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| Ballymore Stadium | |
|---|---|
| Name | Ballymore Stadium |
| Location | Herston, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Opened | 1966 |
| Owner | Queensland Rugby Union |
| Operator | Queensland Rugby Union |
| Surface | Grass |
| Capacity | 8,000 (approx.) |
| Tenants | Queensland Reds, Queensland Country, Brisbane Strikers (historical) |
Ballymore Stadium is a rugby union and multi-sport venue in Herston, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, owned and operated by the Queensland Rugby Union. The ground has hosted provincial, national and international fixtures involving teams and bodies such as the Queensland Reds, Australian national sides and the Shute Shield, alongside events linked to governing bodies like World Rugby and Rugby Australia. The site is adjacent to medical and educational institutions including the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital and the University of Queensland-affiliated facilities.
Ballymore Stadium opened in 1966 under the auspices of the Queensland Rugby Union and quickly became associated with major events involving organisations such as the Australian Rugby Union, New South Wales Rugby Union, Queensland Cricket Association and the Australian Institute of Sport. During the 1970s and 1980s fixtures featuring touring sides from the British and Irish Lions, South Africa Springboks and New Zealand All Blacks were staged alongside domestic competitions like the Shute Shield and the National Rugby Championship. The ground has been a venue for matches in competitions administered by entities including SANZAAR, Super Rugby, World Rugby and Rugby Australia, while also hosting community fixtures connected with organisations such as Brisbane City Council, Queensland Government sports programs and local clubs.
The precinct comprises multiple elements: a main grandstand with seating and corporate suites, terraced embankments, dedicated training fields, administration buildings for the Queensland Rugby Union and training facilities used by academies such as the Queensland Academy of Sport. Floodlighting and broadcast infrastructure have supported television partners including Nine Network, Fox Sports Australia and ABC TV for live coverage of Super Rugby and international tests. Medical and performance spaces on site have been used by teams complying with protocols from the Australian Institute of Sport and by sports science units linked to the University of Queensland and Griffith University. The complex's access routes connect to transport nodes operated by Brisbane City Council and Queensland Rail services, with parking and community spaces managed in coordination with local health precinct stakeholders.
Ballymore has hosted rugby union internationals featuring sides such as the All Blacks, Wallabies, British and Irish Lions, Springboks and Pacific Island teams, as well as domestic competitions including Super Rugby, the National Rugby Championship and the Shute Shield. In addition to rugby, the venue has accommodated football matches involving clubs from the National Soccer League and A-League contexts, cricket practice sessions tied to Queensland Cricket, and community events organised by bodies like the Australian Sports Commission and local sporting associations. Concerts and non-sporting events have been staged in collaboration with promoters who work with Arts Queensland and Brisbane Festival partners, while occasional training camps have seen participation from institutions such as the Australian Institute of Sport and international federations preparing for tournaments administered by World Rugby and Oceania Rugby.
Primary tenants have included the Queensland Rugby Union and representative sides such as the Queensland Reds and Queensland Country, along with club teams competing in the Queensland Premier Rugby competition, such as Brothers Rugby Club, GPS Rugby Club and University of Queensland Rugby Club. Historically, fixtures have featured visiting national teams including the Wallabies, All Blacks and British and Irish Lions, and the stadium has accommodated age-grade and academy squads linked to the Queensland Academy of Sport and Rugby Australia development pathways. At various times local football clubs affiliated with Football Federation Australia and Queensland Football have used the precinct for training and competitive fixtures, intersecting with community clubs overseen by Football Queensland.
Attendance peaks at the stadium were recorded during marquee matches involving touring national sides and high-profile domestic finals administered by bodies such as the Queensland Rugby Union and Rugby Australia, with crowd figures influenced by broadcast arrangements with networks including Nine Network and Fox Sports Australia. Seasonal averages during Super Rugby campaigns reflected the fixture lists coordinated by SANZAAR and commercial partners, while community and club attendances were shaped by promotions from Brisbane City Council and regional sports development programs. Record single-match attendances were achieved during tests and Lions tour matches that attracted supporters from organisations and fan groups associated with the Wallabies, All Blacks and British and Irish Lions.
Redevelopment proposals for the Ballymore precinct have involved stakeholders including the Queensland Rugby Union, Brisbane City Council, Queensland Government agencies and private developers, with plans addressing stadium capacity, training facilities, community access and integration with nearby health and university campuses such as the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital and the University of Queensland. Consultations have referenced governance by entities like Rugby Australia, World Rugby and state planning authorities, and proposals have been advertised to attract investment from commercial partners and sporting foundations. Future uses under consideration include upgraded high-performance hubs for the Queensland Academy of Sport, enhanced broadcast-ready arenas for SANZAAR events, and mixed-use development coordinated with transport networks managed by Queensland Rail and municipal authorities.
Category:Sports venues in Brisbane Category:Rugby union stadiums in Australia