Editing Lang Park (section)

==History==
===Origins===
The site of Lang Park was originally the [[North Brisbane Burial Ground|North Brisbane Cemetery]], and until 1875 was Brisbane's primary [[cemetery]]. By 1911, the area was heavily populated, so the Paddington Cemeteries Act (1911) was introduced, and the site was redeveloped as a recreational site. In 1914, it was fenced off and named Lang Park after [[John Dunmore Lang]].<ref name=ref-officialsite/><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article19954185 |title=Paddington Cemeteries. |newspaper=[[The Brisbane Courier]] |date=13 June 1914 |access-date=1 August 2014 |page=4 |publisher=National Library of Australia |archive-date=31 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220531224234/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/19954185 |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:StateLibQld 1 194039 Shot for goal during a soccer match in Brisbane, ca. 1937.jpg|thumb|1937 soccer match at Lang Park [[Milton, Queensland|Milton]] (looking towards Milton Road) – teams not known]]

The ground was leased by the Queensland Amateur Athletics Association (QAAA) in the 1920s. In 1935, the [[History of association football in Brisbane, Queensland|Queensland Soccer Council]] (QSC) became a sub-tenant of the QAAA, with a view to using it as the home ground for Brisbane soccer fixtures (leaving its former home, the [[The Gabba|Brisbane Cricket Ground]]).<ref>{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article35867934|title=Soccer – LANG PARK FOR CLUB MATCHES Invitation to N.S.W. – The Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld. : 1933 – 1954) – 30 Mar 1935|pages=10|newspaper=Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld. : 1933 – 1954)|date=1935-03-30|access-date=16 June 2016|archive-date=31 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220531224231/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/35867934|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Bardon Latrobe FC|Latrobe Soccer Club]], in turn, became a sub-tenant of the QSC, using the ground for its home games (see image below).{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}}

However, by 1937, the QSC was considering sub-leasing Lang Park to "another code of football" (most likely Western Suburbs Rugby League) as it "was not satisfied with the financial returns ... under the sub-lease to the Latrobe-Milton club".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article36901044|title=Soccer – MAY LEASE TO OTHER CODE Lang Park Tenancy In Doubt – The Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld. : 1933 – 1954) – 21 Jan 1937|pages=11|newspaper=Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld. : 1933 – 1954)|date=1937-01-21|access-date=16 June 2016|archive-date=31 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220531224233/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/36901044|url-status=live}}</ref> Latrobe in turn responded that "'If no action Is taken to introduce the Ipswich clubs into the Brisbane competition this' season ... the Latrobe-Milton Club cannot accept an increase in rental for Lang Park. Give us competition play with Ipswich and my club will hold the ground as headquarters for the code."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article36880086|title=NO HIGHER BID WITHOUT IPSWICH – Latrobe's Attitude To Lang Park Lease – The Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld. : 1933 – 1954) – 29 Jan 1937|pages=7|newspaper=Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld. : 1933 – 1954)|date=1937-01-29|access-date=16 June 2016|archive-date=15 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191215094650/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/36880086|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 11 February 1950, the official opening of the Lang Park Police Citizens Youth Club took place and youth activities commenced because of the concerns with the increase of juvenile delinquency. Activities such as boxing, wrestling, basketball and gymnastics all occur at these premises to this day. Contemporaneous records are scant, but it appears the QSC did not renew the lease the ground after the intervening World War II. In 1953 the [[Brisbane Rugby League premiership|Brisbane Rugby League]] (BRL) amalgamated with the [[Queensland Rugby League]] (QRL). QRL secretary [[Ron McAuliffe|Ron McAullife]] negotiated a 21-year lease of Lang Park from the [[Brisbane City Council]] in order to give the QRL a financially viable base of operations. The park had only the most basic facilities, and the QRL contributed £17,000 to its development. Lang Park hosted its first game of first grade rugby league during the 1930s, with regular BRL games commencing there in 1955. In [[1958 Brisbane Rugby League season|1958]], it hosted its first [[Brisbane Rugby League premiership#Grand Final results|Brisbane rugby league grand final]] in which [[Past Brothers|Brothers]] defeated [[Fortitude Valley Diehards|Valleys]] 22 points to 7.<ref name=ref-gallaway/> A record crowd of 19,824 saw Northern Suburbs defeat Fortitude Valley at Lang Park in the BRL grand final in September 1961.<ref>{{cite news
  | title = Norths thrash Valleys 29–5
  | work = [[The Sun-Herald]]
  | place = Australia
  | date = 24 September 1961
  | url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BdwzAAAAIBAJ&pg=1895,6148296
  | access-date = 22 April 2010
  | archive-date = 31 May 2022
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220531224228/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BdwzAAAAIBAJ&pg=1895%2C6148296
  | url-status = live
  }}</ref>

In the 1960s, [[Fonda Metassa]] famously burst from the back of an ambulance to return to the field after being carted off injured in a match for Norths against Redcliffe. As the ground was used increasingly by the QRL, it became no longer viable for use as a public recreation facility due to spoilage of the running track.<ref>{{Cite book|title='Themes and questions for historians of sport in Brisbane' In Fisher, Rod (ed.). Brisbane: archives and approaches|last=Routh|first=Spencer|publisher=Brisbane History Group|year=1983}}</ref> In 1962, the Lang Park Trust was created under an act of [[Parliament of Queensland|Parliament]]. This allowed for the construction of the Frank Burke Stand (1962), [[Ron McAuliffe]] Stand (1975), and the Western Grandstand (1994). The Trust had on its board one member from the [[Queensland Government]], one member from the [[Brisbane City Council]], two members from the [[Queensland Rugby League]] and one member from the [[Brisbane Rugby League premiership|Brisbane Rugby League]].<ref name=ref-king/>

From the 1960s, Lang Park hosted interstate and international rugby league, including the [[1980 State of Origin game|inaugural State of Origin match]]. Up until 1972, it was the home ground of the [[Wests Panthers|Western Suburbs Panthers]].{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}}

===NSWRL/ARL years===
In 1988, the [[Brisbane Broncos]] entered the [[NSWRL premiership|NSWRL Premiership]] along with the Gold Coast Chargers and the Newcastle Knights. The Broncos played out of Lang Park from 1988 until 1992, when they moved to the 60,000 capacity [[Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre|ANZ Stadium]], the stadium for the [[1982 Commonwealth Games]]. The move occurred due to a dispute over the Broncos sponsor, [[Power's Brewery]], being a competitor of the QRL's sponsor [[XXXX (beer)|XXXX]].{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}}

In 1994, the stadium's name was changed to Suncorp Stadium, when naming sponsorship was attained by Queensland financial institution, [[Suncorp Group|Suncorp]]. Also in 1994, the Western Stand was built, replacing the Frank Burke Stand.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History Wall|url=https://suncorpstadium.com.au/about/history-and-honours/history-wall |access-date=28 April 2025 |website=Suncorpstadium.com.au}}</ref> On 25 May 1997, the 1996/1997 [[National Soccer League]] Grand final was played in front of then a capacity crowd of 40,446, where the [[Brisbane Strikers FC]] defeated [[Sydney United 58 FC|Sydney United FC]] 2–0.{{Citation needed|date=September 2020}}

===Redevelopment===
[[File:Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane seen from the top of 135 Coronation Drive, in March 2019.jpg|thumb|The stadium in March 2019]]

Lang Park was heavily redeveloped in the early 2000s into a 52,500 all-seater state of the art rectangular stadium.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Suncorp Stadium |url=https://www.austadiums.com/stadiums/suncorp-stadium |access-date=31 August 2024 |website=Austadiums}}</ref>

[[File:Suncorpstadium071006.JPG|thumb|right|Suncorp Stadium before the [[Australia men's national soccer team|Australia]] vs [[Paraguay national football team|Paraguay]] [[association football|soccer]] international in October 2006.]]

Lang Park suffered significant damage during the [[2010–2011 Queensland floods]] with the entire playing field being covered by flood water.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/suncorp-stadium-ravaged-by-floods/story-e6frfgbo-1225986530037 | title = Suncorp Stadium ravaged by floods | publisher = [[The Herald Sun]] | date = 13 January 2011 | access-date = 13 January 2011}}</ref> An electrical fire started in a transformer room due to water ingress, however there was no major damage from the fire.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/suncorp-stadium-sunk-amid-devastation-and-fears-worse-to-come/story-e6frg7mf-1225986599550 | title = Suncorp Stadium sunk amid devastation and fears worse to come | work=[[The Australian]] | date = 13 January 2011 | access-date = 13 January 2011}}</ref>

===Today===
[[File:Suncorp Stadium Brisbane Australia 01.jpg|thumb|View of playing field from southern end, 13 July 2022.]]
[[File:Suncorp Stadium Brisbane Australia 03.jpg|thumb|Suncorp Stadium southern entrance, 13 July 2022]]
Although the stadium has been the traditional home of [[rugby league]] in Queensland, it has also become the state's premier venue for [[Association football|soccer]], as well as [[rugby union]].  The re-developed stadium first hosted rugby union games at the [[2003 Rugby World Cup]] and in 2005, the stadium became the new home of the [[Queensland Reds]] [[Super Rugby]] team when they moved from their former home at [[Ballymore Stadium]].[http://townsvillebulletin.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,7034,16773958%255E23217,00.html] This move caused some disquiet amongst rugby traditionalists, however was accepted by Queensland Rugby Union CEO Theo Psaros, who said that "our hearts may be at Ballymore but our heads say it's time to move.".<ref>{{Cite web|date=30 September 2005|title=New start for reads at Suncorp|url=http://www.rugbyheaven.smh.com.au/news/super-14/new-start-for-reds-at-suncorp/2005/09/30/1127804662205.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051102033141/http://www.rugbyheaven.smh.com.au/news/super-14/new-start-for-reds-at-suncorp/2005/09/30/1127804662205.html|archive-date=2 November 2005|access-date=29 September 2020}}</ref> The year before the Reds' move, the newly established football team [[Brisbane Roar FC|Queensland Roar]] of the [[A-League Men|A-League]] also elected to play their home games at Suncorp Stadium.{{Citation needed|date=September 2020}}

[[The New Zealand Herald|New Zealand rugby journalist]] Wynne Gray called Suncorp Stadium perhaps the best rugby stadium in the world.  "It is so intimate you can hear the smack of bodies, the boot on leather, you feel the power and rhythm of the games."<ref name=ref-gray/>

The stadium has also been favourably compared to Cardiff's [[Millennium Stadium]] and London's [[Twickenham Stadium]].{{CN|date=April 2025}}

On 29 July 2006, the [[Bledisloe Cup]] clash between the [[Australia national rugby union team|Wallabies]] and the [[New Zealand national rugby union team|All Blacks]] returned to Brisbane for the first time in over a decade for the [[2006 Tri Nations Series]]. Though Australia narrowly lost the match, the game saw a new ground record set.{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}}

[[File:Suncorp Stadium.jpg|thumb|right|Inside Suncorp Stadium during an [[National Rugby League|NRL]] game]]

A month later on 7 October the stadium hosted a 1–1 friendly soccer game between [[Australia men's national soccer team|Australia]] and [[Paraguay national football team|Paraguay]] in which [[Tony Vidmar]], [[Stan Lazaridis]], [[Zeljko Kalac]] and goal scorer [[Tony Popovic]] all retired from international soccer.{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}}

On 8 November 2006, a crowd of 44,358 saw the [[Great Britain national rugby league team]] play against [[Australia national rugby league team|Australia]] for the last time.

On Wednesday 13 and Thursday 14 December, the stadium hosted its first music concert since the 1980s and the stadium's redevelopment when [[Robbie Williams]] performed in front of two 52,413 sell-out crowds during his "Close Encounters" tour of Australia, and was the venue for the [[U2]] 360 tour in December 2010. That same month the stadium hosted [[Bon Jovi]] as part of [[The Circle Tour]].{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}}

The Stadium was also the site of the [[2011 A-League Grand Final]], drawing a crowd of over 50,000. The match was one of the most dramatic in A-League history, with the [[Brisbane Roar FC|Brisbane Roar]] scoring two goals in the last five minutes to level the scores with the [[Central Coast Mariners FC|Central Coast Mariners]] after several hundred home supporters had left the stadium early, many returning after hearing the stadium erupt while waiting for the train. The Roar went on to win 4–2 in the penalty shootout, making for an incredible victory.{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}}

The stadium is also home to the Lang Park Police Citizens Youth Club.{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}}

American Singer-Songwriter [[Taylor Swift]] played at Suncorp Stadium for her [[The Red Tour|Red Tour]] on 7 December 2013.{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}}

In September 2016, it was announced that the video screens, originally installed in 2003, would be replaced.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/teams/broncos/suncorp-stadium-gabba-get-7m-in-large-new-led-screens/news-story/cccee203cc64623b8f5c68e7e436b2b3|title=This will really get the Cauldron pumping|access-date=6 September 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160907083101/http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/teams/broncos/suncorp-stadium-gabba-get-7m-in-large-new-led-screens/news-story/cccee203cc64623b8f5c68e7e436b2b3|archive-date=7 September 2016|df=dmy-all|date=September 2016}}</ref> Construction started on the new video screens in March 2017 and was finished in early May 2017 in time for an NRL double header.{{Citation needed|date=September 2020}}

In 2019, the stadium hosted the NRL's inaugural [[Magic Round (NRL)|Magic Round]], in which all eight matches in a single round are played at the one venue.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2018/06/17/nrl-brisbane-magic-round-to-be-staged-in-2019-at-suncorp-stadium/|title=Eight NRL games in three 'Magic' days at Suncorp Stadium|publisher=NRL.com|first=Neil|last=Cadigan|date=17 June 2018|access-date=12 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190512132246/https://www.nrl.com/news/2018/06/17/nrl-brisbane-magic-round-to-be-staged-in-2019-at-suncorp-stadium/|archive-date=12 May 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> The NRL has an agreement to host its Magic Round in Brisbane until the 2027 season.<ref>{{Cite web |title='Could work elsewhere': NRL CEO on the future of Magic Round beyond 2027 |url=https://www.4bc.com.au/podcast/could-work-elsewhere-nrl-ceo-on-the-future-of-magic-round-beyond-2027/ |access-date=2025-05-05 |website=4BC |language=en}}</ref> The 2025 Magic Round was held at Suncorp Stadium from 1 to 4 May 2025 with a total attendance of 149,329.

In 2020, the [[Melbourne Storm]] played their "home" finals at the venue, as it was not possible for the team to play them at its regular home ground, [[Melbourne Rectangular Stadium|AAMI Park]], due to the state of Victoria being locked down during the state's second wave of [[COVID-19|coronavirus]] infections.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://7news.com.au/sport/rugby-league/storm-set-to-play-nrl-finals-at-suncorp-c-1279848|title=Storm set to play NRL finals at Suncorp|publisher=[[Seven News]]|first1=Pamela|last1=Whaley|first2=Scott|last2=Bailey|date=31 August 2020|access-date=13 December 2020|archive-date=28 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220328120205/https://7news.com.au/sport/rugby-league/storm-set-to-play-nrl-finals-at-suncorp-c-1279848|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 26 June 2021, the [[Queensland rugby league team|Queensland Maroons]] played at home against the [[New South Wales rugby league team|New South Wales Blues]] in the [[State of Origin series]]. Queensland lost the game 26–0, and henceforth the series.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-06-27|title=Maroons v Blues: Walsh, Mulitalo out and Coates in; Blues good to go|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2021/06/21/maroons-v-blues-state-of-origin-ii-preview/|access-date=2021-07-09|website=National Rugby League|language=en|archive-date=9 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709185632/https://www.nrl.com/news/2021/06/21/maroons-v-blues-state-of-origin-ii-preview/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Due to a [[COVID-19 pandemic in New South Wales#Bondi cluster|COVID-19 lockdown in New South Wales]], which began on 26 June 2021 and was still in effect into October, the stadium hosted twenty-one extra games on top of its normal commitments to the Brisbane Broncos as well as Magic Round, including the [[2021 NRL Grand Final]] on 3 October 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-09-08/nrl-grand-final-for-brisbane-lang-park/100443284|title=NRL grand final leaving Sydney for first time, will be played at Brisbane's Lang Park|publisher=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]] ([[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]])|date=8 September 2021|accessdate=8 September 2021|archive-date=8 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210908034805/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-09-08/nrl-grand-final-for-brisbane-lang-park/100443284|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://afltables.com/rl/crowds/lang_vn.html|title=Rugby League Tables / Attendances / Lang|access-date=29 July 2023|archive-date=29 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230729052559/https://afltables.com/rl/crowds/lang_vn.html|url-status=live}}</ref> This was the second time that a rugby league premiership Grand Final was played outside of Sydney, following the [[1997 Super League (Australia) season#Grand final|1997 Super League Grand Final]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://7news.com.au/sport/rugby-league/nrl-poised-to-announce-qld-grand-final-c-3905899|title=Regional Queenslanders rewarded as NRL locks in historic grand final shift|publisher=[[Seven News]]|first=Joey|last=Riordan|date=8 September 2021|accessdate=8 September 2021|archive-date=8 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210908073650/https://7news.com.au/sport/rugby-league/nrl-poised-to-announce-qld-grand-final-c-3905899|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2023, the stadium hosted several matches of the [[2023 FIFA Women's World Cup]].{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}}

===Average attendance per team===
[[File:Suncorp crowd Origin 3 2022.jpg|thumb|right|[[2022 State of Origin series|2022 State of Origin rugby league]], Queensland Maroons v NSW Blues]]

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Team
! Sport
! Average
! Season
|-
| [[Queensland rugby league team|Queensland Maroons]]
| Rugby league
| 52,433 (only one game)
| [[2023 State of Origin series#Game II|2023]]
|-
| [[Brisbane Broncos]] (NRL)
| Rugby league
| 41,612
| [[2023 NRL season|2023]]
|-
| [[Dolphins (NRL)]]
| Rugby league
| 29,516
| [[2023 NRL season|2023]]
|- 
| [[Brisbane Roar FC|Brisbane Roar]]
| Association football
| 18,556
| [[2007–08 A-League|2007–08]]
|-
| | [[Queensland Reds]]
| Rugby union
| 14,516
| [[2024 Queensland Reds season|2024]]
|-
|}