Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre

The Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre (QSAC), more commonly known by its former names ANZ Stadium or QE II, is a major multi-purpose sporting facility on the south side of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. From 1993 to 2003, QSAC was the home of the Brisbane Broncos, who play in National Rugby League. The venue is one of Olympic Stadium options in planned South East Queensland bid for 2032 Summer Olympics with Brisbane Cricket Ground to host ceremonies and athletics. It has earlier also bids for 2009-2013 World Athletics Championships.

For the stadium in Sydney formerly known as ANZ Stadium, see Stadium Australia.

Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre
QSAC, QE2 Stadium
Former namesANZ Stadium (1993–2003)
Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Sports Centre (1977–1993)
LocationCnr of Mains and Kessels Roads, Nathan, Queensland, Australia
Coordinates27°33′30″S 153°3′44″E
OwnerQueensland Government
OperatorStadiums Queensland
Capacity48,500[1][2]
Record attendance58,912 – 1997 Super League Grand Final[3]
SurfaceGrass, Athletics track
Opened1975
Tenants
Queensland (State of Origin) (2001–2002)
Brisbane Broncos (NRL) (1993–2003)
Brisbane Roar (W-League)
Crowd gathering for the Pearl Jam show being played at the QSAC on 25 November 2009

History

The facility opened in 1975 providing a synthetic running track for athletics competitions that was unaffected by wet weather. It was officially named Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Sports Centre by the Queen in 1977 to mark her Silver Jubilee.[4] It was constructed in close proximity to both the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Hospital and Griffith University campus, which provided athlete accommodation.

Originally the section of the stadium covered by roofing was intended to be the only permanent seating facility. The remainder of the stadium seating was built as "temporary" seating and was intended to be removed after the Commonwealth Games had finished. Public opinion resulted in the unroofed temporary seating being retained as permanent.

The stadium was named ANZ Stadium from 1993 to 2003 when it was the home of the Brisbane Broncos rugby league football team. The stadium currently has a capacity of 48,500 people ,[5] although the record crowd is 58,912, set during the 1997 Super League Grand Final which saw the Broncos defeat the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 26–8. The capacity can be increased to 60,000 with the use of extra temporary seating in front of the Eastern and Western grandstands. These were removed when the running track was relaid for the 2001 Goodwill Games.

In 1999, ANZ Stadium hosted eventual champions Australia in their Davis Cup Semi-Final win over Russia 4–1. Temporary grass courts were erected up one end of the field and temporary stands on 3 sides. The crowd capacity for this event was 10, 600. 1999 Australian Open Champion and Russian Davis Cup player Yevgeny Kafelnikov described the court "like playing on a potato field" and "that court is just not acceptable for this kind of event"

In 2002, ownership transferred to the Queensland Government Major Sports Facilities Authority[6] and the venue was given its present name.

While the athletics facilities are well utilised, the stands at the stadium have largely stood empty and unused[7] since the Broncos returned to a redeveloped Lang Park in 2003.[8]

The stadium has hosted a number of events, including:

The stadium is still actively used by athletes at a local, State and National level Many local clubs such as Thompson Estate and Eastern Suburbs Athletics[11] use it regularly for training.

The stadium has also permitted students of the neighbouring Griffith University (Nathan campus) to use its expansive carpark, free of charge. This is due to the relatively low availability of parking as well as the cost of parking on the campus (there is no free parking). Students who don't mind the ten-minute walk from the stadium take advantage of the large carpark.

Notable Rugby League Games
DateResultAttendanceNotes
28 March 1993 Parramatta Eels def. Brisbane Broncos 12–851,5171993 NSWRL season Rd.3
Brisbane Broncos first game at ANZ Stadium
27 August 1993 St George Dragons def. Brisbane Broncos 16–1058,5931993 NSWRL season Rd.22
Brisbane Broncos all-time minor round home attendance record
1 June 1994 Wigan def. Brisbane Broncos 20–1454,2201994 World Club Challenge
World Club Challenge attendance record
19 May 1997 New South Wales def. Queensland 23–22 (gp)35,570Super League Tri-series Final
Longest professional rugby league game in history (104 minutes)
20 September 1997 Brisbane Broncos def. Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 26–858,9121997 Super League Grand Final
Brisbane Broncos all-time home attendance record
1 July 2001 Queensland def. New South Wales 40–1449,4412001 State of Origin series Game III
This match was notable as Allan Langer made his Origin comeback, despite playing for Warrington Wolves in the Super League at the time, inspiring the Maroons to a series-deciding victory on home soil.[12]
5 June 2002 Queensland def. New South Wales 26–1847,9892002 State of Origin series Game II
This was notably Justin Hodges' debut match for Queensland. Despite two in-goal blunders, the Maroons won the match.[13]
18 May 2003 Brisbane Broncos def. Melbourne Storm 36–1615,8672003 NRL season Rd.10
Brisbane Broncos last game at ANZ Stadium

See also

References
  1. "Queensland Sport and Athletic Centre". Retrieved 21 February 2017.
  2. "About Us". Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
  3. 1997 Super League Grand Final
  4. Stadiums Queensland – History Archived 20 August 2006 at the Wayback Machine
  5. [qsac.com.au/about-us/Frequently-Asked-Questions.aspx "QSAC - Frequently Asked Questions"] Check |url= value (help). Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  6. Stadiums Queensland Archived 20 August 2006 at the Wayback Machine
  7. Atfield, Cameron Atfield, Cameron. "Brisbane's Commonwealth Games stadium gathers dust". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  8. Atfield, Cameron. "Is there life in the white elephant yet?". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  9. Branco, Jorge. "Guns N' Roses review: Axl brings originals to Brisbane". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  10. Church, Michael. "Koreans brush aside Uzbekistan in Brisbane friendly". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  11. Thompson Estate and Eastern Suburbs Athletics, Brisbane athletics and cross country running club.
  12. Paine, Chris (1 May 2020). "'I won't let my state down': Inside the secret 'MI6-grade' mission to deliver all-time Origin comeback". Fox Sports. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  13. "Hodges laments Origin debut". Special Broadcasting Service. 11 September 2015. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
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