Cazalys Stadium Cairns

[fumbler]

Couldn't find anything in this thread about the East Coasts most northerly stadium that has held an official AFL game.

History:
5th August 1955 a block of land on Mulgrave Rd was purchased by the
Australian National Football Council but the CAFL would have to clear it. The CAFL was only formed in July of the same year. Clearing of the land was started by the committee and some eager volunteers immediately.
1984 The CAFL commits to building Cazalys function room.
1985 The CAFL negotiates with the National Football League to purchase the freehold land known then as Australian Football Park
1994 Final payment was made on Australian Football Park, Cazalys
1994 10 year sponsorship of $100,000 was paid to the Bears
1998 AFL Cairns purchased the Western Grandstand of the GABBA see pic below. $2.4 million was spent on infrastructure
1999 AFLC purchase the 51st Battalion residences and other adjoining land.
2001-2003 Cazalys known as Bundaberg Rum Stadium
2001 North Queensland versus Penrith NRL game
2002-2005 Major upgrades to Cazalys function rooms and facilities
2003 Australia versus Bangladesh Cricket Test match and two one day matches
2004 Australia versus Sri Lanka Cricket Test match
2008 Queensland Bulls versus NSW Blues
2008 Stadium upgrade includes lighting and minor refurbishment
2011 $15 million dollar upgrade to players facilities, media boxes, lighting and new grandstand
July 6 2011 First AFL game at Cazalys between Richmond and the Gold Coast, it is a Richmond home game purchased by the Cazalys group. 10,382 spectators
2012 Richmond versus Gold Coast 10,961 spectators
2012 $6.5 million dollar upgrade to the function rooms
2013 Richmond versus Gold Coast 11,197
2013 Nitro Circus was held at Cazalys
2014 Bulldogs versus Gold Coast

AFL Cairns ​

Cazalys​

​

This part of the grandstand was actually a part of the original​

'GABBA grandstand before it's redevelopment.​

A night game looks spectacular​

 

[fabulousphil]

Great post there, the ACTAFL ( Canberra) did the same sort of thing in Canberra buying a area in Woden , on top of a old tip if i remember correctly, Football park in Canberra had some grandstands, social club with pokies etc, but was only well patronised on game days, as it actually was no ones home ground in particular.

But eventually it went broke and has been sold off, run correctly it would have been a great assett for the football community, but with Manuka Oval in competition, and cricket was based there. In hindsight it was going to be difficult.

Is cricket played at Cazalys, or is there another big oval for cricket and cricket headquarters ?.

 

[fumbler]

Great post there, the ACTAFL ( Canberra) did the same sort of thing in Canberra buying a area in Woden , on top of a old tip if i remember correctly, Football park in Canberra had some grandstands, social club with pokies etc, but was only well patronised on game days, as it actually was no ones home ground in particular.

But eventually it went broke and has been sold off, run correctly it would have been a great assett for the football community, but with Manuka Oval in competition, and cricket was based there. In hindsight it was going to be difficult.

Is cricket played at Cazalys, or is there another big oval for cricket and cricket headquarters ?.

Cazalys Stadium home for.
AFL Cairns
AFL Cairns Womens League
AFL Cairns Juniors
Mununda Hawks, in the AFL Cairns
AFL Cairns Finals
AFL Cairns Nines competition
AFL Cairns Lions Rep Teams Juniors and Seniors
AFL Cape York games and training

Can not find any info on any local cricket club playing at Cazalys Stadium

 

[Bailey01]

Not the prettiest stadium to watch on tv.

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

Great post there, the ACTAFL ( Canberra) did the same sort of thing in Canberra buying a area in Woden , on top of a old tip if i remember correctly,

Is cricket played at Cazalys, or is there another big oval for cricket and cricket headquarters ?.

Test matches have been played there, when the winter tours happened for a couple of years.

The old football park at Woden has been resurfaced (it was a weed ridden mess two years ago) and is now used for footy most weekends and cricket occasionally. They might play some junior ACT rep cricket games or something there. Maybe even Futures League while Manuka has been worked on over the last few months. No stands or anything now, just a few bench seats and a decent sized changeroom/clubhouse.

 

[fabulousphil]

Test matches have been played there, when the winter tours happened for a couple of years.

The old football park at Woden has been resurfaced (it was a weed ridden mess two years ago) and is now used for footy most weekends and cricket occasionally. They might play some junior ACT rep cricket games or something there. Maybe even Futures League while Manuka has been worked on over the last few months. No stands or anything now, just a few bench seats and a decent sized changeroom/clubhouse.

Played quite a bit of footy there in the 80/90's, i remember Ainslie would cover there players with dettol because it was on a old tip. ..... wimps

Pity it went downhill, the big problem was the fact it was really no-ones home ground, and not close to anyones fan base, was in Kalgoolie last week, they have 2 grounds and 4 teams (in town)

Kal city and Railways at one and Boulder and Mines at the other, it makes sense, both grounds are in good nick, and no doubt close to their traditional fan base

Both Eastlake and Manuka were at Manuka, Ainslie at or wanting there ground next to their cluhouse, Beconnen and West Canberra at Jamison, QBY in QBY, all quite a way from Woden.

If we compare ACT footy park to Cairns, Cairns has a traditional tenant and is much more central.

 

[fumbler]

AFL Cairns don't want Manunda Hawks to play at Cazaly's but there is no where for them to really go.

 

[CrazyJoeFevola]

Does anyone have any old photos of the ACT footy park?

 

[Resistor]

This is a bit off topic, and I am not knowledgeable in the topic whatsoever, but there is a new casino being built near Cairns(?). There is a proposal for it to have a (25000 seat) Stadium on precinct. When I looked a while ago, there was no mention whether this would be of round or rectangular appearance. Do any locals have any ideas?

 

[fumbler]

This is a bit off topic, and I am not knowledgeable in the topic whatsoever, but there is a new casino being built near Cairns(?). There is a proposal for it to have a (25000 seat) Stadium on precinct. When I looked a while ago, there was no mention whether this would be of round or rectangular appearance. Do any locals have any ideas?

There are a few new Resorts up here still in the process of being drawn up for approval.

You may be thinking of Aqis that is near Yorkeys Knob (yes knob) it has been pushed back 12 months due to not gaining a gambling licence and some other oddities that mere mortals do not dream to comprehend.
There was a rumor that there would be some type of arena there, but it would not be built for a while and would most likely not go ahead due to the locality.

 

[Resistor]

There are a few new Resorts up here still in the process of being drawn up for approval.

Thanks for the reply. Ah, disappointing but yeah what can you do? :/

 

[fumbler]

It is very like Victoria up here in the sense that it's sports mad.
7 Aussie Rules Clubs 6 in Cairns
12 League Clubs 6 in Cairns including Yarrabah
10 Union Clubs 7 Clubs in Cairns
10 Soccer Clubs 8 Clubs in Cairns

 

[fabulousphil]

It is very like Victoria up here in the sense that it's sports mad.
7 Aussie Rules Clubs 6 in Cairns
12 League Clubs 6 in Cairns including Yarrabah
10 Union Clubs 7 Clubs in Cairns
10 Soccer Clubs 8 Clubs in Cairns

Are we talking senior or junior or both ?, must admit i am suprised at the amount of RU clubs.

 

[fumbler]

Are we talking senior or junior or both ?, must admit i am suprised at the amount of RU clubs.

Those are just Senior.
Union was 8 in 2013 and have just added the Northern Beaches and Penrhyn (Islanders) clubs for 2014.

 

[fabulousphil]

Those are just Senior.
Union was 8 in 2013 and have just added the Northern Beaches and Penrhyn (Islanders) clubs for 2014.

the spread of different clubs across the codes Sounds very Canberra or Wagga like, obviously looking at the spread of AF clubs, more grass roots work needs toi be done outside metro Cairns, would in the future Mareeba, Tully, Gordonvale, Atherton etc have clubs, is the game spreading out there.

 

[fumbler]

the spread of different clubs across the codes Sounds very Canberra or Wagga like, obviously looking at the spread of AF clubs, more grass roots work needs toi be done outside metro Cairns, would in the future Mareeba, Tully, Gordonvale, Atherton etc have clubs, is the game spreading out there.

There was clubs in all of these areas at some stage and a few won titles as well.
Innisfail, Tully and the Highlands are very League centric, though Innisfail held a group of junior games last season and the Pyramid Power (Gordonvale) who do have a great field and facilities are looking the best to be the 8th senior team of the league.

 

[fabulousphil]

There was clubs in all of these areas at some stage and a few won titles as well.
Innisfail, Tully and the Highlands are very League centric, though Innisfail held a group of junior games last season and the Pyramid Power (Gordonvale) who do have a great field and facilities are looking the best to be the 8th senior team of the league.

In reality it is very difficult to join a league, particuarly like Cairns which is a pretty good standard and do OK, normally the teams who get in first do the best. ( over a long period of time)

Gordonvale would need quite a bit of coin to attract and keep good standard players, so juniors can push through.

The Darling Downs league has 11 senior teams and is considering 2 divisons this year ?.

http://www.foxsportspulse.com/assoc...ID=56335&&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=27070415

 

[fumbler]

In reality it is very difficult to join a league, particuarly like Cairns which is a pretty good standard and do OK, normally the teams who get in first do the best. ( over a long period of time)

Gordonvale would need quite a bit of coin to attract and keep good standard players, so juniors can push through.

The Darling Downs league has 11 senior teams and is considering 2 divisons this year ?.

http://www.foxsportspulse.com/assoc...ID=56335&&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=27070415

Not to sure if i agree on the 2 divisions in the Downs but since i have been away from that area for i while, i'll ask an expert................ Reardo what are your thoughts on this?

The Power has strong backing in the community and from the AFLQ, AFL Cairns and the AFL to push for a senior team in the next 5 years, they now have a Senior Womens team and have thought about putting in a senior mens team for the pre-season (not sure if true).
It is hard when so many teams are already ingrained but some are still relatively young too, the Saints joined in 1993 and became a powerhouse almost instantly wining 11 premierships with what can only be described as modest club and change rooms. The Bulldogs though they have been around since the early days are fairly new as in they only moved to the Trinity Beach area around 1988, they won the next 4 out of 5 premierships and are a force to this day.

 

[Reardo]

The introduction of Division 2 on the Downs has been met with a fair bit of resistance as you would understand. Only one club at this stage has pit their hand up to drop back from Division 1 which means that if it's going to be successful the league here is going to have to force the issue with the clubs targeted for relegation. It's going to be a massive shit fight.

 

[fumbler]

The introduction of Division 2 on the Downs has been met with a fair bit of resistance as you would understand. Only one club at this stage has pit their hand up to drop back from Division 1 which means that if it's going to be successful the league here is going to have to force the issue with the clubs targeted for relegation. It's going to be a massive shit fight.

Is this being discussed in the DD thread?

I'll put a link in and we can take it there.
My beautiful Cazaly's thread doesn't need some Downs manure thrown around in it.

 

[fumbler]

http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/threads/afl-darling-downs-2013-season.987127/page-5

 

[Reardo]

Is this being discussed in the DD thread?

I'll put a link in and we can take it there.
My beautiful Cazaly's thread doesn't need some Downs manure thrown around in it.

You tagged me here and asked my opinion you stupid Khazak!!

 

[fumbler]

You tagged me here and asked my opinion you stupid Khazak!!

With a tigers head.

 

[fumbler]

Looking South East, back towards Cazaly's club.

 

[thegreig]

Ok, so the The Western Bulldogs replaced Richmond playing games up at Cazalys Stadium but soon (I think 2017) they're moving to Eureka Stadium in Ballarat... So will AFL games continue to be played there? also does anyone know when the doggies contract ends?