 | |
 Interactive map of HFC Bank Stadium | |
| Full name | HFC Bank Stadium |
|---|---|
| Former names | ANZ Stadium |
| Address | Suva Fiji, Flagicon |
| Location |  Suva,Fiji |
| Coordinates | 18°9′0″S178°26′57″E / 18.15000°S 178.44917°E /-18.15000; 178.44917 |
| Owner | Government ofSuva City |
| Operator | Government ofSuva City |
| Capacity | 15,446 |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1951; 74 years ago (1951) |
| Renovated | 1977–1978 2011–2012 |
| Tenants | |
| Suva Highlanders Fijian Drua Suva FC Fiji national football team Bula FC | |
TheHFC Bank Stadium (formerly known asANZ Stadium)[1] is amulti-purpose stadium inSuva,Fiji.
HFC Stadium is used primarily forrugby league,rugby union andfootball matches, and features a track as well as a pitch suitable for worldwide competition.[2] The stadium has a capacity of 15,446, with 4,026 seats on grandstand and 420 in VIP boxes.[2]
Originally called Buckhurst Park, the stadium was constructed in 1951 on sixteen hectares of land given by William H. B. Buckhurst in 1948.[3][4]
The stadium was first renovated in 1978–1979 for theSixth South Pacific Games.[5] Work commenced in April 1978 with the demolition of the grandstand, which had lost its roof duringHurricane Bebe.[6] The stadium was renamed National Stadium upon reopening in 1979.[5]
A second renovation took place in 2012, sponsored byANZ Fiji, Fiji's largest bank, at a cost of FJD $17.5 million.[7] The stadium reopened in March 2013, with a rugby union game between theFiji national team andClassic All Blacks.[7]
In June 2022, theFiji Sports Council announced HFC Bank as the new naming right sponsor of the stadium with the new name designated as HFC Bank Stadium.[8]
HFC Bank Stadium in which hosted the 2024Oceania Athletics Championships,Oceania Para Athletics Championships and theOceania Masters Athletics Championships had its track surface re-laid with a new surface early in 2024, specifically for the championships. The stadium currently holdsWorld Athletics Class 2 Certification until February 2029.[9] The facility held the Oceania Invitational and the Oceania Athletics Championships (including Para, Masters, U20, U18, and U16) from the 1st to the 8th of June 2024.[10]
The stadium also hosted the2024 OFC Peace Cup in June 2024.
The 2012–2013 renovation also included the park and playing grounds behind the HFC Bank Stadium, which are known as Bidesi Park and Buckhurst Park,[7] retaining the stadium's original name.[3] The Buckhurst and Bidesi grounds include three pitches primarily used for training and competition in rugby league, rugby union, football, and cricket,[2] and a small stadium and synthetic training track.[7] Buckhurst Park was the site of the National Baseball Diamond used in the2003 South Pacific Games.[11][2]
