem Jones Tunnel
* Goodwill Bridge
* Legacy Way
* Sir Leo Hielscher Bridges
* Story Bridge

Sports venues|

* Ballymore Stadium
* Chandler Arena
* Chandler Aquatic Centre
* Doomben Racecourse
* Eagle Farm Racecourse
* Lakeside International Raceway
* Lang Park (Suncorp Stadium)
* Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre
* Queensland State Hockey Centre
* Queensland State Netball Centre
* Queensland Tennis Centre
* The Gabba

Heritage|

* Albert Bridge
* All Saints Anglican Church
* Brisbane Arcade
* Howard Smith Wharves
* The Mansions
* St John's Cathedral
* St Luke's Anglican Church
* St Stephen's Cathedral
* Pugin Chapel

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Super Rugby stadiums

Australia|

* AAMI Park
* Allianz Stadium
* GIO Stadium
* HBF Park
* Suncorp Stadium

Fiji|

* Churchill Park
* HFC Bank Stadium

New Zealand|

* Apollo Projects Stadium
* Eden Park
* FMG Stadium Waikato
* Forsyth Barr Stadium
* Sky Stadium

Secondary stadiums (2024)|

* Central Energy Trust Arena
* Go Media Stadium
* North Harbour Stadium
* Semenoff Stadium
* Teufaiva Stadium

Former stadiums|

| Argentina|

* José Amalfitani Stadium

|

Australia|

* Allianz Stadium
* ANZ Stadium, Sydney
* Ballymore
* Brookvale Oval
* Cbus Super Stadium
* CommBank Stadium
* Leichhardt Oval
* Mars Stadium
* McDonald Jones Stadium
* Manuka Oval
* Queensland Country Bank Stadium
* Subiaco Oval
* Sunshine Coast Stadium
* Sydney Cricket Ground
* Willows Sports Complex
* WIN Stadium

England|

* Twickenham Stadium

Hong Kong|

* Mong Kok Stadium

Japan|

* Level5 Stadium
* Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium

New Zealand|

* Alpine Energy Stadium
* AMI Stadium
* Athletic Park
* Baypark Stadium
* Carisbrook
* ECOLight Stadium
* McLean Park
* Owen Delany Park
* Queenstown Events Centre
* Rotorua International Stadium
* Rugby Park
* Tauranga Domain
* Trafalgar Park
* Wakatipu Rugby Club
* Yarrow Stadium

Samoa|

* Apia Park

Singapore|

* National Stadium

South Africa|

* Boet Erasmus Stadium
* Boland Stadium
* Bosman Stadium
* Buffalo City Stadium
* DHL Newlands
* Emirates Airline Park
* Jonsson Kings Park
* Loftus Versfeld
* Mbombela Stadium
* Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
* North West Stadium
* Outeniqua Park
* Orlando Stadium
* Puma Stadium
* Tafel Lager Park
* Toyota Stadium

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National Rugby Championship grounds

New South Wales|

* Caltex Park
* Central Coast Stadium
* Oakes Oval
* Wade Park
* Coogee Oval
* Western Sydney Stadium
* Brookvale Oval
* Leichhardt Oval
* Ann Ashwood Park
* Newcastle Sports Ground
* Chillingworth Oval
* Woollahra Oval
* Concord Oval
* Eric Tweedale Stadium
* Forshaw Park
* Manly Oval
* Pittwater Park

Queensland|

* Suncorp Stadium
* Ballymore
* Bond University
* Cbus Super Stadium
* Mike Carney Toyota Park
* Rugby Park, Rockhampton
* Toowoomba Sports Ground
* Stockland Park

Victoria|

* AAMI Park
* Holmesglen Reserve
* Frankston Park
* Simonds Stadium
* Latrobe City Stadium

Australian Capital Territory|

* Viking Park

Western Australia|

* HBF Arena
* Rockingham RUC
* UWA Rugby Club

South Australia|

* Adelaide Airport Oval

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Venues of the 1987 Rugby World Cup

New Zealand|

* Athletic Park (Wellington)
* Carisbrook (Dunedin)
* Eden Park (Auckland)
* Lancaster Park (Christchurch)
* McLean Park (Napier)
* Rotorua International Stadium (Rotorua)
* Rugby Park Stadium (Invercargill)
* Rugby Park (Hamilton)
* The Showgrounds Oval (Palmerston North)

Australia|

* Ballymore Stadium (Brisbane)
* Concord Oval (Sydney)

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Olympic venues in field hockey

20th century|

* 1908: White City Stadium
* 1920: Olympisch Stadion
* 1928: Old Stadion
* 1932: Olympic Stadium
* 1936: Hockey Stadion (final), Hockey Stadion #2
* 1948: Empire Stadium (medal matches), Guinness Sports Club, Lyons' Sports Club, Polytechnic Sports Ground
* 1952: Velodrome
* 1956: Eastern Sportsground, Melbourne Cricket Ground (final)
* 1960: Campo Tre Fontane, Olympic Velodrome (final), Stadio dei Marmi
* 1964: Komazawa Hockey Field
* 1968: Municipal Stadium
* 1972: Hockeyanlage
* 1976: Molson Stadium, McGill University
* 1980: Dynamo Central Stadium, Minor Arena; Young Pioneers Stadium (final)
* 1984: Weingart Stadium
* 1988: Seongnam Stadium
* 1992: Estadi Olímpic de Terrassa
* 1996: Clark Atlanta University Stadium, Morris Brown College Stadium (final)

21st century|

* 2000: State Hockey Centre
* 2004: Olympic Hockey Centre
* 2008: Olympic Green Hockey Field
* 2012: Riverbank Arena
* 2016: Olympic Hockey Centre
* 2020: Oi Hockey Stadium
* 2024: Stade Yves-du-Manoir
* 2028: Dignity Health Sports Park
* 2032: Ballymore Stadium

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World Rugby Sevens Series venues

Current (2023-24)|

* The Sevens
* Cape Town Stadium
* Bankwest Stadium
* FMG Stadium Waikato
* Dignity Health Sports Park
* BC Place
* Twickenham
* Stade Jean-Bouin
* Singapore National Stadium
* Hong Kong Stadium

Former|

* Adelaide Oval
* HFC Bank Stadium
* Ballymore
* Chichibunomiya
* Danie Craven
* Dubai Exiles
* Domingo Burgueño
* José María Minella
* San Carlos de Apoquindo
* Kings Park
* Millennium Stadium
* Murrayfield
* Nelson Mandela Bay
* Olympic Sports Centre (Beijing)
* Outeniqua Park
* Petaling Jaya
* Petco Park
* Robina
* Sam Boyd
* Scotstoun
* Chaban-Delmas
* Sydney Football Stadium
* Sydney Showground Stadium
* Wellington Regional Stadium
* Yuanshen Sports Centre Stadium

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A-League Women stadiums

Current|

* Ballymore Stadium
* Central Coast Stadium
* City Football Academy
* City Vista Recreation Reserve
* Genis Steel Stadium
* Hindmarsh Stadium
* Leichhardt Oval
* Macedonia Park
* Marden Sports Complex
* McDonald Jones Stadium
* McKellar Park
* Melbourne Rectangular Stadium
* Newcastle Number 2 Sports Ground
* Perry Park
* Perth Rectangular Stadium
* Porirua Park
* Sydney Football Stadium
* Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre
* The Home of the Matildas
* Wanderers Football Park
* Wellington Regional Stadium
* Western Sydney Stadium

Former|

* A.J. Kelly Park
* Arthur & Allan Morris Field
* Ashfield Arena
* Ballarat Regional Soccer Facility
* Campbelltown Sports Stadium
* Canberra Stadium
* Casey Fields
* CB Smith Reserve
* Coffs Harbour International Stadium
* Cromer Park
* David Barro Stadium
* Docklands Stadium
* Dolphin Stadium
* Dorrien Gardens
* Epping Stadium
* Frank Holohan Soccer Complex
* Gold Coast Sports Precinct
* James Drysdale Reserve
* John Ilhan Memorial Reserve
* John McEwen Reserve
* Jubilee Oval
* Kingston Heath Soccer Complex
* Lakeside Stadium
* Lambert Park
* Lang Park
* Latrobe City Stadium
* Lions Stadium
* Magic Park
* Marconi Stadium
* Nikiforides Family Park
* North Harbour Stadium
* North Hobart Oval
* Onside Sports Stadium
* Popondetta Park
* Seiffert Oval
* Seymour Shaw Park
* Scully Park
* Spencer Park
* Stadium Australia
* State Centre for Football
* Sydney Showground Stadium
* The Parks Football Centre
* Viking Park
* West Beach Parks Football Centre
* Wollongong Showground
* York Park

Future|

* Wyndham Regional Football Facility

Demolished|

* Parramatta Stadium
* Sydney Football Stadium (1988)

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