Lang Park

So, I'm standing here at what's now called Suncorp Stadium, but it's got a much older, more historic name: Lang Park. They call it "The Cauldron," and I can see why—it's a massive, three-tiered rectangular stadium, holding about 52,500 people. It's really impressive!

What's wild is that this whole area used to be the North Brisbane Cemetery until 1875. Can you imagine? Then, in 1911, they decided to turn it into a recreational spot, and by 1914, it was officially Lang Park, named after John Dunmore Lang. It even served as a parade ground during World War I.

It's been home to so many different sports over the years. Back in the 30s, the Queensland Amateur Athletics Association leased it, and then soccer got involved, with the Queensland Soccer Council and the Latrobe Soccer Club using it. There was even some drama about soccer clubs not being happy with the financial returns!

But really, this place became the heart of rugby league in Queensland. The Brisbane Rugby League took over the lease in 1957, and it’s been their home ever since. They even had their first official grand final here in 1958, with Brothers beating Valleys. And get this: in 1961, nearly 20,000 people showed up for a BRL grand final.

They built some big stands over the years—the Frank Burke Stand, the Ron McAuliffe Stand, and the Western Grandstand. It's been the site of huge matches, including the first-ever State of Origin! Even the Brisbane Broncos played here for a while before moving to ANZ Stadium due to a sponsorship dispute.

In '94, it got its current sponsored name, Suncorp Stadium, and they built that Western Stand. It's hosted so many major events: Rugby League World Cup finals, Rugby World Cup quarter-finals, and even Super Rugby grand finals where the Queensland Reds won both times. They've had FIFA Women's World Cup matches here, and it’s even slated to host the rugby sevens and soccer gold medal matches for the 2032 Summer Olympics. It's truly a legendary sporting venue.