Sir Hubert Murray Stadium
{{Short description|Multi-sports stadium in Papua New Guinea}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox venue
| stadium_name = Sir Hubert Murray Stadium of PNG kantri
| nickname =
| image = Sir Hubert Murray Stadium (1993, cropped).jpg
| caption = The stadium in March 1993
| fullname =
| location = {{Flagicon|Papua New Guinea}} Port Moresby,
Papua New Guinea
| coordinates = {{coord|-9.466323|147.156674|display=inline,title|format=dms|type:landmark_scale:3000}}
| broke_ground =
| built =
| opened = 1969
| renovated = 2013–14
| expanded =
| closed =
| demolished =
| owner =
| operator =
| surface = Grass
| construction_cost =
| architect =
| structural engineer =
| services engineer =
| general_contractor =
| project_manager =
| main_contractors =
| former_names =
| tenants = {{center|Papua New Guinea national football team}}
Port Moresby Vipers (PNGNRL)
| seating_capacity = 20,000
| dimensions =
}}
The Hubert Murray Stadium is a sports venue located in Port Moresby, the capital city of Papua New Guinea. It was developed for the 1969 South Pacific Games on reclaimed land at Konedobu that had previously been shoreline mangroves. The athletics events and the opening and closing ceremonies were held at the new stadium, which was named after Sir Hubert Murray, a former lieutenant governor.
With an initial capacity of approximately 15,000 spectators, it was used for Australian football, soccer and school athletic events after the 1969 games. A redeveloped rectangular format was opened in 2022 after a redevelopment stalled for almost two decades and now hosts the Port Moresby Vipers rugby league team.[https://www.postcourier.com.pg/vipers-host-first-home-match-at-sir-hubert-murray-stadium/ Vipers host first home match at Sir Hubert Murray Stadium] from the Post Courier 9 June 2023 As of 2023, it has capacity for 20,000 spectators.{{Cite web |title=Facilities – Sir Hubert Murray Stadium |url=https://www.shmspng.com/facilities/ |access-date=2023-10-28 |language=en-US}}
Redevelopment and Rectangular configuration
In late 2003, a three-stage redevelopment of the site at a cost of K120 million via a public-private partnership began to expand the capacity to seat 25,000 people. The redeveloped stadium will be used for rugby league, rugby union, and soccer in a venue fit for FIFA standards, naturally grassed and with lighting suitable for television broadcasting of night events. The plans for the six-storey main stand included eight restaurants and a gymnasium with the facilities to host the weightlifting competition for the 2015 Pacific Games. Australian football and cricket were to be catered for by further expansion in stage three of the redevelopment.
However the stadium was not completed in time for the Pacific Games, which was moved to the Sir John Guise Stadium and the project remained abandoned for years.[https://transparencypng.org.pg/sir-hubert-murray-stadium/ Sir Hubert Murray Stadium]
References
{{Reflist|refs=
|date= 2011
|first= Stuart |last= Hawthorne
|title= Taim Bipo
|publisher= Boolarong Press
|pages= 88–89
|accessdate= 15 May 2015
|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=Sg1QBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA88
|isbn=978-1-876344962}}
|date= 19 August 2014
|first= Quintina |last= Naime
|title= Hubert Murray stadium work on schedule
|work= PNG Loop
|access-date= 16 May 2015
|url= http://www.pngloop.com/2014/08/19/hubert-murray-stadium-work-schedule/#sthash.8RbPthaS.dpuf
|url-status= live
|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170731234444/http://www.pngloop.com/2014/08/19/hubert-murray-stadium-work-schedule/
|archive-date= 31 July 2017}}
}}
{{Papua New Guinea national football team}}
Category:Sports venues in Papua New Guinea
Category:Football venues in Papua New Guinea
Category:Athletics (track and field) venues in Papua New Guinea
Category:Buildings and structures in Port Moresby
Category:Rugby league stadiums in Papua New Guinea
Category:1969 establishments in Papua New Guinea
Category:Sports venues completed in 1969
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