| |
Full name | HFC Bank Stadium |
---|---|
Former names | ANZ Stadium |
Address | Suva Fiji |
Location | Suva, Fiji |
Coordinates | 18°9′0″S 178°26′57″E / 18.15000°S 178.44917°E |
Owner | Government of Suva City |
Operator | Government of Suva City |
Capacity | 15,000 |
Construction | |
Built | 1951 |
Renovated | 1978–1979 2012–2013 |
Tenants | |
Suva Highlanders Fijian Drua Suva FC Fiji national football team |
The HFC Bank Stadium (formerly known as ANZ Stadium) [1] is a multi-purpose stadium in Suva, Fiji.
HFC 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] The stadium has a capacity of 15,000. [2]
Originally called Buckhurst Park, the stadium was constructed in 1951 on sixteen hectares of land given by William H. B. Buckhurst in 1948. [3] [4]
The stadium was first renovated in 1978–1979 for the Sixth South Pacific Games. [5] Work commenced in April 1978 with the demolition of the grandstand, which had lost its roof during Hurricane Bebe. [6] The stadium was renamed National Stadium upon reopening in 1979. [5]
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]
In June 2022, the Fiji Sports Council announced HFC Bank as the new naming right sponsor of the stadium with the new name designated as HFC Bank Stadium. [8]
The 2012–2013 renovation also included the park and playing grounds behind the HFC Bank Stadium, which are known as Bidesi Park and Buckhurst Park, [7] retaining the stadium's original name. [3] The Buckhurst and Bidesi grounds include three pitches primarily used for training and competition in rugby league, rugby union, 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. [9] [2]