Lancaster Park

Christchurch's traditional home for spectator sport, Lancaster Park, latterly known as Jade Stadium, then AMI Stadium, attracted large loyal Canterbury crowds to its major sporting events. It even has it's own act of parliament,'The Victory Park Act 1919.'

Founders of this park were Frederick Wilding, William Pember Reeves and Arthur Ollivier who set up the Canterbury Cricket and Athletic Sports Company, naming the park after the Mr Lancaster from whom they bought the land. Cricket began in 1881, and thirty years later the Rugby Union joined forces with them, the first stands going up in 1919, along with War Memorial Gates, which list the names of Canterbury athletes who served in WWI.

In 2003 a dramatic new stadium won the NZIA Resene Supreme Award for Architecture. However as a result of the Christchurch earthquakes the ground was declared unusable, on the eve of the 2011 Rugby World Cup. All seven matches were moved elsewhere. The Hadlee stand has had to be demolished immediately.

Rugby League Park in Addington stepped in to host premier Rugby games and took the naming rights with it, becoming AMI Stadium. Facilities have been made serviceable there, while a new venue is planned for the inner city.

The battle for the future of the ground was long and fierce, but in 2018, the destruction of the remainder of the facilities began in dramatic style, starting with the Tui stand, with the Paul Kelly Stand and the Deans stand next in line. Measures were taken to preserve the War Memorial Gates during the projected 14 month demolition period.

Lancaster Park's long history lives on in the memories of Cantabrians and visitors who viewed matches and events epic and average at this historic ground.

• The first New Zealand cricket team played New South Wales at Lancaster Park from 15 February 1894. New Zealand lost by 160 runs.
• The 1908 Anglo- Welsh Rugby Union team drew 15,000 spectators to watch as Canterbury won 13-8.
• Peter Snell won and broke the world record for the 800m at the AGFA Athletic meeting, Lancaster Park, Christchurch, February 1962
• Evangelist Billy Graham drew a crowd of 133,000 in 1959
• Pope John Paul II held a Mass here in 1986
• You can watch U2 'Live at Lancaster Park in 1989', this was the first time U2 ever permitted live coverage of their show.

Image Credits: Lancaster Park, Christchurch, Dunedin, by Burton Brothers studio. Te Papa (C.011540) National Publicity Studios, England Cricket Team playing Canterbury 1978, Geoff Trotter 29 Julyl 2011, and Bernard Spragg 2016.