Canberra Stadium
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Canberra Stadium (originally known as Bruce Stadium) is a stadium primarily used for the rugby codes, located adjacent to the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra, the capital of Australia. Bruce is the Canberra suburb where the stadium is located, and in turn Bruce was named after Stanley Bruce, Australian Prime Minister 1923-1929.
Constructed in 1977 for the Pacific Conference Games, it also was the venue for the 4th IAAF World Cup in Athletics. At the latter meet, the fastest 400m for women was recorded by East German Marita Koch - a time that still stands today.
The stadium has played host to several local sporting teams such as the Canberra Arrows/Cosmos (soccer) and the shortlived Canberra Bushrangers (baseball). In 1990 the athletics track was removed, and the ground then became the home of the Canberra Raiders (rugby league) and, in 1996, the ACT Brumbies (rugby union Super 14).
In 1990, the stadium hosted an International Rules match (a combination of Gaelic football and Australian rules football) between Ireland and Australia.
Further renovations occurred in 1997 in preparation for staging soccer matches as part of the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. The final cost of the renovations was more than seven times what was originally anticipated by the territory government of the time, and the subsequent controversy ended the career of then Chief Minister Kate Carnell. During the lead-up, on 29 May 2000, unseasonal snow fell during a match between the Raiders and the Wests Tigers, the only such event in National Rugby League history, with the snow causing frost damage to the turf intended for the soccer tournament.
Matches from the 2003 Rugby Union World Cup were also hosted at the stadium.
Capacity is a nominal all-seated 25,000, the largest crowd being 28,753 for the 2004 Super 12 Final. The main grandstand is named after Raiders and Australian League legend Mal Meninga, and a statue of another Raiders and Australian stalwart Laurie Daley adorns the main grandstand entrance.
The stadium is currently owned by the Australian Government through the Australian Sports Commission and leased to the Australian Capital Territory Government. While the current lease is due to expire in 2010, the ACT Government is seeking ownership of the stadium through a land transfer with the Australian Government.
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