Jade Stadium

- Capacity 36 500

Jade Stadium,formerly known as Lancaster Park, is home to the Crusaders Super 14 franchise and the Canterbury team in the Air New Zealand Cup (formerly the National Provincial Championship or NPC), both of which have been very successful in their respective competitions. The Crusaders do not play all of their home games at Jade Stadium, however, because the franchise draws players from several unions on the South Island that compete in the Air New Zealand Cup and the NPC's other successor, the Heartland Championship. The team plays one game annually at Trafalgar Park in Nelson or at Alpine Energy Stadium in Timaru.

It has hosted various sports: rugby union, rugby league, field hockey, cricket, soccer, athletics, trotting until in 1899 this club moved to Addington Racecourse, swimming and as a function centre has hosted non-sporting events such as concerts by U2 in 1989 and, Billy Joel in 1987.

It is however primarily a Rugby and Cricket ground. Its current capacity is 36,500. It is the home of the Crusaders rugby union team who compete in the Super 14.

1998 saw Jade Stadium become the new name of Lancaster Park after naming rights sold to the Jade Software Corporation Limited (makers of the JADE programming language).

Ownership & History
In 1880 Canterbury Cricket and Athletics Sports Co Ltd was established. The company then purchased 10 acres, 3 roods 30 perches (43,642 m²) of the Lancaster Estate for ££2,841 at £260 per acre (£642.47/km²). In 1904 Canterbury cricket would became the sole owner of the ground. Then in 1911 the Canterbury Rugby Union became co-owners with the Canterbury Cricket Association over the ground. An Act of Parliament in November 1919 vested title to Lancaster Park in the Crown, and established the Victory Park Board to take responsibility for its management.

JADE Stadium Limited was established in December 1998 to manage the existing facilities on behalf of the Victory Park Board and the Christchurch City Council. A five-member board of directors, drawn from Christchurch’s business community and the Christchurch City Council, governs the company.

In 1881 the first cricket match to be played on the ground was scheduled for the opening on 8th October, it was however canceled due to rain. An athletics meeting became the first event held on the ground on 15th October.

Before the 2011 Rugby World Cup the Eastern Stands (No. 1, 2 and 3 stands) will be demolished and replaced with a new stand in the same design of the newly completed Western Stand. The total capacity is expected to be raised to 43,000, making it the second largest stadium in New Zealand after Eden Park.

Source - Wikipedia

Weblink - HERE