HFC Stadium is used primarily for rugby league, rugby union and football matches, and features a track as well as a pitch suitable for worldwide competition.[2] The stadium has a capacity of 15,446, with 4,026 seats on grandstand and 420 in VIP boxes.[2]
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.[3][4]
The stadium was first renovated in 1978–1979 for the Sixth South Pacific Games.[5] Work commenced in April 1978 with the demolition of the grandstand, which had lost its roof during Hurricane Bebe.[6] The stadium was renamed National Stadium upon reopening in 1979.[5]
A second renovation took place in 2012, sponsored by ANZ Fiji, Fiji's largest bank, at a cost of FJD $17.5 million.[7] The stadium reopened in March 2013, with a rugby union game between the Fiji national team and Classic All Blacks.[7]
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.[8]
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,[7] retaining the stadium's original name.[3] The Buckhurst and Bidesi grounds include three pitches primarily used for training and competition in rugby league, rugby union, football, and cricket,[2] and a small stadium and synthetic training track.[7] Buckhurst Park was the site of the National Baseball Diamond used in the 2003 South Pacific Games.[9][2]
