ANZ_National_Stadium
HFC Bank Stadium
Multi-purpose stadium in Suva, Fiji
The HFC Bank Stadium (formerly known as ANZ Stadium)[1] is a multi-purpose stadium in Suva, Fiji.
HFC Bank Stadium | |
| Full name | HFC Bank Stadium |
|---|---|
| Former names | ANZ Stadium |
| Address | Suva Fiji |
| Location |  Suva, Fiji |
| Coordinates | 18°9′0″S 178°26′57″E |
| Owner | Government of Suva City |
| Operator | Government of Suva City |
| Capacity | 15,000 |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1951; 73 years ago (1951) |
| Renovated | 1978–1979 2012–2013 |
| Tenants | |
| Suva Highlanders Fijian Drua Suva FC Fiji national football team | |
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]
- Kumar, Rashneel (8 May 2013). "New stadium ready for Flying Fijians". Fiji Times. Suva, Fiji. Archived from the original on 8 November 2014.
- Fiji Sports Council (10 July 2014). "Facilities". Archived from the original on 26 April 2016.
- "Rotary Club of Suva, Fiji, First Club of the South Pacific Islands". Rotary Global History Fellowship. Archived from the original on 24 April 2016. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
- "Les Iles Fidji et l'Olympisme" (PDF). LA84 Foundation (in French). Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
- "South Pacific Games 1979 - Fiji". Solomon Islands Games Record. Fox Sports Pulse. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
- Elbourne, Frederica (22 June 2013). "Sporting history begins". Fiji Times. Archived from the original on 14 April 2015. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
- Ratuva, Anasilini (9 August 2012). "$17.5m For Stadium Upgrade". Fiji Sun. Archived from the original on 26 April 2016.
- "HFC Bank Takes Over The Iconic National Stadium Naming Rights". Fiji Sun. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
- "Buckhurst Baseball Ground – Competition Venue". 2003 South Pacific Games. Fox Sports Pulse. 29 June 2003. Archived from the original on 26 April 2016.