Trafalgar Park, Nelson facts for kids
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| Location | Nelson, New Zealand |
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| Coordinates | 41°16′1″S 173°16′59″E / 41.26694°S 173.28306°E |
| Owner | Nelson City Council |
| Capacity | 18,000 |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Renovated | 2008 |
| Tenants | |
| Tasman Mako (2006–present) Tasman United (2015–present) Tasman Titans (?–present) |
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Trafalgar Park is a cool sports field in Nelson, a city in New Zealand's South Island. It's right next to the main part of the city. This stadium can hold up to 18,000 people! It got bigger and better for the 2011 Rugby World Cup. The park is named after Trafalgar Street, where it is located.
Contents
History of Trafalgar Park
How Trafalgar Park Started
Trafalgar Park began a long time ago, in 1885. Some local people in Nelson wanted to build a great sports field. They wanted it to be as good as other famous fields in New Zealand. These fields included Lancaster Park in Christchurch and Carisbrook in Dunedin.
Buying the Land and Naming the Park
By June 1885, the group had bought about 15 acres of land. This land was on the edge of town, between Trafalgar Street and the Maitai River. It was a muddy area that sometimes flooded during very high tides. The group decided to name their new sports ground "Trafalgar Park."
First Games at the Park
The park officially opened on April 21, 1888. The very first game was a rugby match between local teams. People said the field was a bit rocky, but it was still a big event! Later that year, on December 22, 1888, the first cricket match was played there. Trafalgar Park was Nelson's main cricket ground for many years. However, in the late 1990s, Saxton Oval became the new main cricket venue.
What Trafalgar Park is Used For Today
Home for Rugby Teams
Trafalgar Park is one of the main places where the Tasman Mako rugby team plays. They are a professional team in the ITM Cup competition. Their other home ground is Lansdowne Park, Blenheim.
Other Sports and Events
Many different sports are played at Trafalgar Park. It once hosted the final game of the 1978 Chatham Cup. This is a big knockout football competition in New Zealand. There is also a cycle track around the field. It's about 540 meters long and is used for bike races.
Helping Out After the Christchurch Earthquake
In 2011, a big earthquake hit Christchurch. Because other sports places were closed, Trafalgar Park helped out. It hosted three home games for the Crusaders rugby team in March 2011.
Hosting the Rugby World Cup
Trafalgar Park was also a host for the 2011 Rugby World Cup. Three important matches were played there in September 2011. Teams like Italy, Russia, USA, and Australia all played games at the park.
Big International Rugby Matches
2011 Rugby World Cup Games
Trafalgar Park hosted three Pool C matches during the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
- On September 20, 2011, Italy beat Russia with a score of 53–17.
- On September 27, 2011, Italy won again, beating the United States 27–10.
- The third match was on October 1, 2011. Australia easily defeated Russia 68–22.
All Blacks Play in Nelson
On September 8, 2018, something very special happened. Trafalgar Park hosted its first-ever All Blacks test match! The All Blacks played against Argentina. The All Blacks won the game 46–24. It was a huge event, and more than 21,000 people came to watch. The stadium was completely full!
Cricket at Trafalgar Park
| Ground information | |
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| International information | |
| Only women's Test | 7–11 January 1995: New Zealand v  India |
| Only WODI | 31 January 1982: England v India |
| As of 6 September 2020 Source: CricketArchive |
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Trafalgar Park was an important cricket ground for many years. The Central Districts team used it as one of their home grounds from 1953 to 1997. The local Nelson team also played most of their home games there from 1888 to 1999. After 1999, Saxton Oval became the main place for cricket in Nelson.
