The Lancaster Park Plan
The spatial plan (pictured below) includes sports fields for winter sporting codes such as rugby and football, and cricket grounds for summer use.
It also features informal, public open space and landscaped areas that reflect on the rich history of the park, which hosted sporting and cultural events for more than a century.
Captain Lorraine took off from Lancaster Park on the 2nd of November 1899 and was blown out to sea never to be seen again.
Lancaster Park during Billy Graham's Crusades April 1959
Canterbury v Counties August 1990
Source christchurch city libraries
Lancaster Park Christchurch
Lancaster Park was named after Benjamin Lancaster, the first owner of the land.
Many years later as sponsorship took hold it become known as Jade Stadium then AMI Stadium, was the main sports stadium in Christchurch and home to the successful rugby team the Crusaders.
The stadium was closed because of the severe damage sustained during the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake and has now been demolished, but remembered by many.
Lancaster Park opened on 15 October 1881 with the Club’s opening day being held on 22nd of October.
A cricket match was held and scores were reportedly low as the wickets, though true, were as hard as iron, and the ball came in too fast for batsmen who had had no practice since the previous season.
The last of the big sporting codes to become ensconced at Lancaster Park was rugby it arrived in 1882.
On 21 September 2500 people watched the first international rugby match where Canterbury fell to New South Wales.
1st test played on the ground: NZ 5 Australia 16, 1913 Last test played before the earthquake: NZ 20 Australia 10, 2010
Lancaster Park continued to flourish, becoming a premier venue in New Zealand for rugby, cricket and cycling. It was also home to events such as balloon ascents "people were fascinated with getting into the air in balloons".
The 1911 Davis Cup was scheduled to be played at Lancaster Park, at the time Australasia held the title and the challenger was the United States. However it was rain delayed and the scheduled match was due to be played on the 29 December, and as a result of the weather it was held between 1st and 3rd of January 1912.
During World War One it was turned into a potato farm to raise money to keep the grounds open.
Lancaster Park war memorial, Christchurch c1986. The plaque reads 'To Commemorate the Glorious Deeds of the Athletes of this Province in the Great War Aug. 1914-Nov. 1918'.
Back in the day when Auckland and Canterbury matches were huge.
No keeping the crowd back from the field here all up and close to the action.
The park was also a venue for concerts with acts such as, Deep Purple,Tina Turner, Roger Waters, Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Meat Loaf, U2, Bon Jovi, B B King.
In 1986 Dire Straits played there, attracting the largest ever crowd to attend the stadium of a massive 64,000 fans an amazing and unforgettable event for those that went along.
