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Athletic Park (Wellington)
Encyclopedia
Athletic Park was a well-known ground used mostly for rugby matches in Wellington
, New Zealand
. The ground was also the inaugural home of New Zealand's principal knockout football tournament, the Chatham Cup
(first held in 1923).
It has now been demolished and replaced with a retirement village. It was famous for a very steep grandstand (the Millard Stand) which used to sway a little in the regular strong winds that Wellington is famous for. The stand was unsafe as Wellington is very susceptible to earthquakes.
Athletic Park was an open park overlooking the Cook Strait and Pacific Ocean and was exposed to strong winds - most famously the 1961 All Black Test against France which was played in hurricane force winds.
Throughout the 1980s several proposals were made to modernise the grounds, but instead a decision was made to build a new stadium. Several alternatives were proposed, including a new Stadium in Porirua, revamping the Basin Reserve or Fraser Park, and the ultimately successful proposal to build a stadium on unused railway land near the Wellington Railway Station. In 1999 the Athletic Park was closed and replaced by the Westpac Stadium
, referred to by some as "The Cake Tin" which is situated closer to the city centre.
The ground hosted many famous test matches involving the All Blacks
including the 43 - 6
win over Australia in 1996.
The last test match was against France on 26 June 1999 with the All Blacks winning 54 - 7, while the last rugby match played at Athletic Park was on 10 October 1999, between Wellington
and Otago
NPC
teams, with Wellington winning 36-16.
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. The ground was also the inaugural home of New Zealand's principal knockout football tournament, the Chatham Cup
Chatham Cup
The Chatham Cup, currently known as the ASB Chatham Cup for sponsorship purposes, is New Zealand's premier knockout tournament in men's football...
(first held in 1923).
It has now been demolished and replaced with a retirement village. It was famous for a very steep grandstand (the Millard Stand) which used to sway a little in the regular strong winds that Wellington is famous for. The stand was unsafe as Wellington is very susceptible to earthquakes.
Athletic Park was an open park overlooking the Cook Strait and Pacific Ocean and was exposed to strong winds - most famously the 1961 All Black Test against France which was played in hurricane force winds.
Throughout the 1980s several proposals were made to modernise the grounds, but instead a decision was made to build a new stadium. Several alternatives were proposed, including a new Stadium in Porirua, revamping the Basin Reserve or Fraser Park, and the ultimately successful proposal to build a stadium on unused railway land near the Wellington Railway Station. In 1999 the Athletic Park was closed and replaced by the Westpac Stadium
Westpac Stadium
Westpac Stadium, is a major sporting venue in Wellington, New Zealand. Due to its shape and silver coloured external walls, it is colloquially known as The Cake-Tin to the locals and other New Zealanders...
, referred to by some as "The Cake Tin" which is situated closer to the city centre.
The ground hosted many famous test matches involving the All Blacks
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
including the 43 - 6
1996 Tri Nations Series
The 1996 Tri Nations Series was contested from 6 July to 10 August between the Australia, New Zealand and South Africa national rugby union teams. The All Blacks won the inaugural tournament.-Table:-Results:...
win over Australia in 1996.
The last test match was against France on 26 June 1999 with the All Blacks winning 54 - 7, while the last rugby match played at Athletic Park was on 10 October 1999, between Wellington
Wellington Rugby Football Union
The Wellington Rugby Football Union is the official governing body of rugby union in the city of Wellington, the capital of New Zealand...
and Otago
Otago Rugby Football Union
The Otago Rugby Football Union is the official governing body of rugby union for the Otago Region of New Zealand. The union is based in the city of Dunedin, and its home ground is Forsyth Barr Stadium. The top representative team competes in the ITM Cup, New Zealand's top provincial...
NPC
Air New Zealand Cup
The ITM Cup is New Zealand's annual professional domestic Rugby union competition, taking place from late July through October . It was founded in 2006 with 14 teams, after the National Provincial Championship was split into two separate competitions. The other 12 provincial teams from the NPC...
teams, with Wellington winning 36-16.