View source for Ballymore Stadium

{{Short description|Multifunctional Australian stadium in Brisbane}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Use Australian English|date=July 2011}}
{{Infobox venue
| stadium_name      = Ballymore Stadium
| nickname          = Ballymore
| image             = The Duke of Edinburgh, Brisbane, October 1982.jpg
| location          = [[Herston, Queensland]]
| coordinates       = {{coord|27|26|31|S|153|1|4|E|display=inline,title}}
| broke_ground      = 
| opened            = 1966
| closed            = 
| demolished        = 
| owner             = Queensland Rugby Union
| operator          = 
| surface           = Grass
| construction_cost = 
| architect         = 
| former_names      = 
| seating_capacity  = 6,000<ref>{{cite web |title=Ballymore Stadium |url=https://www.austadiums.com/stadiums/ballymore |website=Austadiums |access-date=28 April 2024}}</ref>
| tenants           = {{nowrap|[[Queensland Reds]] ([[Super Rugby]]) (1996–2004)}}<br />[[Brisbane City (rugby team)|Brisbane City]] ([[National Rugby Championship|NRC]]) (2014–2019)<br/>[[Brisbane Roar FC|Brisbane Roar]] [[A-League Men]] (2024–present)<br/>[[Brisbane Roar FC (A-League Women)|Brisbane Roar]] [[A-League Women]] (2023–present)<br />[[Australia women's national rugby union team|Australia women's rugby union team]] 
}}
'''Ballymore ''' is a [[rugby union]] stadium situated in [[Herston, Queensland|Herston]], a suburb of [[Brisbane]], [[Australia]]. It is the headquarters of [[Queensland Rugby Union]] and was the home ground of the [[Brisbane City (rugby team)|Brisbane City]] team in the [[National Rugby Championship]], until the league's disbandment in 2019. It is also used as a training facility for the [[Queensland Reds]] and the [[Australia national rugby union team]].

The stadium was the home ground of the Reds until they moved to [[Lang Park|Suncorp Stadium]] in 2006. The [[Brisbane Strikers]] football club also played at the ground prior to 2003. Ballymore was used as a training facility and headquarters for [[A-League]] club [[Brisbane Roar FC|Brisbane Roar]] from 2008 to 2014.

==History==
The [[Queensland Rugby Union]] (QRU) set up its headquarters at Ballymore in 1966 under a deed of grant from the [[Government of Queensland|state government]]. The first club game played at the new site was a match between Teachers and Wests. The QRU moved in February 1967. In March of the following year Ballymore's grandstand was officially opened. The Eastern Stand was opened on 21 June 1992. The ground exceeded capacity in 1993 when 26,000 watched the Wallabies play South Africa. A year later the first match under lights was played at the ground. Today the grandstand is known as the McLean Stand (named in 1982 after the [[McLean family]]).<ref name = Meares-p166-167>{{Cite book
|last=Meares
|first=Peter
|title=Legends of Australian Sport: The Inside Story
|year=2002
|publisher=University of Queensland Press
|pages=166–167
|isbn=9780702234101
|access-date=20 May 2013
|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aMw_Zpew2OgC&pg=PA164
|archive-date=1 March 2017
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170301100931/https://books.google.com/books?id=aMw_Zpew2OgC&pg=PA164
|url-status=live
}}</ref> The Eastern stand is known as the [[Bank of Queensland]] stand.

The Queensland Reds played their home matches at Ballymore from 1967 until 2005.<ref name = suncorp>{{cite web
 |date= 2013
 |title= The move to Suncorp from Ballymore
 |website= Queensland Rugby
 |access-date= 25 July 2015
 |url= http://130queenslandrugby.com.au/yourstories/the-move-to-suncorp-from-ballymore/
 |url-status=dead
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306110105/http://130queenslandrugby.com.au/yourstories/the-move-to-suncorp-from-ballymore/
 |archive-date=2016-03-06}}
</ref> Their [[Super Rugby]] matches were moved to [[Lang Park]] for the 2006 season but they still played their home games in the [[2006 Australian Provincial Championship]] at Ballymore. The stadium also hosted the [[Ballymore Tornadoes]] during the only season of the [[Australian Rugby Championship]] in 2007.

During the [[2032 Summer Olympics]], Ballymore will host [[field hockey]].<ref>[https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1117725/ballymore-stadium-brisbane-construction Ballymore Stadium becomes first Brisbane 2032 Olympic venue under construction] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231120211558/https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1117725/ballymore-stadium-brisbane-construction |date=20 November 2023 }} Inside the Games 12 January 2022</ref><ref>[https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/hockey-body-blasts-brisbane-s-olympic-ballymore-plan-20230411-p5czhe.html Hockey body blasts Brisbane's Olympic Ballymore plan] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231120210128/https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/hockey-body-blasts-brisbane-s-olympic-ballymore-plan-20230411-p5czhe.html |date=20 November 2023 }} ''[[Brisbane Times]]'' 12 April 2023</ref>

==Present use==
Though the Reds have since moved out of Ballymore to Suncorp Stadium, which has a greater capacity, Ballymore is still the host to many rugby union matches. The [[Queensland Premier Rugby]] finals are held at the ground, and Queensland XV and off-season matches for the Reds are also played at Ballymore. From 2014 until 2019, [[Brisbane City (rugby team)|Brisbane City]] held its home [[National Rugby Championship]] matches at the stadium.

The QRU has plans to redevelop the site to include a high performance centre comprising advanced sports medicine and training facilities, a gymnasium and aquatic facilities, as well as on-site accommodation for visiting teams, with Brisbane firm Blight Rayner as architects for the project. <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/rugby/queensland-reds/ballymore-redevelopment-state-governments-15-million-injection/news-story/3ec545a93d27f402fa3f46912b39e058|title=Ballymore redevelopment: State Government's $15 million injection|date=2020-06-29|website=The Courier Mail|language=en-AU|access-date=2021-06-02|archive-date=11 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220311212651/https://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/rugby/queensland-reds/ballymore-redevelopment-state-governments-15-million-injection/news-story/3ec545a93d27f402fa3f46912b39e058|url-status=live}}</ref>

Ballymore was the planned home venue for [[Brisbane City FC|Brisbane City's]] failed bid to join the [[A-League Men|A-League]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/football/fc-brisbane-citys-bid-to-enter-aleague-has-redevelopment-of-home-ground-ballymore-as-a-key-proposal/news-story/75bfcf10c710efbb43e0d2eeb66abcba|title=FC Brisbane City's bid to enter A-League has redevelopment of home ground Ballymore as a key proposal|first = Vince | last = Rugari | date=2017-05-05|website=[[Fox Sports Australia]]|language=en-AU| archive-date=9 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170609092148/http://www.foxsports.com.au/football/fc-brisbane-citys-bid-to-enter-aleague-has-redevelopment-of-home-ground-ballymore-as-a-key-proposal/news-story/75bfcf10c710efbb43e0d2eeb66abcba|url-status=live}}</ref> In November 2018, a planned [[Exhibition game|friendly]] football match between [[South Korea national football team|South Korea]] and [[Uzbekistan national football team|Uzbekistan]] had to be moved to [[Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre|QSAC]] due to the poor state of the pitch.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/sport/soccer/poor-pitch-sees-international-switched-from-ballymore-to-qsac-20181116-p50gk6.html|title=Poor pitch sees international switched from Ballymore to QSAC|last=Atfield|first=Cameron|website=Brisbane Times|date=16 November 2018 |language=en-US|access-date=2018-11-21|archive-date=22 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181122003122/https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/sport/soccer/poor-pitch-sees-international-switched-from-ballymore-to-qsac-20181116-p50gk6.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In February 2021 demolition and construction works commenced on the stadium and surrounding precinct, to allow for the creation of the National Rugby Training Centre. The McLean Stand was demolished in February 2021, and will be replaced by the indoor training centre which includes a new grandstand capable of seating 3010 spectators, and also features corporate facilities, a 700 square-metre gym, rehabilitation areas, a 75-seat auditorium, a 120-seat function room, changing rooms and offices. A second rugby field with surrounding offices is included in the masterplan, though has not been constructed.<ref name=One1>{{cite web|url=https://www.austadiums.com/news/914/ballymore-redevelopment-set-to-kick-off|title=Ballymore redevelopment set to kick-off|work=Austadiums|date=17 February 2021|access-date=23 February 2022|archive-date=23 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220223025705/https://www.austadiums.com/news/914/ballymore-redevelopment-set-to-kick-off|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=Two2>{{cite web|url=https://www.austadiums.com/news/1142/construction-work-begins-at-ballymore|title=Construction works begins at Ballymore|work=Austadiums|date=17 February 2022|access-date=23 February 2022|archive-date=23 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220223025703/https://www.austadiums.com/news/1142/construction-work-begins-at-ballymore|url-status=live}}</ref>

The National Rugby Training Centre will be the headquarters for the [[Australia women's national rugby union team]] (the Wallaroos) and a training site for the Queensland Reds men's, women's and academy teams.

==Rugby World Cup==
Ballymore hosted five matches of the [[1987 Rugby World Cup]]. These matches were:
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left; font-size:95%"
|- 
! Date
! Competition
! Team
! Score
! Team
! Attendance
|-
|align=center|24 May 1987 || [[1987 Rugby World Cup Pool 1#Japan vs United States|1987 Rugby World Cup Pool 1]] ||align=right|{{ru-rt|JPN}} ||align=center|8–21 || {{ru|USA}} ||align=center|4,000
|-
|align=center|31 May 1987 || [[1987 Rugby World Cup Pool 1#Australia vs United States|1987 Rugby World Cup Pool 1]] ||align=right|{{ru-rt|AUS}} ||align=center|47–12 || {{ru|USA}} ||align=center|10,855
|-
|align=center|3 June 1987 || [[1987 Rugby World Cup Pool 2#Ireland vs Tonga|1987 Rugby World Cup Pool 2]] ||align=right|{{Ru-rt|IRE}} ||align=center|32–9 || {{Ru|TON}} ||align=center|4,000
|-
|align=center|8 June 1987 || [[1987 Rugby World Cup#Quarter-finals|1987 Rugby World Cup Quarter-final]] ||align=right|{{Ru-rt|ENG}} ||align=center|7–16 || {{Ru|WAL}} ||align=center|15,000
|-
|align=center|14 June 1987 || [[1987 Rugby World Cup#Semi-finals|1987 Rugby World Cup Semi-final]] ||align=right|{{Ru-rt|NZL}} ||align=center|49–6 || {{Ru|WAL}} ||align=center|22,576
|}

==See also==

* [[Rugby union in Queensland]]
* [[Queensland Rugby Union]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://qru.com.au/qru/qru.rugby/page/65055#Ballymore%20Redevelopment%20Community%20Reference%20Group Ballymore Redevelopment Proposal] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100301161107/http://qru.com.au/qru/qru.rugby/page/65055#Ballymore%20Redevelopment%20Community%20Reference%20Group |date=1 March 2010 }}
* {{Austadiums|10}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070310185553/http://www.sportsaustralia.com/articles/sep06/artid6355.html “State of the art” Rugby Centre proposed for Ballymore]

{{QRU}}
{{Brisbane landmarks}}
{{Super Rugby stadiums}}
{{NRC Grounds}}
{{1987 Rugby World Cup Venues}}
{{Olympic venues field hockey}}
{{World Rugby Sevens Series venues}}
{{A-League Women stadiums}}

[[Category:Olympic field hockey venues]]
[[Category:Rugby league stadiums in Australia]]
[[Category:Rugby union stadiums in Australia]]
[[Category:Soccer venues in Brisbane]]
[[Category:Sports venues in Brisbane]]
[[Category:Queensland Reds]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 1966]]
[[Category:Herston, Queensland]]
[[Category:Ballymore Cup]]
[[Category:A-League Women stadiums]]
[[Category:1966 establishments in Australia]]
[[Category:Venues of the 2032 Summer Olympics]]