CAZALY'S STADIUM TICKETS 2024

About

Cazaly’s Stadium is an AFL ground located in Cairns. It’s in the suburb of Westcourt, and used to be known as Bundaberg Rum Stadium. The land that the ground stands on was first purchased by the Australian National Football Council (ANFC) in 1957. It was to be the first field dedicated to AFL in regional Queensland, and was known as ‘Australian Football Park’. The Cairns Australia Football League (CAFL) came together to clear the land and fill it in to make it into a decent playing field. 

Come 1984 and the CAFL talked the ANFC into selling them the field, and they paid in full by 1994. Over two million dollars went into upgrading the field from 1997 to 1998. That involved buying a grandstand from the Gabba and the installation of light towers. 

At the turn of the century, the CAFL bought the old 51st Battallion barracks adjacent to the ground. This was converted into the headquarters for AFL Cairns. It was at this time, in 1999, that the ground was named Cazaly’s Stadium. It was named after the social club that connects to the ground, which was in turn named after footy legend, Roy Cazaly (of ‘Up There’ fame).

Another three million went into the stadium in 2008, so that it would meet AFL television standards. This meant a heap of new lighting, but the stadium also added new entrance gates, bigger dressing rooms for the players, and upgrades to first aid and coaching facilities. Fifteen million dollars were spent in 2015 to facilitate another redevelopment. This meant a new grandstand, new player facilities, a media box, and even more modern lighting.

What AFL Tickets Can I Buy For Cazaly’s Stadium?

While Cazaly’s Stadium isn’t home to any of the national league’s teams, it does play host to AFL Cairns side, the Manunda Hawks. Finals for AFL Cairns are always played at the stadium. Cazaly’s hosted pre-season cames for national AFL matches from 2000 to 2007, and it hosted its first premiership-affecting game in 2011. Richmond Tigers went up against the Gold Coast Suns for a home-away-from-home match, and this happened for the following two years as well. Every one of these matches attracted a sell-out crowd - 2011 attracted 10,382 punters, 2012 attracted 10,961, and 2013 racked up a massive 11,197 fans!

After 2014, the Western Bulldogs replaced Richmond in these home-away-from-home games, and the Gold Coast Suns took over in the first round of the 2018 season. The Sun hosted the North Melbourne Kangaroos at Cazaly’s because their regular home ground, Metricon Stadium, was undergoing preparations for the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

During the COVID-19 impacted 2020 AFL season, the Fremantle Dockers and Sydney Swans both relocated to Cairns. Cazaly’s became their home ground, and the stadium hosted one match per round from Rounds 15 to 18.

2021 saw the St Kilda Saints playing a home game against Adelaide at Cazaly’s in Round 13. This was to replace the match they’d play annually in Shanghai, which had to be cancelled due to COVID-19. 

Cazaly’s Stadium AFL Tickets On Sale Now!

Tickets are now available for games at Cazaly’s Stadium all season long! Grab your 2024 Cazaly’s Stadium tickets from The Ticket Merchant - Australia's favourite and most trusted ticket marketplace.