Aurora Stadium | |
Location | Launceston, Tasmania |
---|---|
Owner | Launceston City Council |
Operator | AFL Tasmania |
Capacity | 20,000 |
Field size | 175 x 145 m |
Surface | Grass |
Construction | |
Broke ground | 1919 |
Opened | 1921 |
Construction cost | Unknown |
Architect | Various |
Tenants | |
Tasmanian Devils Football Club (VFL) (2001–08) Hawthorn Hawks (AFL) (2001–present) North Launceston Football Club (NTFL) (unknown–present) |
York Park is a sports ground located in the Inveresk and York Park Precinct, Launceston, Australia, and is the largest capacity stadium in Tasmania, holding 20,000. Since 2004, it has been know as Aurora Stadium, under a six-year naming-rights sponsorship deal with Aurora Energy. It is primarily used to host Australian rules football and has a record crowd of 20,971, when Hawthorn played Richmond in an AFL match in June 2006.
York Park has been used as an international sports venue since 2001. Before then, the ground was used for North Launceston Football Club games and the occasional state game. The York Park area was originally swampland before becoming Launceston's showground in 1873. Work started on transforming the area into a sports ground in 1919 and was concluded in 1921. Australian rules football has been played at the venue since 1923, and other sports such as cricket, tennis, bowling, cycling and foot-racing have been staged there. A redevelopment at a cost of over AU$20 million was completed in 2005. Before the redevelopment, York Park hosted major events such as an Ike and Tina Turner concert and a Billy Graham evangelical performance. Since then, it has hosted two Crusty Demons performances as well as an Elton John concert in November 2007.
Since 2001, the Hawthorn Football Club has played between two and five Australian Football League matches a year at the ground, with the St Kilda Football Club also playing two matches each year from 2003–06. The Tasmanian government has a $16.4 million, five year sponsorship deal with Hawthorn, that includes four home and away season games and one National Australia Bank Cup pre-season match to played at the venue each year. On 21 February, 2009 the ground became home of the Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame.
History
The area now known as York Park was originally swampland, and later a landfill,[1] before becoming the Launceston Showgrounds in 1873. Throughout the 1880s, the area became a public recreational park and was named York Park in honour of the Duke of York (later to become King George V), who visited Tasmania during the Federation celebrations of 1901. In 1919, work began to convert the park to a multi-purpose sports field.[1] York Park was formally opened on 1 January 1921, complete with turnstiles, changerooms, a wooden grandstand and a cycling track, that surrounded the perimeter fence until a new veledrome was constructed next door a few years later.[2] The Northern Stand was completed four years later and still stands today.[1] Since 1923, the ground has hosted first-class Australian rules football. Other sports played in the park precinct since its establishment include cricket, tennis, bowling, cycling and foot-racing.[2] The ground was severely damaged by 1929 floods, but was quickly repaired in time for the 1930, Northern Tasmania Football Association season. The record NTFA crowd was 11,524, during the 1958 Grand Final, between North Launceston and Longford. In 1960, a Tasmanian team historically defeated Victoria's second 18 by 7 points, in front of a long standing record crowd of 15,163.[1]
The first AFL/VFL practice match was played in 1978, when Richmond beat St Kilda by 9 goals in front of nearly 8,000 people. The next AFL practice match was during 1993, between St Kilda and Collingwood, before the grounds then second biggest crowd of 13,388.[1]
Until 1998, York Park remained a suburban sports ground, where, according to ground manager Robert Groenewegen, supporters were able to "park [their] car next to the boundary fence".[2] Before the 1998 federal election, Bass member of parliament (MP) Warwick Smith from the ruling Liberal government made a re-election promise to fund the re-development of York Park. Although Smith lost his seat, the promise was upheld by his party, which won the election.[2] Completed in 2000, this was the first major development in the process of bringing the ground up to Australian Football League (AFL) standards. This included the construction of the Gunns Stand—a two-level grandstand that originally held 2,500 (now 6,000) and also included corporate facilities,[3] as well as five television standard light towers.[4][5] It was decided in 2003 that the Tasmanian Government would spend $2 million on roofing 6,000 seats, ahead of the 2003 Rugby Union World Cup, resulting in almost all the seating areas being protected from the weather.[6] The ground became known as Aurora Stadium under six-year naming-rights sponsorship deal with Aurora Energy in 2004.[7][8]
During 2006, the State Government supplied $150 thousand for new gates and ticket boxes at the stadium entry. It was latter announced that the gates would be named after recently deceased Premier Jim Bacon.[9]
In March 2008, a deliberately lit fire destroyed part of the heritage-listed Northern Stand. The damage was estimated at $500,000. The insurance payout from the fire will determine whether the venue is expanded.[10] Ground manager Robert Groenewegen has suggested that the capacity could be increased to around 24,000 by replacing the Northern Stand, at an estimated cost of $10 million.[3] In October 2008, an alternate proposal for a $10 million grandstand, would also include 2,125 undercover seats, more corporate suites and improved change room facilities, was made public. The ground's gates and Northern Stand have been recognised as being culturally significant to the state of Tasmania and are protected by the Tasmanian Heritage Register.[11]
Structures and facilities
York Park's interior is an oval bowl surrounded by several different stands. The largest is the two-tier Gunns Stand on the ground's Western side. This stand originally had a capacity of 2,500 and was increased to 6,000 after a 2005 extension. The $12.5 million Gunns stand now has two corporate box areas; the Gunns Function Centre and the Corporate Function Centre.[12] Immediately north of Gunns Stand is the Aurora Function Centre that houses coaches boxes and a Function Centre. The Function Centre holds many of North Launceston's premiership trophies and memorabilia. The heritage listed Northern Stand, next to Function Centre, was partly destroyed by a deliberately lit fire during the early hours of 30 March 2008. Ground re-development plans suggest that the undamaged section of the roof could be re-located to the neighbouring Inveresk Park to accommodate a new grandstand. The Northern Terrace, Southern Terrace and Eastern (Launceston Tamar Valley) Terrace stands are similar stands that surround approximately half the ground have a capacity of around 6,000. The Northern and Southern terraces are positioned behind the goals at either end of the ground. The Railway Workers Hill is a small, uncovered stand located at the eastern side of the ground, in between the Northern Terrace and Eastern Terrace. It's named after the North Launceston Football Club who were originally named the Railway Football Club.[13]
One of the first stages of the ground re-development was the construction of five Template:M to ft, 1400 lux (units of illumination) television standard light towers. Around the perimeter of the ground are many temporary food and retail stalls that are used on game day. As of June 2008, more than $20 million has been spent re-developing the stadium. The Tasmanian Government has spent a total of $14 million, AFL $600,000, with the Launceston City Council providing the rest of the funds.[3]
Northern Stand redevelopment
The Launceston City Council has lodged a two-stage development application to the Federal Government’s Strategic Projects Program for a new Northern Stand, after fire damaged part of the existing heritage-listed structure. Stage one will cost $5.5 million and includes relocating the Northern Stand's heritage roof, to be incorporated into part of the redevelopment of facilities at Invermay Park. The old structure will be replaced with a new grandstand accommodating 2,125 spectators. The stand will also include corporate boxes and official areas for about 800 people, with new change rooms to be built at the rear end of the stand. Tasmanian Sports Minister Michelle O'Byrne has said the AFL would be asked to contribute to any further developments at the ground. Plans of the new stand were publicly viewable until 9 January 2009.[14][15] Stage 2 includes an elite training area and offices in anticipation of becoming the home ground for a possible Tasmanian AFL or A League soccer team, as well as a sport development area associated with the University of Tasmania and the Tasmanian Institute of Sport. The projected cost of stage 2 is estimated at $4.2 million.
Hall of Fame
In 2005, the Tasmanian Community Fund provided a $50,000 grant to assist AFL Tasmania and the Launceston City Council establish a permanent Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame facility at York Park.[16] The decision to locate the Hall of Fame at the ground was because the site had recently been redeveloped and is positioned as the "true home of Tasmanian football".[16] AFL Tasmania has initiated the Hall of Fame nomination process, with a number of clubs, players and grounds nominated and accepted into the Hall of Fame since 2005.[17] The public Hall of Fame opened to the public on Saturday 21 February, 2009.[18]
Events
Australian football
Australian rules football is the primary sport played at the stadium. The ground is the long-term base of North Launceston Football Club, and as a result, hosts regular Northern Tasmanian Football League and Northern Tasmanian Football Association matches.
The stadium has hosted AFL games since 2001, when the Government of Tasmania started paying interstate clubs to relocate their home games. Hawthorn played one game in 2001, increasing to two in 2002 and they were joined by St Kilda in 2003. In 2004, it was estimated that each game cost the government between $300,000 and $500,000, but Premier Jim Bacon stated that the Government was getting a good return on its investment, with each game being worth between $1 million and $1.5 million to the Tasmanian economy.[19][20]
The number of matches played reached its peak in 2006, when Hawthorn played three home games and one pre-season game, and St Kilda played two home games. The games drew average crowds of 17,108, with a record crowd of 20,971 for the match between Hawthorn and Richmond.[4] The ground also hosted some Tasmanian Devils Football Club home games in the Victorian Football League from 2001 until the Devils' demise in 2008.[21]
York Park was the location of the 2006 AFL siren controversy, an incident which occurred at a St Kilda Saints versus Fremantle Dockers match in April 2006. Fremantle was a point ahead when the siren to end the game sounded during a stoppage for a ball-up, but the umpire in charge of the ball did not hear the siren, and carried on play despite the reactions of the nearby Fremantle players.[22] What followed was a farcical situation in which play continued for approximately six seconds, St. Kilda levelling the scores in that period, that score being cancelled when a St. Kilda player was felled after the ball was kicked, earning a free kick, from which a behind was scored, levelling the scores. After a protest, the AFL Commission convened and overturned the result, awarding Fremantle the game. The stadium's sirens have since been replaced, with the older sirens to be put on display at the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery.[22]
2007 saw the beginning of a five-year, $16.4 million sponsorship agreement between Hawthorn and the Government of Tasmania, which saw the state government become the club's primary sponsor, and Hawthorn playing five matches a year (one pre-season and four premiership games) at York Park.[23] Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett has expressed interest in seeing his club play higher profile clubs such as Collingwood at the stadium.[3]
Association football
York Park has hosted one National Soccer League game and three A-League pre-season games. The first national league match at the stadium occurred when Melbourne Knights and Perth Glory played a 2001–02 NSL season match in front of a crowd of over 5000.[24] In July 2006, the stadium hosted Tasmania's first A-League match when Melbourne Victory and Adelaide United played there in the pre-season competition. The fixture was repeated in 2007 with 8,061 people attending and once again played in 2008 in front of a smaller crowd.[25] Inveresk Precinct Authority chairman Robin McKendrick has stated that ground authorities are attempting to draw Socceroos matches to York Park.[26]
Other events
The stadium hosted an Ike & Tina Turner concert as well as a Billy Graham evangelical performance, before being redeveloped.[2] Following the ground's redevelopment, York Park hosted a game during the 2003 Rugby World Cup between Romania and Namibia in front of 15,457 spectators. It remains the only international sporting event to have been played at the stadium. The Crusty Demons performed at the stadium during 2006 and again in March 2008.[27][28][29] Elton John also performed at the stadium, during his Rocket Man Solo Tour at the end of 2007, in his only Tasmanian appearance to date.[30][31]
Record crowds
Season | Average |
---|---|
2008 | 17,528 |
2007 | 17,403 |
2006 | 17,108 |
2005 | 15,772 |
2004 | 16,615 |
2003 | 16,707 |
2002 | 16,589 |
2001 | 17,460 |
Total | 16,867 |
The record attendance for York Park is 20,971, for an AFL match between Hawthorn and Richmond on 18 June 2006. With the Northern Stand partly destroyed by fire and new safety restrictions put into place, the ground can now accommodate approximately 20,000. The largest crowd since, was 19,929 for an AFL match between Hawthorn and the Brisbane Lions on 9 August 2008. The stadiums lowest attendance for an AFL match was 12,465 between St Kilda and Fremantle on 3 April 2005.[32]
The record attendance for a sport other than AFL was 15,457 when Romania played Namibia on 30 October during the 2003 Rugby World Cup. The highest recorded attendance for a soccer match was approximately 8,061, when Melbourne Victory played Adelaide United on 16 July during a 2007 A-League Pre-Season Challenge Cup match.[33] The grounds record non-sporting event crowd was 15,000, when Elton John took centre stage during his Rocket Man Solo Tour on 8 December 2007.
Transport
York Park is a 15–20 minute walk north of the Launceston City Centre.[34] The ground has a parking capacity of approximately 2,500 because of large grassy areas at the Inveresk site next door, with an option of street parking.[35] There are hotels within walking distance and the park is accessible by taxi[36] and public buses, from the five nearby stops along adjacent Invermay Road served by eight scheduled services.[37]
References
- ^ a b c d e "York Park". Tasmanian Stadiums. Retrieved 2008-12-31.
- ^ a b c d e "The making of Tassie's biggest sports icon". The Examiner. 2006-09-03. Retrieved 2008-08-10.
- ^ a b c d "No takers on $10m stadium expansion plan". The Examiner. 2008-06-03. Retrieved 2008-06-11.
- ^ a b "Austadiums.com - Aurora Stadium". CV Web Design. Retrieved 2008-06-09.
- ^ "Aurora Stadium - Map". York Park Inveresk Precinct Authority. Retrieved 2008-06-11.
- ^ "Council welcomes York Park seating boost". ABC News. 2003-04-07. Retrieved 2008-06-09.
- ^ "Tasmanian Stadiums". CV Web Design. Retrieved 2008-12-17.
- ^ "Aurora Stadium". Launceston City Council. Launceston City Council. Retrieved 2008-01-20.
- ^ "York Park gates to be named after Bacon". ABC News. 2006-08-16. Retrieved 2008-06-09.
- ^ "AFL gives Aurora all clear". Yahoo!7 Pty Limited. 2008-03-30. Retrieved 2009-02-20.
- ^ Tasmanian Heritage Register. "York Park Entrance Gates and Grandstand". Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. Retrieved 2008-12-31.
- ^ "Aurora Stadium - Event Hospitality". Aurora Stadium. Retrieved 2008-06-11.
- ^ "Maps". Aurora Stadium. Retrieved 2009-02-28.
- ^ "Aurora Stadium plan expected by Christmas". Launceston Times. 2008-11-04. Retrieved 2008-11-15.
- ^ "Aurora Stadium Upgrade" (PDF). Launceston City Council. 2008-12-19. Retrieved 2008-12-23.
- ^ a b "Tasmanian Community Support Fund" (Press release). Sporting Pulse. 2008-03-08. Retrieved 2008-12-31.
- ^ AFL Tasmania. "Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame". Retrieved 2008-12-31.
- ^ "Tasmanian legends revealed to public". Examiner. Retrieved 2009-02-20.
- ^ "Tas footing big bill for York Park match". ABC News. 2004-06-10. Retrieved 2008-06-10.
- ^ "York Park kicking goals for Tas economy". ABC News. 2003-09-24. Retrieved 2008-06-10.
- ^ "Aurora Stadium". Australia Football league. Retrieved 2009-02-191.
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(help) - ^ a b "Sirengate". Aurora Stadium. Retrieved 2008-06-13.
- ^ "Hawks confirm Tasmanian deal". The Age. 2006-09-01. Retrieved 2008-06-10.
- ^ "NSL 2001-02, Round 20". Ozfootball.net. Retrieved 2008-06-10.
- ^ "Football spreads its reach". A-League website. 2008-05-02. Retrieved 2008-06-10.
- ^ "Socceroos could play at Aurora". The Examiner. 2007-07-21. Retrieved 2008-06-11.
- ^ "Crusty Demons 2008". Aurora Stadium. Retrieved 2009-02-28.
- ^ "Crusty Demons 2006". Aurora Stadium. Retrieved 2009-02-28.
- ^ "Launceston". Crusty Demons. Retrieved 2009-02-28.
- ^ "Industry - Newsletter (ROCKET MAN ROCKS TASMANIA)". Tasmanian Government. Retrieved 2009-02-28.
- ^ "Elton John (8 December 2007)". Aurora Stadium. Retrieved 2009-02-28.
- ^ a b "Best Crowds/Worst Crowds". AFL Tables. Retrieved 2008-12-22.
- ^ "Google Maps - Aurora Stadium". Google Maps. Retrieved 2008-12-22.
- ^ "Technical Information". Aurora Stadium. Retrieved 2008-12-22.
- ^ "Accommodation Near Aurora Stadium". Wotif.com Holdings Limited. 2009. Retrieved 2009-02-19.
- ^ "Bus Stops Nearby". Metro Tasmania. 2008. Retrieved 2009-02-19.