Athletic Park, Wellington

Last updated

Athletic Park
AthleticParkWellington1971.jpg
1971 Lions Tour of New Zealand
Athletic Park, Wellington
Location Newtown, Wellington, New Zealand
Coordinates 41°19′2″S174°46′37″E / 41.31722°S 174.77694°E / -41.31722; 174.77694
OwnerAthletic Park Company (1896–1908)
Wellington Rugby Football Union (1908–1999)
Capacity 800 (1898)
1,100 (1902)
5,700 (1928)
59,000 (1959)
39,000 (1999)
SurfaceGrass
Opened6 April 1896
Closed10 October 1999
Tenants
Wellington Rugby Football Union (1896-1999)
New Zealand national rugby union team (1904-1999)
Wellington Hurricanes (1996-1999)

Athletic Park was a rugby union ground located in Newtown, a suburb of Wellington, New Zealand. It was owned and operated by the Wellington Rugby Football Union, and was used for Wellington first-class matches, as well as local club matches. It hosted the first New Zealand national rugby union team (All Blacks) home test match in 1904, and continued to be used as a regular venue for All Blacks home matches until its closure and demolition in 1999. [1] It was also the primary home ground of the Wellington Hurricanes (now known as the Hurricanes) between 1996 and 1999.

Contents

History

The ground was an open park overlooking Cook Strait and the Pacific Ocean and was therefore exposed to Wellington's regular strong winds. For this reason, it was described by French journalist Denis Lalanne as a "desolate, cyclone-swept stadium... pitiful and at the same time wonderful." [2] It was famous for the Millard Stand, a very steep grandstand which used to sway in the winds. The Millard Stand was completed in 1961 and named for Wellington Rugby Football Union administrator J. N. Millard. [3] The Millard Stand replaced the Western Bank, a section that was so popular that fans would camp at the ground overnight to ensure they could sit there. [2] The regular patrons of the Western Bank, referred to as "Bankers", were considered particularly knowledgeable about rugby union. [2] [4]

Towards the end of its life, the stadium fell into a poor condition but was still cherished by the public. [1] Throughout the 1980s several proposals were made to modernise the grounds, but instead a decision was made to build a new stadium. Several alternatives were proposed, including a new stadium in Porirua or revamping the Basin Reserve or Fraser Park in Hutt Valley. The proposal that was ultimately successful was a new stadium built on unused land near the Wellington railway station. This stadium, now formally known as Wellington Regional Stadium and colloquially as "The Cake Tin", was completed in 1999, and Athletic Park closed permanently that same year.

Athletic Park has now been demolished and replaced with a retirement village, colloquially known as "Arthritic Park". [1] [5] The last match played at the ground was on 10 October 1999, between Wellington and Otago in the NPC, with Wellington prevailing 36–16. [6]

Rugby union

Test matches

Athletic Park hosted 42 Test matches involving the All Blacks from 1904 to 1999, including the 43–6 win over Australia in 1996. The ground record crowd was 59 000 people, set in a 1959 match against the British Lions. [4]

The phenomenon of extreme winds at the ground was most famously displayed in the 1961 Test against France, later nicknamed the "Cyclone Test", as it was played in hurricane-force winds of up to 79 miles per hour (127 kph). [3] [7] Lalanne's review of the match declared it to have been "a nightmare spectacle", with the extreme winds causing the closure of most of the newly-built Millard Stand, numerous errors in gameplay and touch kicks that were pushed behind the kicker. [3] [7] New Zealand eventually prevailed 5-3 in the lowest-scoring game of the tour, after Don Clarke made a sideline conversion by kicking almost parallel to the try line, with the wind curling the ball between the posts. [3]

The last Test match played at Athletic Park was against France on 26 June 1999, with the All Blacks winning 54–7. [5]

Rugby World Cup

Athletic Park hosted four matches of the 1987 Rugby World Cup.

DateCompetitionHome teamAway teamAttendance
25 May 1987 1987 Rugby World Cup Pool 2IRFU flag.svg  Ireland 6Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 1315,000
28 May 1987 1987 Rugby World Cup Pool 4Flag of France.svg  France 55Flag of Romania.svg  Romania 127,000
30 May 1987 1987 Rugby World Cup Pool 4Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 60Flag of Zimbabwe.svg  Zimbabwe 2112,000
1 June 1987 1987 Rugby World Cup Pool 3Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 46Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 1530,000

Association football

In 1923, Athletic Park hosted the inaugural final of the Chatham Cup, New Zealand's principal knockout association football (soccer) tournament. [8]

Music and other events

Athletic Park also played host to other non-sports events, including a visit by Pope John Paul II in 1986 [9] and various rock concerts.

Kiss performed a concert in 1980 as part of their Unmasked Tour. [10] In 1983, David Bowie and Dire Straits performed at Athletic Park, with further performances by Dire Straits in 1986 and 1991. [11] Elton John performed two concerts there, the first on 10 March 1982 as part of his Jump Up! Tour and the second was on 22 February 1984 as part of his Too Low for Zero Tour. Eurythmics performed on 28 January 1987 as part of their Revenge Tour.[ citation needed ]

In March 1980, Fleetwood Mac played what was described by Grant Harding of Hawke's Bay Today as "the worst concert ever" at the ground. The band began arguing and fighting amongst themselves during the performance and left the stage, before later returning to continue. Those attending chanted for the return of the supporting band, New Zealand's Street Talk as the music deteriorated. [12]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cardiff Arms Park</span> Sports venue in Cardiff, Wales

Cardiff Arms Park, also known as The Arms Park, is situated in the centre of Cardiff, Wales. It is primarily a rugby union stadium, but it also has a bowling green. The Arms Park was host to the British Empire and Commonwealth Games in 1958, and hosted four games in the 1991 Rugby World Cup, including the third-place play-off. The Arms Park also hosted the inaugural Heineken Cup Final of 1995–96 and the following year in 1996–97.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Zealand national rugby union team</span> Mens rugby union team of New Zealand

The New Zealand national rugby union team, commonly known as the All Blacks, represents New Zealand in men's international rugby union, which is considered the country's national sport. Famed for their international success, the All Blacks have often been regarded as one of the most successful sports teams in history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blues (Super Rugby)</span> New Zealand rugby union club, based in Auckland

The Blues are a New Zealand professional rugby union team based in Auckland, who play in the Super Rugby competition. Like New Zealand's four other Super Rugby teams, the Blues were established by the NZRU in 1996. One of the most successful teams in Super Rugby history, the Blues won the competition in its first two seasons, 1996 and 1997, and again in 2003 and 2024. Additionally, the team were finalists in 1998 and 2022, and semi-finalists in 2007, 2011 and 2023. They won a Trans Tasman competition in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hurricanes (rugby union)</span> New Zealand rugby union club, based in Wellington

The Hurricanes is a New Zealand professional men's rugby union team based in Wellington that competes in Super Rugby. The Hurricanes were formed to represent the lower North Island, including the East Coast, Hawke's Bay, Horowhenua Kapiti, Manawatū, Poverty Bay, Taranaki, Wairarapa-Bush, Wanganui and Wellington unions. They currently play at Sky Stadium, having previously played at the now-defunct Athletic Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Basin Reserve</span> New Zealand Cricket ground

The Basin Reserve, also known as the Cello Basin Reserve for sponsorship reasons, and commonly referred to as the Basin, is a cricket ground in Wellington, New Zealand. It is used for Test matches, and is the main home ground of the Wellington Firebirds first-class team. The Basin Reserve is the only cricket ground to have listed status with Heritage New Zealand, in recognition of being the oldest first-class cricket ground in the country. Historically, the ground has also been used for events other than cricket, such as association football matches, concerts and cultural events.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arena Manawatu</span> Stadium in New Zealand

Central Energy Trust Arena is the current name of the 180,000 square meter publicly owned recreational complex just west of the Palmerston North city center in the Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eden Park</span> Sports stadium in Auckland, New Zealand

Eden Park is a sports venue in Auckland, New Zealand. It is located three kilometres southwest of the Auckland CBD, on the boundary between the suburbs of Mount Eden and Kingsland. The main stadium has a nominal capacity of 50,000, and is sometimes referred to as New Zealand's national stadium. The stadium is used primarily for rugby union in winter and cricket in summer, and has also hosted rugby league and association football matches, as well as concerts and cultural events. It is owned and operated by the Eden Park Trust Board, whose headquarters are located in the stadium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carisbrook</span> Former stadium in Dunedin, New Zealand

Carisbrook was a major sporting venue in Dunedin, New Zealand. The city's main domestic and international rugby union venue, it was also used for other sports such as cricket, football, rugby league and motocross. In 1922, Carisbrook hosted the first international football match between Australia and New Zealand. The hosts won 3–1.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wellington Regional Stadium</span> Sporting venue in Wellington, New Zealand

Wellington Regional Stadium is a major sporting venue in Wellington, New Zealand. The stadium's bowl site size is 48,000 m2 (520,000 sq ft).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lancaster Park</span> Park in Christchurch, New Zealand

Lancaster Park, also known as Jade Stadium and AMI Stadium for sponsorship reasons, was a sports stadium in Waltham, a suburb of Christchurch in New Zealand. The stadium closed permanently due to damage sustained in the February 2011 earthquake and demolished in 2019. It has since been transformed into a public recreational park with facilities for community sport, and was re-opened in June 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ellis Park Stadium</span> Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa

Ellis Park Stadium is a rugby union and association football stadium in Johannesburg, Gauteng Province, South Africa. It hosted the final of the 1995 Rugby World Cup, which was won by the country's national team, the Springboks. The stadium was the country's most modern when it was upgraded in 1982 to accommodate almost 60,000 people. Today, the stadium hosts both football and rugby and is also used as a venue for other large events, such as open-air concerts. It has become synonymous with rugby as the only time when rugby was not played at Ellis Park was during 1980 and 1981, when the stadium was under construction during the upgrade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yarrow Stadium</span> New Zealand rugby stadium

Yarrow Stadium is situated in the central suburb of Westown in New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand, with main vehicle access off Maratahu Street. Named the third best rugby stadium on earth by New Zealand Rugby World magazine in May 2009, Yarrow Stadium conforms with the International Rugby Board's "clean stadium" policy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waikato Stadium</span> New Zealand sports stadium

FMG Stadium Waikato is a major sporting and cultural events venue in Hamilton, New Zealand, with a total capacity of 25,800. Four areas contribute to this capacity: The Brian Perry Stand holding 12,000, the WEL Networks Stand holding 8,000, the Goal Line Terrace holding 800 and the Greenzone can hold up to 5,000 people. The capacity can be extended, however, by temporarily adding 5,000 seats to the Goal Line Terrace area. The stadium, owned by the Hamilton City Council, regularly hosts two rugby union teams:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">McLean Park</span> Sports ground

McLean Park is a sports ground in Napier, New Zealand. The two main sports played at the ground are cricket and rugby union. It is one of the largest cricket grounds in New Zealand.

Pita Faiva-ki-moana Alatini is a former professional rugby union footballer who played as a midfield back. Although he was born in Tonga, he played in 17 tests for New Zealand between 1999 and 2001, scoring six test tries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of rugby union matches between France and New Zealand</span>

The National Rugby Union teams of France and New Zealand have been playing each other for over a century. The first encounter, during the historic 1905–1906 All Blacks tour of Europe and North America, which was also France's first test, took place in Paris in January 1906 and was won by New Zealand 38–8. It was not until their third meeting, in 1954, that France secured their first win over New Zealand 3–0.

Jerry Collins Stadium is a multi-purpose sporting complex in Porirua, New Zealand. It currently serves as the home ground of rugby union club Northern United RFC and the Wellington Rugby League representative team, as well as the second home for Team Wellington of the New Zealand Football Championship. Porirua Park also has a Softball field located at the western end of the park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rugby League Park</span> Sports stadium in Christchurch, New Zealand

Rugby League Park is a sports stadium in Christchurch, New Zealand. It is currently known for sponsorship reasons as Apollo Projects Stadium, and non-commercially as Christchurch Stadium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ardie Savea</span> Rugby player

Ardie Suemalo Savea is a New Zealand professional rugby union player who plays as a Number 8 or Flanker for Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby and Wellington in the Bunnings NPC. He was named the 2023 World Rugby Player of the Year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jordie Barrett</span> New Zealand rugby union player

Jordan Matthew Barrett is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a centre or fullback for Leinster in the URC, the Hurricanes in Super Rugby and Taranaki in the Bunnings NPC. He represents New Zealand internationally.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Finn, Brian (3 September 2022). "A brief history of crap New Zealand stadiums". The Spinoff . Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 "Stadiums of the past: Athletic Park". The New Zealand Herald. 19 May 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Millard Stand at Athletic Park". Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 12 August 2019. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  4. 1 2 White, Steven (15 August 2014). "15 August 1959: The day they packed Athletic Park". Club Rugby NZ. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  5. 1 2 Maclean, Chris (1 August 2015). "Wellington region - Sport and leisure". Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand . Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  6. "TWENTY YEARS SINCE ATHLETIC PARK CLOSED". Club Rugby NZ. 10 October 2019. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  7. 1 2 Steele, Richard (9 October 2015). "HISTORIC RUGBY INTERNATIONALS: NEW ZEALAND V FRANCE, 1961". World Rugby Museum . Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  8. "First Chatham Cup football final". Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 4 September 2020. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  9. Te Ara - Pope John Paul's visit, 1986
  10. NZ On Screen: Today Tonight - Kiss (1980)
  11. SongKick - Athletic Park, Wellington, New Zealand
  12. Harding, Grant (4 September 2009). "In my opinion: Bad memories of Mac remain". NZ Herald. ISSN   1170-0777 . Retrieved 13 October 2018.