HFC Bank Stadium

Construction and renovations

Originally called Buckhurst Park, the stadium was constructed in 1951 on sixteen hectares of land given by William H. B. Buckhurst in 1948.{{cite web |title=Rotary Club of Suva, Fiji, First Club of the South Pacific Islands |work=Rotary Global History Fellowship |url=https://www.rghfhome.org/first100/global/countries/fiji/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160424200434/https://www.rghfhome.org/first100/global/countries/fiji/ |archive-date=2016-04-24 |access-date=18 April 2015}}

The stadium was first renovated in 1978–1979 for the Sixth South Pacific Games. Work commenced in April 1978 with the demolition of the grandstand, which had lost its roof during Hurricane Bebe. The stadium was renamed National Stadium upon reopening in 1979.

A second renovation took place in 2012, sponsored by ANZ Fiji, Fiji's largest bank, at a cost of FJD $17.5 million. The stadium reopened in March 2013, with a rugby union game between the Fiji national team and Classic All Blacks.

In June 2022, the Fiji Sports Council announced HFC Bank as the new naming right sponsor of the stadium with the new name designated as HFC Bank Stadium.

HFC Bank Stadium in which hosted the 2024 Oceania Athletics Championships, Oceania Para Athletics Championships and the Oceania Masters Athletics Championships had its track surface re-laid with a new surface early in 2024, specifically for the championships. The stadium currently holds World Athletics Class 2 Certification until February 2029. 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.

The stadium also hosted the 2024 OFC Peace Cup in June 2024.

Buckhurst and Bidesi Parks

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,

References

References

1. Kumar, Rashneel. (8 May 2013). "New stadium ready for Flying Fijians". [[Fiji Times]].
2. Fiji Sports Council. (12 October 2024). "Facilities".
3. "Les Iles Fidji et l'Olympisme". LA84 Foundation.
4. "South Pacific Games 1979 - Fiji". Fox Sports Pulse.
5. Elbourne, Frederica. (22 June 2013). "Sporting history begins". [[Fiji Times]].
6. Ratuva, Anasilini. (9 August 2012). "$17.5m For Stadium Upgrade". [[Fiji Sun]].
7. "HFC Bank Takes Over The Iconic National Stadium Naming Rights".
8. Athletics, World. (2025-03-05). "Technical Information".
9. (2023-11-15). "Oceania Athletics Championships 2024 – Suva, Fiji Islands Oceania Athletics Association".
10. (29 June 2003). "Buckhurst Baseball Ground – Competition Venue". Fox Sports Pulse.